Advocates are “outraged and "astonished” after the province has rejected the proposal to install a memorial plaque at the infamous former Pine Ridge Centre in Aurora.
Pine Ridge, an off-shoot of the infamous Huronia Regional Centre in Orillia, served as a residential facility for people with developmental disabilities between 1963 and 1984. In 2016, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice approved a $36-million settlement for surviving residents of Pine Ridge "who suffered harm" while there.
The Town of Aurora was working with the province on creating a commemorative plaque at the building to note the its troubled history. But the province is opting not to install a plaque, saying "it may not be in the best interests" of themselves or advocates.
“It just never occurred to us because it has been acknowledged, the government has paid compensation to these people, there has been a public apology, it’s not a secret that these were bad places,” Kantel said in an interview with AuroraToday. “So it never entered our mind that the province would say, ‘Nah, we’re not going to do it.’ It’s just odd.”
The Town of Aurora amended the heritage designation for the property at 50-100 Bloomington Rd. in 2021, after outcry from several residents, including Kantel, who said she is both outraged and astonished by the rejection.
“This is not something that existed somewhere else and that has nothing to do with us anymore, and it just happens to be there, people who (were there) live in our community today,” said Kantel. “Of course, they’re aging and they’re dying, and they’re never going to know that anybody actually cared.”
Infrastructure Ontario said the building's usage is currently under review, which is why they opted not to proceed with installing a plaque.
"Given that the site’s future use is still under consideration at this time, IO believes it may not be in the best interests of either the province or those advocating for a plaque to have it located in the building of 50 Bloomington Avenue," a provincial spokesperson said in a statement. "IO has had initial communications with the Town of Aurora regarding a plaque and would be pleased to discuss further with the Town and other appropriate stakeholders on this matter."
A Town of Aurora spokesperson said it was unfortunate the province rejected the plaque pitch, adding they had been told such requests are "currently on pause."
"This is largely a provincial matter as it is their property and their responsibility to install a plaque," they said in a statement. "We have taken the necessary steps at our local municipal level by updating the designation bylaw to account for the events that occurred at the Pine Ridge Centre and also sending the suggested plaque wording directly to Infrastructure Ontario."
"The Town will continue to advocate that the province install (a) plaque and that if/when they sell land the town will ensure that the installation of the plaque will be a condition of any future development approvals," they added.
The amended bylaw changed the “historical/associative value” section of the bylaw to note the building’s troubled history.
The suggested wording for the plaque was: “In 1950, this property was purchased by the Government of Ontario and converted into a residential facility for males, 16 years of age and older, diagnosed with a developmental disability.
“The facility was re-named “Pine Ridge” in 1974 and continued to operate until August 1984, housing up to 190 individuals. During these years residents were subjected to emotional, physical, and psychological abuse at the hands of those who were meant to care for them.”
“In 2013 the government of Ontario issued a public apology to the former residents who were harmed in this and other similar institutions across the province.”
“In the words of a resident: ‘People with disabilities wanted to be seen and heard.’ Not locked up and sent away.”
“This memorial is dedicated to all those who lived and suffered here.”
Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill MPP Michael Parsa, who also serves as minister of Children, Community and Social Services, and Newmarket-Aurora MPP Dawn Gallagher Murphy declined to comment.
