Community Living Ontario

Jim Turner’s dedication to inclusion recognized with the William G. Davis Outstanding Volunteer Award
Wednesday May 25, 2011 -- Kristian Partington

Every so often, an individual comes along whose passion and commitment to a cause becomes a catalyst for change; the core of a movement that inspires everyone to do better.

Last week at the Ontario legislature, one such individual was recognized by Community Living Ontario for his role in furthering the quest for a society where every person, regardless of their ability, has the opportunity to realize their full potential.

For 60 years, Community Living Ontario has been at the centre of the inclusivity movement, founded by parents who believed in a community-based alternative to the institutional status quo of the era.

For much of that time, Jim Turner was there, pushing to enlighten the public and prove that people with intellectual or developmental disabilities have an important role to play in their communities, and that their total inclusion benefits society as a whole.

This past December, Turner passed away, but his legacy was honoured at Queen Park when his wife Diane was presented with the prestigious William G. Davis Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Throughout his many years of dedicated service on several boards and committees with Community Living Ontario and Community Living Toronto, he helped shape policies, defined core inclusion principles for governments, and built consensus among the vast range of people who shared the ultimate vision of inclusion.

“I am so pleased to recognize Jim for the wisdom he brought to the Community Living movement, the vision he held for a strong provincial association, and the advocacy he carried out on behalf of people like his son, because his actions have helped literally thousands of families across Ontario,” remarked Community Living Ontario president Debbie Rollier at the presentation.

For 20 years, Community Living Ontario’s executive director Keith Powell says he learned from Turner’s example.

“He was always so wise about constructive process and also insightful about how to build consensus around the positions that the members were defining,” says Powell.

Turner’s skill as a master consensus builder, coupled with his personal connection to the values of inclusion as a parent of a son with a disability, made him a true force in the movement.

“He personally shared the vision that we have here at Community Living Ontario,” says Powell.

“He, himself, as a parent, understood very well the dreams, wishes and fears of parents, and the successes and compromises that have to occur for a family to see their son or daughter supported to live in the community.”

Through his work, he strengthened the movement and promoted solidarity among the thousands of people working towards the goal of inclusion.

That core is the legacy Jim Turner has left behind.

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