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Walking Through the HRC Bedrooms
Harold Dougall, a former HRC resident, walk through HRC bedrooms during the final site visit. Harold recalls HRC residents being forced to scrub floors with a toothbrush they were made to use after. He explained that HRC residents were sad and lonely, there was nothing to do in the resident's rooms, no television, and sitting all day. Residents remained inside at all times and dorms were separated by female and male genders. Harold explains that the Orillia community wanted HRC residents contained and institutionalized and that the HRC resident's parents did not want the responsibility of caring for children with disabilities.
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Site Visit Discussions with Harold Dougall, Former Residents and Staff
Former residents of the Huronia Regional Centre discuss their institutional experiences while visiting the former site.
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Resident Bathrooms as Space of Abuse
An audio clip of site visitors discussing the daily washing practices of HRC residents and the resident bathrooms as spaces of abuse. Cold showers, for example, were used as a form of punishment. The group goes on to discuss physical abuse of HRC residents, by other residents, staff, and supervisors. HRC medical and administrative departments buried injury and incident reports. Harold explains that he personally saw another resident beaten to death while institutionalized at the HRC. Survivors remember signing affidavits after witnessing staff murder a resident who was being punished. HRC staff intimidated residents, particularly in light of the HRC cemetery located on the institutions' grounds. Sadly, there is no justice for survivors and their families because no one is held accountable for the irreparable harm of institutionalization. Harold describes himself as a spokesperson because, "people don't talk about the damage, they did damage".
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Institutional Neglect
An audio clip of site visitors discussing the dirty state of resident bathrooms at the HRC, that HRC doctors and teachers lived in apartments on each floor, the presence of an assault room and the use of isolation tactics, and bars on windows. One former resident describes stealing candy from an HRC teacher while a former HRC staff member reports that a single doctor was responsible for the care of 20 HRC residents. Another site visitor noted the HRC population being 2600 in 1960.
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Touring the HRC Main Floor with Harold
An audio clip of Harold Dougall, and other site visitors discussing survivors' experiences at the HRC while touring the site. Harold describes HRC staff identifying residents by number or surname.
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Huronia Regional Centre Cemetery Conversations
An audio recording taken at the Huronia Regional Centre cemetery. Site visitors and survivors discuss the headstones in the cemetery and survivors' personal experiences at the institution. The recording also documents site visitors' and survivors' prayers and song that concluded their last visit to the the Huronia Regional Centre.
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The Class Action Lawsuit
An audio clip of Jay Dolmage and David Houston discussing the HRC class action lawsuit while touring the HRC site.
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Touring the HRC Kitchen and Tramways
An audio clip of site visitors walking through the HRC kitchen space discussing the presence of security that controlled access to different areas of the HRC campus. Carrieanne Ford describes the emotional impact of returning to the HRC. Site security explains the tunnel system, or tramway, that sits below the entire HRC site. David Houston describes his experiences as a runaway child that used the tunnels to escape. Other topics of discussion include organizing an HRC reunion, and overcrowding at the HRC.
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Cookie Cutter
Metal cookie cutter shaped as a bat on a blue linoleum floor. Cracked in places.
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Loaf Pans
Stacked, rusted metal pans, each bolted together in rows of three.
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Boots 2
A pair of tall brown leather boots with laces on linoleum floor.
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Vintage Grindstone
A vintage grindstone made from a round sandstone that sits inside a wooden stand with a wooden handle.
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Vintage Silver Jug
A vintage silver jug with pouring spout and rounded handle.
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Vintage Glass Tubes
A clear plastic bag containing several vintage glass tubes sits on an open cardboard box.
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Antique Steel Bushel Basket
An antique weaved steel wire rectangular-shaped bushel basket.
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Vintage Fireplace Poker
A rusted vintage iron fireplace poker
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Vintage Redfield Lamp Square
A vintage red-coloured Redfield brand lamp square.
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Vintage Horse Harness
Vintage rusted metal and leather horse harness.
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Vintage Hay Tongs and Cobbler Shoe
Vintage iron hay tongs surround a vintage cast iron cobblers shoe.
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Antique Lug Wrench
An antique rusted metal L-shaped lug wrench
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Plaque for Opening of HRC Pool
A wooden plaque commemorating the official opening of the Mark Johnston Memorial Pool at the HRC. The plaque displays a photograph of the HRC building that contained the pool.
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Rubber Horseshoes
Black rubber horseshoes on a wooden table sitting among metal tools.
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Antique Turn Key
A thin, long cast iron antique turn key.
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Vintage Scythe Blade
A curved rusted vintage iron scythe blade
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Vintage Iron Brush Hook
A vintage rusted iron brush hook.