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It’s Time! by Larry Palmer, Executive Director’s Assistant
A
2010 summer review
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Do these Canadians deserve less?
s a direct result of the infamous bombing of Pearl Harbour by Japan in 1941, the Canadian Government enacted the War Measures Act, statute (1914) and began the internment of Japanese Canadians along a 160-kilometre “safety zone” on the Pacific coast of British Columbia. Many of these Japanese Canadians lost their homes and personal wealth— not to mention the loss of personal dignity as law abiding and conscientious Canadians. In 1988, 47 years after the fact, the Canadian government formally apologized for their actions and compensation was awarded by legislation enacted by Parliament Hill. As we know all too well, compensation from the Canadian government—this time to the tune of 1.9 billion dollars—was awarded again in 1998 to thousands of First Nations Canadians for the also infamous practices of the ‘Canadian Native Residential School’ system that was finally discontinued in 1996 after almost a century of existence. On March 31, 2009, all of us joyously celebrated the closure of the last 3 Institutions in Ontario (the fourth Province to do so!). We were well aware of the many stories of abuses that occurred as a result of institutionalization, begging the question, ‘Do these Canadian citizens deserve any less from the government than those who have been housed or interred against their free will and suffered as a consequence?’ Well, on April 19, 2010 Justice Maurice Cullity of the Ontario Superior Court issued a ruling that all of the requirements had been met for a class action lawsuit to proceed on behalf of former residents of Huronia Regional Centre. On July 15, 2010 the process will begin at Osgoode Hall in Toronto. We will watch this action unfold with uneasy anticipation. How hard it will be for those who suffered to once again tell their stories. Let us sincerely hope, as the Japanese and First Nations Canadians before them, that all persons who resided in any of the province’s 18 facilities will be awarded the same consideration from Parliament Hill—if for nothing else than in honour of those who passed away while residing there. It’s right, it’s due, it’s time!
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insiDe THIS ISSUE A Dream Come True . . . . . . 6 Annual General Meeting & Family BBQ . . 3 Parent Networking Groups . . . . . . . . 13 A Magical Day . . 10 Senior Social Tea . . . . . . 5 Summer Camp 2010 . . . 8–9
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