• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Centre for Independent Living in Toronto

CILT

  • About Us
    • Strategic Plan
    • What is Independent Living?
      • Independent Living: An Overview
    • Board of Directors
    • Empowerment
    • Awards
      • Founders’ Award
      • Helen Henderson Literary Award
      • Vic Willi Legacy Fund
    • Donation
    • History
    • Membership
    • Annual Report
    • Working at CILT
      • Career Opportunities
      • Job Alerts
    • FAQs
  • What’s New
    • CILT Events Calendar
    • Disability News
  • Programs
    • ASAC (Attendant Service Application Centre)
      • Attendant Services Overview
      • ASAC Application and Guide
      • Consumer Attendant Roster
      • Ontario Attendant Service Directory
      • PSW Education & Training Fund
    • Independent Living Skills Training
      • Independent Living Skills Articles
      • Independent Living Skills Resources
      • Aging With a Disability
    • Direct Funding/Financement Direct (DF)
    • Parenting With a Disability Network
      • Parenting FAQ
      • Family Social Events
      • Parenting Workshops
      • Nurturing Assistance
      • Parenting Peer Support
      • Parenting Resources
    • Peer Support
      • 24 Hour Emergency Numbers
      • Peer Support FAQs
      • Diner’s Club
      • Peer Support Resources
    • Service Navigation
      • Housing
      • Legal Resources
    • Volunteers
      • Volunteer FAQ
      • Volunteer Application
  • Resources
    • Glossary
    • CILT Now
    • Our Histories
    • CILT Publications
    • Resource Library
  • Contact Us
  • Donate Now
  • Show Search
Hide Search

John Rae, Canadian disability rights champion passes away on April 8, 2022

Published: April 12, 2022

On April 8, 2022, the disability community in Canada lost a fierce champion for disability rights who’s influence and voice will be deeply missed.

John Rae, a colleague and ally of many disability advocates across Canada, passed away on that day in Toronto, during a health emergency. In his seventies, blind since childhood, and long retired from the Ontario government, John was a dedicated advocate of disability and human rights issues for over thirty years. 

He tirelessly performed policy and advocacy work that helped improve accessibility and inclusion for the Blind and broader disability communities, partnering with a legion of local, provincial and national coalitions and groups over the decades. A fraction of these include organizations like The Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians (AEBC) and The Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD), the ODSP Action Coalition, Ontario legal clinics, the GTA Disability Coalition and CILT, to whom he was a generous loyal friend.

John Rae was a brilliant and jovial man and one of those engaging storytellers with a sharp wit. He often used these gifts to entertain and enlighten his many comrades, but also to critique government on their ableist policies and practices. John was also a policy wonk and rarely passed on a chance to give policy advice to government- whether invited to or not. He saw their ableist structures as needing to be dismantled and reimagined and would often lecture politicians on how to rebuild them with disabled people in mind.

John was well known as a fierce defender of the disability community and conducted his activism work like a soldier. Many colleagues will remember feeling honored to have been in the trenches with John working for social change on issues like accessible housing, livable social assistance rates, and inclusive public spaces. Most of us will miss his generous loyal heart, courageous spirit, and his love of banter, a great joke and a good meal. CILT offers sincere condolences to all of you who knew him.  Rest in Peace and Power, John Rae.

Uncategorized

Primary Sidebar

Pages

  • About Us
    • Strategic Plan
    • What is Independent Living?
      • Independent Living: An Overview
    • Board of Directors
    • Empowerment
    • Awards
      • Founders’ Award
      • Helen Henderson Literary Award
      • Vic Willi Legacy Fund
    • Donation
    • History
    • Membership
    • Annual Report
    • Working at CILT
      • Career Opportunities
      • Job Alerts
    • FAQs
  • What’s New
    • CILT Events Calendar
    • Disability News
  • Programs
    • ASAC (Attendant Service Application Centre)
      • Attendant Services Overview
      • ASAC Application and Guide
      • Consumer Attendant Roster
      • Ontario Attendant Service Directory
      • PSW Education & Training Fund
    • Independent Living Skills Training
      • Independent Living Skills Articles
      • Independent Living Skills Resources
      • Aging With a Disability
    • Direct Funding/Financement Direct (DF)
    • Parenting With a Disability Network
      • Parenting FAQ
      • Family Social Events
      • Parenting Workshops
      • Nurturing Assistance
      • Parenting Peer Support
      • Parenting Resources
    • Peer Support
      • 24 Hour Emergency Numbers
      • Peer Support FAQs
      • Diner’s Club
      • Peer Support Resources
    • Service Navigation
      • Housing
      • Legal Resources
    • Volunteers
      • Volunteer FAQ
      • Volunteer Application
  • Resources
    • Glossary
    • CILT Now
    • Our Histories
    • CILT Publications
    • Resource Library
  • Contact Us
  • Donate Now

Recent Posts

  • COVID-19 Response Focus Group – Registration Questionnaire
  • Vaccine Engagement Updates for Friday January 27th – Thursday February 2nd, 2023
  • Vaccine Engagement Updates for Friday January 20th – Thursday January 26th, 2022
  • In Memory of David Onley
  • Vaccine Engagement Updates for Friday December 9th – Thursday December 15th, 2022

Archives

  • Archives
  • Articles
  • Bulletins and Newsletters
    • Parenting Bulletin
    • Parenting Bulletin Archive
    • Past Newsletters
    • Volunteer Vibes
  • Past Projects and Resources
    • Employment
    • Gateway Project
    • Investing in Futures Project: Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP)
    • The Safe Engaged Environments Disability (SEED) Project
    • STAND Safety Ambassador Project
    • Disability and Rights for Citizens (DRC) Project
    • Civic Literacy – Disability Project
    • SITS Project
    • SITS Workshops
DONATE NOW

Connect on Social Media:

Twitter
YouTube
Facebook

Connect on Social Media:

Twitter
YouTube
Facebook
City of Toronto
Ontario - Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network
Independent Living Canada
United Way - Greater Toronto
  • Events
  • Policies
  • Career Opportunities
  • Helpful Links
  • Accessibility
  • Media
  • Archives

© 2023 CILT - Log in Built by PeaceWorks