From: [email protected]: [email protected]: Letter
to Kathleen Wynne: Re: Huronia Regional Centre CemeteryDate: Thu,
23 Jul 2015 11:00:14 -0400
Kathleen Wynne, PremierLegislative BuildingQueen's ParkToronto
ON M7A 1A1(Sent by email to [email protected])Dear Premier
Wynne:Subject: An Open Letter about the Septic System Uncovered at
Huronia Regional Centre Cemetery.The Huronia Regional Centre
(Orillia, Ontario) was a place where persons with mental and
physical disabilities were housed and fed from 1886 to 2009. It
also became a place of horror and indignity which included cruelty
in the form of beatings and rape. Once the truth became known you,
as the Premier of Ontario, publicly apologized to the survivors. In
an unusual case of unanimity, all three Parties in the Government
of Ontario reached a $35 million settlement in a class-action
lawsuit with former residents. Of course many of those who lived at
HRC did not survive, and a cemetery is the final resting place of
nearly 2,000 who died over the years. The government commissioned
an archaeological company to locate unmarked graves and search
records to match a list of names with their birth and death dates.
Some graves are merely identified with case numbers but most have
no grave stones or markers at all. Many grave stones were removed
and some grave stones were re-used to build a patio at a nearby
house! When found there, they were not put back in their proper
places.The archaeological investigation was extensive and
included:1. Total Station mapping to overlay old sketch maps2.
Ground Penetrating Radar to find unmarked graves3. Physical
stripping of topsoil to establish the perimeter of the
cemeteryThree locations on the map produced through the GPR survey
are simply labelled 'Utilities'. These three 'utilities locations'
were investigated by a group of survivors, relatives of survivors,
and concerned citizens collectively known as Remember Every Name.
Much to the surprise and disbelief of the group these
'utilities'were septic tanks. It appears that during the early
1950's a septic pipeline had been placed through the cemetery
leading to the tanks equipped with an electric pump to pump the
contents to a septic bed. The pipe is buried approximately four
feet in the ground, well within the depth of all the known burials
in the cemetery. It is curious that the ground penetrating radar
survey has excluded the area where the pipes would be
buried.Research by the Remember Every Name committee indicates that
it is possible that at least 150 graves from the 1930's would have
been disturbed when this pipe was installed - which further raises
the question regarding the fate of the bones. Were they buried back
in the trench, or removed to another location? What is the state of
the graves where the septic pipe still lies? These are among the
questions that Dr. Melbye, who is assisting the Remember Every Name
committee, is determined to answer.Dr. Jerry Melbye, one of
Canada's most prominent Forensic Anthropologists and Forensic
Expert for The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System
(NamUs), a national centralized repository and resource centre for
missing persons and unidentified decedent records. He has advocated
for the nameless for over 30 years, mostly in crime scenes
involving human skeletal remains. He has worked on hundreds of
cases in Canada and the U.S. Dr. Melbye has joined the efforts of
the Remember Every Name group after learning that there are no
government plans in place to determine the location of a great
number of the victims buried in the HRC cemetery. Melbye has made
an appeal to Garfield Dunlop, his local MPP for Simcoe North, and
Premier Kathleen Wynne to allow his crew to investigate the two
septic tanks and pipe system located in the middle of the HRC
cemetery for burial disturbances and human remains. In order for
these tanks to have been installed, burials must have been
disinterred in the process. What happened to these burials? Where
are the remains? These are questions that Melbye feels must be
answered before the settlement between the government and the
remaining survivors of the Huronia Regional Centre and government
is finalized. "I feel I have been called upon to help in any way I
can. These victims deserve respect. It's my job, it's just the
right thing to do", says Melbye.The victims buried in the HRC
cemetery continue to suffer indignity even in death. Many have no
headstone, many were identified only by a number, many of the
burial plots have not been located, and some head stones were
removed at some point in time and not replaced.And now they have
suffered one of the greatest indignities of all, these victims are
buried among human excrement.Dr. Melbye and the Remember Every Name
committee want to change that. 'These individuals deserve respect
in life, and in death', says Melbye.The Remember Every Name
committee and Dr Melbye request the following:An independent and
professional assessment of the septic tanks and septic pipes in HRC
cemetery.An independent and professional assessment of the state of
the graves that were disturbed by the installation of the above
mentioned pipes.An independent and professional assessment of what
would be involved in decommissioning the septic system and removing
the pipe that lies across graves.We also request that Remember
Every Name and its supporters be able to select the independent
contractor assigned the above tasks. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION,
PLEASE CONTACT:Jerry Melbye, PhD, Forensic Anthropologist Paola Di
Paolo, Remember Every Name
Kathleen Wynne, PremierLegislative BuildingQueen's ParkToronto
ON M7A [email protected] 25, 2015AN OPEN LETTER TO KATHLEEN
WYNNE AND EVERYBODYToday I would like to talk about Remember Every
Name and the graveyard at the old Huronia Regional Centre in
Orillia. I lived there when I was young.There's people who live in
Orillia and other places I think people that have lost their loved
ones are going to try to find them and they need to see them in the
proper names.It would be nice if people who know something would
come forward. People of the staff need to come forward.We have been
trying to work with the government and we thought everyone was
trying to do something right for these people who died. I really
want to find a way to get this graveyard done properly: names and
the bodies should be where they belong. I want names and deaths and
so we can bring flowers and so everybody can know we have not
forgotten about these people.Why has nobody talked about it or told
us what really happened to the missing gravestones (numbers)? I
think people don't want the truth they just want to make excuses.
