A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.
~Yoko Ono

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Happy Days

Remember the story I shared with you last month about what happened when the LeHave Corporation tried to purchase a property in Bridgewaer that was ideally-suited for use as a group home, particularly for three individuals that had lived together for over 18 years?

How afer the neighbours started complaining, the Town of Bridgewater decided that the property couldn't become a group home because that was an "institution", which would violate zoning bylaws that allowed for "low density residential housing" aka single family dwellings?

As I told you then, following a groundswell of public support from across the country and the pointed suggestion that the Town's position might well violate Article 9 and Article 28 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Bridgewater eventually agreed to change its zoning bylaws to allow the new group home to open.

Well, I'm now very pleased to report that Denice Russell, Melisa Knox and Kim Fairbanks, who have lived together as sisters for 18 years have moved into "Compassion House", as the property is now known. Which made my day feel a little bit brighter.

Go read the story and see for yourself.

And then say those nine words slowly, savouring every one of them ... the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

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