Human Rights Award

It would be terrific is this went to a person with a disability this year.......

The Nova Scotia Human Rights Award, presented annually by the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission, acknowledges the good works done in Nova Scotia by residents who advance human rights. Human Rights are those conditions, expectations, and standards to which every person by virtue of his or her existence as a human being, is entitled.

Nominations are due November 2, and this document covers the rules.

August 2015

A few items:

Nova Scotians at the Para Pan Ams:

Pamela LeJean and Devin Gotell won gold

The details:

Name	Finish	Medal
Gotell	Swimming
Men's 200m IM SM13(SM12-13)	2	Silver
Men's 100m Backstroke S13(S12-13)	2	Silver
Men's 400m Freestyle S13(S11-13)	1	Gold
Men's 100m Freestyle S13	4
LeJean	Athletics
Women's Shot Put F53/54/55	1	Gold
Women's Javelin Throw F53/54	3	Bronze
Murphy	Swimming
Men's 100m Freestyle S5	5
Mixed 4x50m Freestyle Relay 20ptsCanada	3	Bronze
Men's 50m Butterfly S5(1-5)	4
Men's 200m IM SM6(SM5-6)	7
Men's 50m Freestyle S5	5
Men's 50m Backstroke S5	6
Men's 200m Freestyle S5(S1-5)	4
Brown	Athletics
Men's 100m T53	4
Kent	Table Tennis
Men's Singles Class 8	3	Bronze
Men's Team Class 6-8Canada	2	Silver
Dunn	Table Tennis
Men's Singles Class 3	7
Men's Team Class 3-4Canada	5
Drozdowski	Table Tennis
Men's Singles Class 11	4
Caron	Table Tennis
Men's Singles Class 8	7
Men's Team Class 6-8Canada	2	Silver
MacSween	Goalball
WomenCanada	3	Bronze
Jewells	Wheelchair Basketball
Women'sCanada	2	Silver
	Gold	2
	Silver	5
	Bronze	4
	TOTAL	11*

*by my count.  Corrections to wcreedh@gmail.com

Congratulations again to Sarah Dube:

Miscellany:

If you hadn't seen this article from The Globe and Mail, it's worth a read:
It's well past time for a Canadians with Disabilities Act

Nova Scotia would do well to pay more attention to travel infrastructure for people with disabilities:
Disability Travel Generates $17.3 Billion In Annual Spending.  The Americans with Disabilities Act has broadened leisure opportunities for millions, including a big population in nearby New England. novascotia.com lists 157 of 784 places  to stay as 'wheelchair accessible'.   That's 20% of places, not rooms.

Exercise is good, exercising your vote is even better.

2015 James McGregor Stewart Award

We proudly announce that Sarah Dube is the winner of the 2015 James McGregor Stewart Award.

left to right
Speaker Kevin Murphy, Rod MacLennan, Angela Bishop, Sarah Dube, Gus Reed

In a  ceremony on June 30th, Jim Stewart's 126th birthday, Sarah was presented with a $1000 cheque by Speaker Murphy.

The Award recognizes leadership, effective advocacy and outstanding personal achievement of a person with a disability.  “The award honours the resolve shown by Stewart”, says Warren Reed, a co-founder of the Society.  “In Sarah our selection committee found a person that, like Stewart, leads and excels regardless of barriers”.

Sarah has been an active advocate for accessibility since 1995, first with the Muscular Dystrophy Association and then as a Board member of Independent Living Nova Scotia. She now co-chairs that organization and is a passionate advocate for young adults.  As a student she was a champion for improved campus accessibility and a founding member of Students for Teaching Peace.  She completed King’s College’s challenging Foundation Year Program and graduated with a combined honours BA in contemporary studies and history.  This spring Sarah received her Master of Planning degree from Dalhousie University.

Sarah is well-known in the community. Steve Estey, one of Sarah’s references, says “Sarah is a wise and thoughtful young woman with a deep commitment to the human rights of people with disabilities and indeed to the community at large.”