There's gonna be a lot of people questioning, well why didn't you
do this a long time ago? Why would it be allowed to put pipes
through a graveyard? Just because it happened a long time ago
doesn't make it ok.Jerry is an expert and we need someone who
really knows what they are doing to help us. He is a good expert.
Remember Every Name need's Jerry and the help of experts who knows
exactly where to look through. I don't know why did they tell us to
go ahead and do the fence without no permission to do the
gravestones. I can not trust the company (Timmins-Martelle) who was
working with the government because they don't speak the truth.It's
just upsetting me and other people for their loved ones because its
really awful to have no names and it's just a number. This will be
fixed because that is just the right thing to do. And this is what
should be done at Lakeshore Psychiatric Cemetery too (in Toronto at
Evans and Horner). What I am upset about now is the whole area
where there is nothing: just blank, no names, nothing. That makes
me mad, sad, upsetting, shaking my head. Why is this? Why people
don't care about people who were labelled, to just dump them? It
makes me wonder WHY?Just when we thought it could not get any
worse, we have now figured out that there are pipes there? Two
pipes? Sewage pipes? The water from 65 years could have washed
through the dirt and moved where people are supposed to be. We want
to figure out how they got the pipes in the ground? We need to
figure this out? Did they move people? We have the maps but they
got really mixed up and the maps could be wrong. We still don't
have the answers yet that we need.I have a right to know exactly
what happened. I want to know and why. There has got to be reason.
I think the reason is that they just don't care. All the way around
it feels like something is not right. I have a bad feeling that
something is not right. I know for a fact that something is not
right.I'm hoping that Jerry will find out what the real story is.
What's the truth coming out? The truth is going to come out sooner
or later and people need to find out.Every survivor has a right to
know about the graveyard. People all around the world need to
listen to our stories: all us the survivors, listen to us. We know
what we are talking about. We survived.We want to invite you,
Kathleen and anybody else, to come to the graveyard and tell us
what you think about it and what you think should be done? Maybe in
August or September? Whatever is available for you. Please let me
know.I look forward to hearing from you.Cindy Scott,Remember Every
Name
> From:[email protected]>
To:[email protected]> Subject: An email from the Premier of
Ontario> Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2015 18:49:07 +0000>>> This
email account is not monitored. Please do not reply directly to
this email.> For further inquiries, direct your online message
throughhttps://correspondence.premier.gov.on.ca/en/feedback/default.aspx.>
*********************>>> Thank you for taking the time to
send your email regarding the Huronia Regional Centre Cemetery. I
appreciate hearing from you on this important matter.>> As
your request would best be addressed by my colleague the Honourable
David Orazietti, Minister of Government and Consumer Services, I
have forwarded a copy of your correspondence to him. Minister
Orazietti, or a member of his ministry staff, will provide you with
a response.>> Once again, thank you for writing. Please
accept my best wishes.>>> Kathleen Wynne> Premier of
Ontario>> c: The Honourable David Orazietti
Minister of Government and Consumer Services6th Floor, 900 Bay
Street (Mowat
Block)[email protected]
August 10, 2015
Honourable Minister David Orazietti:
Re: Huronia Regional Centre Cemetery
We appreciate that Premier Kathleen Wynne has asked you to
address our questions about the sewage system that seems to have
disturbed graves at the Huronia Regional Centre (HRC) cemetery in
Orillia.
We have questions about the adequacy of a report done by Timmins
Martelle Heritage Consulting and submitted to Infrastructure
Ontario (with the Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and
Infrastructure) and to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and
Sport.Remember Every Name has been working with staff in the
Ministry of Community and Social Services to properly memorialize
those buried at HRC. But there are unexplained gaps in
theinformationprovided bythose Ministries, about what really
happened at the cemetery.
We are depending on your Ministry to take a fresh look - to
ensure that the previous efforts are reviewed transparently, and
our questions are answered now.
We appreciate that your Ministry relates to both the Archives of
Ontario and the proper maintenance of cemeteries.
We asked the Premier to ensure: An independent and professional
assessment of the septic tanks and septic pipes in HRC cemetery. An
independent and professional assessment of the state of the graves
that were disturbed by the installation of the above mentioned
pipes. An independent and professional assessment of what would be
involved in decommissioning the septic system and removing the pipe
that lies across graves.We also requested that Remember Every Name
and its supporters be able to select the independent contractor
assigned the above tasks.
