Recounting Huronia Community Archive

Items

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  Touring the Dining Room

  An audio clip of site visit discussions while touring HRC's two dining rooms. Harold Dougall describes his feeling the presence of a former resident that was murdered in the dining room. SIte security is heard rushing visitors through their tours. Harold describes HRC teachers as 'the screws'.
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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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  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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  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.