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The Honourable Sandra Pupatello,
Minister of Community and Social Services
6th Floor, Hepburn Block
80 Grosvenor Street
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 1E9
Dear Mrs. Pupatello,
I am writing on behalf of my sister Gertrude Wald, who has been a resident of Huronia Regional Centre in Orillia for sixty-
nine years. She is seventy-five years old. She is a retarded cripple who needs two people to move her in and out of
bed, on and off a toilet, in and out of the bathtub and in and out of her wheel chair. Huronia has a special lift that
assists the care-givers in doing all of these manipulations.
My mother had to give Gertrude up when she was just six years old, because even at that time she wasn’t able to do all
of that lifting.
Even though Gertrude is a retarded cripple, she was assessed at the mental level of a nine year old, and you know how
smart one is at the age of nine. She has a perfect memory and she knows us all. My sister and I especially have a very
close bond because I am fourteen months younger than she, and we are more like twins than just sisters.
Thirty-six years ago, we were conned into allowing her to be moved into a nursing home. We were assured that this
was going to be the best thing for her – she was on ground level near lovely windows – she could be on a porch when
the weather was nice. Three months after she was moved, we found her on the third floor in pajamas beside a patient
who was covered with a blanket so that we could not see the patient, and my sister was not speaking and was terribly
depressed.... she was dying. When I reported this to Huronia, she was immediately sent back and has lived for thirty-
six years more years, a beautiful and happy life.
The Huronia staff is loving and patient. “Gertie” as she is known, is happy and content. She even got to be presented
to the Pope when he visited Huronia! She goes to church, she mixes with other clients, she can use the telephone to
speak to me whenever she worries about us or is lonely for us, there is a nurse to supervise her medication and a
doctor is consulted through the infirmary whenever she needs attention.
The care-givers are astute and attentive; even Gertrude’s meals are supervised so that she doesn’t choke while she
eats. The employees of Huronia are incredible human beings.
ANY MOVE is a death sentence. The thought of Huronia closing is horrifying to me. There is no environment that could
duplicate the loving care that she gets at Huronia.
Why is it that the weakest among us are the most vulnerable? Why can’t these poor helpless people be allowed to live
their lives out in the peace, tranquility and expertise of these excellent care-givers?
Please, Please do not close Huronia.... these poor souls will all be gone soon enough.
Yours Very Truly,
Mrs. Reta Mann.
C.C. to: The Honourable Mr. Greg Sorbara
Minister of Finance
7 Queen’s Park Crescent, 7th Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 1Y7