Huronia Regional Centre Apology—John Guido, Regional Leader

regionalnewsletter | January 2014
Huronia Regional Centre Apology—John Guido, Regional Leader
On December 9, 2013 a few of us from
L’Arche Toronto accompanied Loretta
and Greg to Queen’s Park, the Ontario
Legislative Building. “They are going to
apologize to me” Loretta said in a calm,
clear voice. For her the Province’s historic
apology to those who had lived at Huronia
Regional Centre (the most recent name of
the institution for persons with intellectual
disabilities in Orillia) was personal, deeply
personal.
As we took our seats in the gallery, I
was conscious of other members of our
communities who had endured life in the
institutions. I whispered across to Madeline
that I was thinking of Dorothy and Ian in
particular. Although I thought I was being
respectful, Loretta shot me a look and said
“No talking.” This was serious business.
Greg sat on the other side between his
sister, Kate, and nephew, Jordan. They
were quietly supporting each other as they
faced the lifetime of emotions that this day
brought up. Looking around us, we saw Peter
from L’Arche London who was there with a
few assistants and the brother of David who
had died since leaving the institution. Across
the chamber in the opposite gallery, we saw
Mary and Michael from L’Arche Hamilton
with an assistant. As we waited, we could
see many others who were survivors, their
families, friends and advocates. This was an
important day for us all.
A recess was called as the party leaders
were late due to the funeral of a police
officer. When Premier Kathleen Wynn
arrived, she came up to our balcony to greet
some people she knew. They were sitting
near the London group so she had the
privilege of shaking Peter’s hand, and vice
versa. Loretta wanted to shake the Premier’s
hand too, but we were on the next aisle. I
suggested that she wave which she did with
conviction. Premier Wynn took notice and
headed over. “I saw you waving” she said
as she shook Loretta’s hand. Loretta said “I
wanted to shake your hand.” Satisfied, she
returned to her seat as the Premier shook
hands with Greg and his family, and then
with a couple of men in the rows ahead of
us who expressed their gratitude that she
was apologizing to them. I was grateful for
Loretta’s courage. When The Premier read
the beautifully written apology it seemed
more sincere due to her time with the
people in the gallery. The two other party
leaders then added their own apologies, a
fitting expression of unity for decades of
systemic harm to vulnerable people.
We went downstairs for a brief reception. I
Peter Ogrodnik with Assistants from L’Arche London
was aware that we were in the wing where
the Lieutenant Governor has his official
suite. I told Michael, Peter and Greg, that
we were close to where their work had been
displayed during a show of L’Arche Artists
in 2011-2012. At the official opening of the
show in those ornate, Victorian rooms, I
thanked Their Honours, David and Ruth
Ann Onley, on behalf of L’Arche Ontario and
added, “Some of the artists here today had
once been among the most marginalized
in Ontario; today their works are hanging
at the very centre of the political life of our
province.” The Lieutenant Governor, who
had his own experience of an institution
due to childhood polio, seemed as moved
as anyone there. The Apology seemed
a powerful parallel to that
wonderful day.
Continued...
Solidarity Vist to Honduras
In the first week of December, Melissa Knott
from L’Arche London (Board) and Jessica
Vorstermans who grew up in Daybreak, visited
the communities of Choluteca and Tegucigalpa
in Honduras. Melissa (who is an Occupational
Therapist) and Jessica (who knows the
communities and could translate) were there
at the request of the communities in order to
help them assess and develop therapy supports
that they cannot access in their country. We
are creating a long term plan, yet it begins
with building relationships and helping the
communities assess their strengths as well
as their needs. Melissa and Jessica were
welcomed warmly as always by the members
of these beautiful communities. (Reports will
follow.)
Community members in L’Arche Honduras learning
stretching techniques from Melissa.