Dr Jerry Melbye will volunteer his considerable expertise, and
work in full collaboration with that independent contractor.
Remember Every Name is meeting at the HRC cemetery on Sunday
August 16th at 1:30 pm. We would welcome you and your staff to meet
with us there.
Please let us know how you can ensure the investigation that
will properly honour the people who were buried by government
here.
Thank you.
Sincerely,Leah Dolmage with Remember Every Name
August 21, 2015
The Honourable David Orazietti,Minister of Government and
Consumer [email protected] Sir:Subject:
Removal of septic tanks and pipes at the HRC cemetery
I understand that Premier Kathleen Wynne has asked you to
address concerns about the sewage system that seems to have
disturbed graves at the Huronia Regional Centre (HRC) cemetery in
Orillia.I am a certified Forensic Anthropologist and Professor
Emeritus of the University of Toronto, Im a supporter of the
survivors of the Huronia Regional Centre in Orillia and am
concerned about the state of the cemetery that house up to 2000
individuals. As a Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic
Anthropology and Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic
Sciences, I am highly trained in the analysis of skeletal,
decomposed, mummified, burned, cremated, incomplete, fragmentary,
dismembered, and commingled remains.There has been a great deal of
press of late in regard to the Huronia Regional Centre (Orillia,
Ontario) and the three locations on the GPR survey map produced by
the archaeological firm Timmins MartelleHeritageConsultants (TMHC)
that are simply labeled 'Utilities'. During my investigation of
these three 'utility locations' I was horrified to discover that
these utilities are septic tanks equipped with an electric pump to
pump the contents to a septic bed that had been installed during
the early 1950's. Attached to the septic tanks are pipes buried
approximately four feet in the ground, well within the depth of all
the known burials in the cemetery. I believe that at least 150
graves from the 1930's would have been disturbed when this pipe was
installed - which raises questions about the fate of the remains.
My main concern now is to determine the state of the graves along
the pipeline running through the cemetery and in and around the
area of the tanks. In order to do this I request the support of
your Ministry to allow me to decommission the septic system and
pipes that lie across the graves to expose the area of concern. I
would then conduct a discreet independent and professional
assessment of the state of the graves that were disturbed by the
original installation of the above mentioned pipes.I strongly
believe that we all deserve basic human rights in life and in
death, and if I can contribute my expertise to bring some peace to
these victims as well as the survivors, then its something I must
do. Ive been an advocate for over 30 years for those individuals
who cannot speak for themselves. The cemetery can then to be
reconstructed to show respect for the individuals that are laid to
rest there. If disturbed burials are discovered during the
excavation we may never be able to positively identify these
individuals, but we will at least be able to right this terrible
wrong and let them rest in peace. They suffered horribly throughout
their lives and now because of the condition of their resting
place, continue to suffer through death.I request that I be
commissioned by your Ministry to correct this situation in the
spring of 2016 and show the survivors that we do care about them
and their HRC family by creating a graveyard that truly reflects
respect and dignity.Please contact me at your earliest
convenience.Kindest Regards,Dr. Jerry Melbye, D-ABFA,
F-AAFSProfessor Emeritus, University of Toronto Research Professor,
University of North
Texashttps://ca.linkedin.com/in/[email protected]
From: "Minister of Economic Development, Employment and
Infrastructure" Date: 2015-10-09 3:52 PMSubject: A Message from the
Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure
I am in receipt of your email to The Honourable David Orazietti
regarding the Huronia Regional Centre (HRC) Cemetery. I appreciate
the time you took to share your concerns, and am pleased to
respond.Working with the Ministry of Community and Social Services,
Infrastructure Ontario (IO) is investigating this issue by
conducting an additional evaluation of the cemetery. Efforts are
underway to determine the path of any pipes (which would have been
laid more than 60 years ago). IO is also undertaking a review of
the site plans and burial records to confirm the history of when
the pipe was laid, its depth and intended use, and the timing and
location of burials. External experts have been hired by IO to help
complete this evaluation. Timmins Martelle Heritage Consulting is
continuing to conduct a detailed review of the burial records. They
are licensed archaeologists with extensive experience working under
the Funeral, Burials and Cremations Act and with other historic
cemeteries. IOs investigation plans do not involve disturbing any
graves.In addition to researching records, a utility locate company
is being openly procured to further investigate and verify the
presence or absence of underground utilities.Our government is
committed to getting answers to the concerns that have been raised
with respect to the HRC Cemetery. Once all examinations have been
completed, findings will be shared with the Ministry of Community
and Social Services to determine appropriate actions to be taken as
needed.I understand that once investigative findings are completed,
the Ministry of Community and Social Services will continue to work
with Remember Every Name to determine the best way forward.I can
assure you that we are committed to maintaining the cemetery in a
respectful manner.Sincerely,Brad DuguidMinisterc: The Honourable
David Orazietti, Minister of Government and Consumer Services The
Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister of Community and Social
Services