The Award recognizes the spirit of Mr. James McGregor Stewart who overcame many barriers, despite a disability resulting from polio. First in his class at Dalhousie Law School in 1914, he was also President of the Students' Council. He was shortlisted for the Rhodes Scholarship but was not successful, due to concerns expressed about his physical condition. Nevertheless, Stewart went on to head a Halifax law firm that became the present day Stewart McKelvey. He was Chairman of Dalhousie's Board of Governors.  In 2000, Canadian Lawyer magazine named him as one of Canada’s ten greatest lawyers.

A crew from Accessible Media filmed the event.  Links will be posted soon.

The Award was established by friends of the Society through the Community Foundation of Nova Scotia, an organization that supports philanthropy across the province.

James McGregor Stewart Award Announced

The James McGregor Stewart Society is pleased to announce an award described in the following statement from the Community Foundation of Nova Scotia.  I can think of dozens of folks who deserve serious consideration, and I bet you can too.  Please nominate people who have worked so hard for themselves and their community.  The deadline for nominations is June 1.

-Gus Reed

New Award Recognizes Outstanding Citizen Living with a Disability

Halifax The Community Foundation of Nova Scotia is pleased to announce the launch of the James McGregor Stewart Award to recognize the achievement of a Nova Scotian living with a disability. The Award is named for James McGregor Stewart who overcame many barriers, despite a reliance on crutches throughout his life as a result of childhood polio. Mr. Stewart was a founder of one of Atlantic Canada’s leading law firms, Stewart McKelvey.

The Fund was established by friends of the James McGregor Stewart Society to recognize Nova Scotians living with a disability for their leadership, personal accomplishment or effective advocacy.

The Award recipient will be selected through a nomination process and nominees will evaluated for determination and achievement in conquering personal or externally imposed boundaries, with emphasis on leadership, personal excellence and advocacy.

The Award of $1,000.00 will be presented annually on June 30, the anniversary of the birth date of James McGregor Stewart.

The Community Foundation of Nova Scotia works with funders to make smart and caring investments in communities and people; we enable effective philanthropy. To learn more about this award and the others supported by the CFNS, please visit the website at www.cfns.ca

More Information

Warren Reed, 

James McGregor Stewart Society 

(902) 482 4017 wcreedh@gmail.com 

Angela Bishop, Executive Director

Community Foundation of Nova Scotia
(902) 490 5907 angela.bishop@cfns.ca

View a poster here

Make an on-line nomination here

Visitability Award Nominations

The Canadian Centre on Disability Studies (CCDS) is launching the Awards of Excellence in VisitAble Housing to showcase exemplary designs and practices of VisitAble Housing in Canada.

Please think about making Visitability more visible by making a nomination in Nova Scotia.  Here is the webpage announcing the competition:

Recognition

The James McGregor Stewart Society is honoured to receive the Lois Miller Tulip Award from Independent Living Nova Scotia.

The award is "to recognize a person, group or organization that exemplifies the spirit of independent living in providing contributions to enable persons living with disabilities to have control and informed choice over their lives."  

Anyone who knows Lois will testify that her energy and focus have changed the outlook for Nova Scotians with disabilities.  She served as the Executive Director of ILNS for 13 years before she retired early in 2011. She brought to the position her varied experience in non-profit organizations – as teacher, public relations officer, fundraiser, municipal politician and literacy program coordinator. The Lois Miller Tulip Award is to honour her tireless and active leadership on behalf of people living with a disability.

ILNS helps individuals navigate the complex systems faced by people with disabilities.  The quest to live a meaningful and independent life is often difficult.  Our many efforts to highlight inequities could not have practical effect without the engagement of groups like ILNS.

The award will be presented at the annual Gala and Dance of the ILNS, December 18, 6 - 930 PM

The  James McGregor Stewart Society is extremely grateful for the recognition. 

Happy 125th, JMcGS

In a ceremony at 10 o'clock this morning at Camp Hill Cemetery, about 20 people happily observed the 125th birthday of James McGregor Stewart.  The gravesite had been completely cleaned, through the good offices of Councilor Waye Mason.  June 30, 2014 was proclaimed to be James McGregor Stewart Day in Nova Scotia. 