Jessica (upper right) and Melissa (lower right) visited the
two communities in Honduras in December 2013
1
L’Arche Ontario
Regional Council
The Regional Council met in October in Arnprior, but
dinner in the homes was with L’Arche Ottawa this year
-a highlight of the week. Other highlights included a welcome Of Gabrielle Beaulieu, the Vice Leader of L’Arche
Canada and a farewell celebration of Tammy after many
years on council as CL in Arnprior and Vice Leader in
Ontario. The Council is a time for community leaders to
share with their peers, to do
formation in areas of common
concern, and to look at issues
facing us as a region. We are
still building a team as a region
so all supported John Guido to
facilitate the meeting.
regionalnewsletter | January 2014
Huronia continued...
We had left the Legislature before the
commemoration of Nelson Mandela which
followed, yet it seemed fitting that the
Huronia apology was happening during
the same week as the funeral of that
freedom fighter turned champion of truth
and reconciliation. Freedom comes not
only from leaving the places where we are
imprisoned, but also from naming the truth
of our pain, and reconciling with those
responsible, those who were unable to save
us, and with ourselves. This journey is only
possible if we can become truly vulnerable
and we have companions who can listen
with real empathy. I have never suffered
what my friends who lived at Huronia
endured, but I can understand it a bit from
my own experience of being left out, being
not good enough, being stuck in my life.
When I lived with Greg in the 80s and with
Loretta in the 90s, I was able to support
them as they worked on their recovery.
At the same time, they were invaluable to
my own journey of healing. At the end of
the day, growth into true freedom is only
possible when we are granted the grace to
walk this road together.
House Leaders Workshop in Arnprior
In October, the annual gathering of Homes and Program leaders took place at the Galilee
Centre in Arnprior. This year the retreat day with lead by Joe Egan, with workshops on
facilitating Servant Leadership meetings by Janet MacLaren, facilitation by Emily King,
Core Members and electronic communication by Warren Pot, and Circles and the ISP
by John Guido. The Homes Coordinators group worked hard to organize the week and
everyone contributed to its success. A highlight was the Thursday evening fiesta which
upheld the L’Arche tradition of not taking ourselves too serious.
2
L’Arche Ontario
regionalnewsletter | January 2014
Board Council Day at Daybreak
The Ontario Board Council Day, October 26 at Daybreak, was an
opportunity for Board Presidents and Community leaders to build
relationships and share a beautiful meal together, to hear updates on
the work of the region, and to reflect on topics of importance to our
Community
Exchange Visits
Every year, communities
in Ontario visit each other.
Here are a few pictures from
the community exchange
weekend, October 14 - 16. London visiting Arnprior
mandate and mission. This year, the topic for deeper reflection was the
L’Arche Canada Growth initiative using the materials presented at the
National Council in September; this topic will also be the focus of the
Regional Assembly in June 2014.
Provincial Network: Communications Day
On November 20th, John Guido and Jeff
Gilbreath attended a Communications
day hosted by the Provincial Network. The
Provincial Network is the organization that
represents agencies in Ontario in dialogue
with the Ministry of Community and Social
Services (provincialnetwork.ca); John sits
at the table as a representative of the Faith
Culture Inclusion Network. The purpose
of the day was to identify the core issues,
messages, and strategies that the Network and
its members could employ in response to the
Select Committee of the Ontario Parliament,
the Ombudsman’s review of Developmental
Services, and the next Provincial election.
Growing As Servant Leaders: HR Workshop in Montreal
Sudbury goes to North Bay
Janet Maclaren and
Louise Provost led an
engaging workshop in the
“People Processes” for
Assistant Coordinators
and Community Leaders
Louis Provost
in December. The focus
was on developing an understanding around
many of the tools that have been developed
around the GASL program: role guides, annual
reviews, and circles of learning. Louise will be
coordinating the rollout of the program over
the next year in Canada.
Growing in the Mission
Upcoming Events
London Banquet, February 28, 2014
Prayer Partners , March 10-13
Growing in the Mission May 4-9
Orientation Formation, Manresa May 5 - 9, 2014
Stratford visits Hamilton
Celebrations
The last week of January, assistants from 7 of
the 9 Ontario L’Arche communities gathered
at Daybreak for the second session of the
Growing in the Mission program
Arnprior visiting London
3
Published Quarterly by
L’ARCHE ONTARIO: www.larcheontario.org | facebook.com/larcheontario