All the funds allocated were used to create the monument but there is more work needed to be done to make this complete. Survivors would like to include a statement to commemorate the monument with the following wording;

“Crows have long memories and remind us we are not alone in caring for this place and the people buried here. They call out and encourage us to speak and demand the truth.

As survivors we call on our communities to listen and learn from our experiences, so history will not repeat itself. Butterflies represent the freedom and achievements of survivors lives outside the institution. Forget-me-nots signify our commitment to remembering what must never be forgotten.

This monument serves as a testament- to the pain and hopes of people who are now free but who can never forget; and to the dream and struggle to end all institutions where people are not free. Hear the chorus of our hearts. Honour every death, remember every name, cherish every life.”

Dedicated August 24, 2019 to all those who survived living at the Huronia Regional Centre and to those whose lives ended here. May peace be with them.”

Survivors also hope to have a walkway installed leading from the cemetery and around the monument to be accessible to all people and seating for those who visit.

At the dedication ceremony last August, a couple of councilors with the City of Orillia approached me indicating interest in helping us with the walkway, plaque, benches and sodding around the monument after it was announced at the dedication ceremony that it was our intent to continue the work to have this done. 

                                                                                                                                                      Instead of erecting a plaque it is suggested to install two black granite benches to match the materials and workmanship of the monument. With this in mind, the wording with the commemoration would be engraved on the back rest of the benches- one bench having the words engraved into the granite and the other bench engraved with braille which would enable blind and partially sighted people to read through touch.

We hope the city can find a way in their budget to install the accessible walkway, sod and benches to help the survivors finish this project. It will be critical to have survivors, the artist Hilary Clark Cole and Steve Sanderson from Signature Memorials involved with the planning and design of any future work at the memorial to keep the project abject with the monument. 

We are hopeful the city of Orillia will finally recognize that people living at HRC created jobs and revenue for the city for many decades, and now help contribute to the memorial. 

Our government contact we worked with at Infrastructure Ontario was Fid Leonard, Director Asset Management, South Region for Infrastructure Ontario regarding the licence agreement for the installation of the monument last summer. It has since expired on November 1st, 2019.  He explained to me in order to issue a new licence agreement permission must be obtained from Minister Todd Smith, Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services.  We would plan to write the letter with an invitation for the Minister to come to Orillia to visit the monument perhaps at our next Mother’s Day Memorial Procession in May. Before we do though we would need to know when and if the City of Orillia is willing and able to carry this project through to completion for us. 

On behalf of the survivors, thank you in advance for taking this request into consideration and with approval, your support will be gladly received and greatly appreciated!