Rev. Paul Friesen provided brief and well chosen words in his invocation:

May we who recollect his faithfulness,

Be barred by no prejudice or fear.

May all who follow in his persistent path,

Rejoice in the gifts granted to each

For the good of all our fellows.

and again in his benediction, calling on Providence to:

Scatter the darkness of prejudice from the hearts of the powerful,

And brighten the lives of all

Rod MacLennan read Kipling's the Thousandth Man with solemnity.

The order of ceremonies was:

• Bagpipes - Neil White
• Invocation - Rev. Paul Friesen
• Reading of the Proclamation and presentation to Mrs. Morrison - Speaker Murphy 
• Reading of "The Thousandth Man" - R.J. MacLennan
• Benediction - Rev. Paul Friesen 
• Bagpipes 
• Most of the attendees gathered for coffee at Just Us afterward

The Proclamation is reproduced here:

Patrick Harrington, extraordinary citizen

Thursday last, Halifax lost a tireless advocate for people with disabilities and I lost a friend.  Here is a small tribute to a person who had  a huge and lasting influence on our community and who died much too soon.

Patrick Harrington was a kind and gentle man.  In a way, that's all you need to know, but there is a great deal more.

Patrick Harrington was a kind and gentle man who loved his family and was loved in return.  Especially by his treasured Julia, who brings her own gentleness and steeliness from far away Little Bay Island.  And his sons!  Proud father and supporter of Morgan and Jonah, always understanding.  Doting grandfather, mindful of the magic and responsibility of such a blessing.  He was devoted to his siblings, who seem equally devoted to him.  During his month in Toronto General, he spoke often of how much he missed his home and family.

Patrick Harrington was a kind and gentle man who loved and served his community.  Although he was born in Connecticut, he seemed to know everything there is to know about Halifax.  He had a mental map of the city accurate to the minutest detail.  He could guide you down the one-way streets and tell you exactly where you were.  "We're just passing  Cousin's Restaurant".  He was the patient and slightly exasperated chairman of HRM's Advisory Committee on People with Disabilities.  He served on the Access-a-Bus committee.  As Chairman of The Canadian National Institute for the Blind's VISTA committee, he helped guide HRM on accessible pedestrian travel.  Because he expected the best, sometimes his community disappointed him, often in relation to where his beloved service dog Orville was welcomed.  A person of culture, Patrick was proud of his city's cultural achievements.

Patrick Harrington was a kind and gentle man of great faith and courage.  Faith was not a topic we discussed, but his attachment to his church and pastor were an obvious source of peace and strength.  As he considered the possibility of a transplant, he was able to do so with clarity and bravery.  He seemed to know more medicine than most doctors; maybe not every detail, but all the implications and nuances.  He seemed to be unafraid.

Patrick Harrington was a kind and gentle man and a special friend to me.  His enviable brain was full of wise counsel.  He offered the diplomatic solution when I would be ready for revenge.  He remembered small details of my life.  He paid attention to me and made me feel worthy.  He praised my successes and sympathized with my failures.  He was all a friend should be.

Patrick Harrington was a kind and gentle man who will be greatly missed.  

Gus Reed

About the 1 in 1000 Medal

The award
We are seeking a sponsor for two medals with a generous stipend to be awarded annually at a James McGregor Stewart ceremony in Halifax. One medal to a person from the region; another to a person from from anywhere in Canada.

Purpose
To salute advocates who have brought special recognition to the community of persons with disabilities, or for meritorious achievement of a person with disabilities in any field.

Eligibility
Is limited to Canadians with disabilities as broadly defined in the regulations of Revenue Canada. Nominees must be 18 years or older. Employees of government agencies which directly affect the situation of persons with disabilities are generally ineligible.

Nomination
Nominators should submit a letter of recommendation. The deadline for receipt of nominations is April 1.

Selection
Is done by a committee consisting of four directors of the James McGregor Stewart Society.

Conditions
In most circumstances, recipients must be present at the award dinner. The stipend is to support travel or study.