Theresa Ducharme
Theresa Ducharme, a Métis woman born in 1945, started off okay. She was a wild child. As a teen, she modelled for different catalogues and magazines. But, at the age of eight, she was taken with polio and it left her a quadriplegic. Then her dad became abusive, and things just seemed to be falling steadily downhill. Later on in life, she realized the good she could do for this world. A while after, in 1978, she married Clifford Ducharme. Ducharme became a political activist. She ran multiple times for mayor, but had to quit in 2002 when her health became too much of a hindrance. She advocated at seminars and conferences all across Canada.
Ducharme was strong-willed and determined. She spent her life fighting for rights. She fought for her own rights, such as the right to fly on a plane despite medical concern, as well as the rights of others. It is said that multiple times she could have been seen at city hall with a cardboard cigarette on her head as she supported the Winnipeg smoking-ban.
Other than appearing in court and at council and such, Ducharme advocated in other ways as well. Ducharme wrote and self-published a book. It’s called “Life and Breath”. It is about her life as a person with special needs.
Despite all this “fighting for rights” that she did, a curious case came up during my research: Ducharme was the one who fought against Sue Rodriguez. Rodriguez, another political activist with a disability, wanted the right to take her own life, but Ducharme said that that shouldn’t happen! Finally, when in fact Rodriguez’s doctor assisted her in committing suicide, Ducharme attempted to press charges on those witnesses. I find it very ironic that this strong, caring activist would disregard a plea for a right like that. Though, I must agree with Ducharme. I truly believe that “thou shall not kill”, and that includes oneself.
Above all, Theresa Ducharme believed in equality and equal justice for everyone, disregarding race, religion, ability, and disability. She played a huge part in the fight for handicapped buses here in Winnipeg. In fact, my uncle attended many a meeting with her, and helped her to get a bit of what she wanted from Transit. She also advocated for citywide building accessibility and air travel.
A lot of our city, our country, and even our world today have changed sufficiently since Ducharme was young and beginning her activist career. Persons with disabilities are respected now. Discrimination is diminished. Work, travel, and access to buildings and activities is much simpler for those of us with special needs. Yes, we as a community and as a world still have a lot to do to make this world an equal place for all, but a lot of what we have today, we owe to people like Theresa Ducharme. If I could meet her, I would thank her over and over again for teaching us about life as a person with a disability, and for changing our world for the better! Thanks Theresa!
Theresa Ducharme, a Métis woman born in 1945, started off okay. She was a wild child. As a teen, she modelled for different catalogues and magazines. But, at the age of eight, she was taken with polio and it left her a quadriplegic. Then her dad became abusive, and things just seemed to be falling steadily downhill. Later on in life, she realized the good she could do for this world. A while after, in 1978, she married Clifford Ducharme. Ducharme became a political activist. She ran multiple times for mayor, but had to quit in 2002 when her health became too much of a hindrance. She advocated at seminars and conferences all across Canada.
Ducharme was strong-willed and determined. She spent her life fighting for rights. She fought for her own rights, such as the right to fly on a plane despite medical concern, as well as the rights of others. It is said that multiple times she could have been seen at city hall with a cardboard cigarette on her head as she supported the Winnipeg smoking-ban.
Other than appearing in court and at council and such, Ducharme advocated in other ways as well. Ducharme wrote and self-published a book. It’s called “Life and Breath”. It is about her life as a person with special needs.
Despite all this “fighting for rights” that she did, a curious case came up during my research: Ducharme was the one who fought against Sue Rodriguez. Rodriguez, another political activist with a disability, wanted the right to take her own life, but Ducharme said that that shouldn’t happen! Finally, when in fact Rodriguez’s doctor assisted her in committing suicide, Ducharme attempted to press charges on those witnesses. I find it very ironic that this strong, caring activist would disregard a plea for a right like that. Though, I must agree with Ducharme. I truly believe that “thou shall not kill”, and that includes oneself.
Above all, Theresa Ducharme believed in equality and equal justice for everyone, disregarding race, religion, ability, and disability. She played a huge part in the fight for handicapped buses here in Winnipeg. In fact, my uncle attended many a meeting with her, and helped her to get a bit of what she wanted from Transit. She also advocated for citywide building accessibility and air travel.
A lot of our city, our country, and even our world today have changed sufficiently since Ducharme was young and beginning her activist career. Persons with disabilities are respected now. Discrimination is diminished. Work, travel, and access to buildings and activities is much simpler for those of us with special needs. Yes, we as a community and as a world still have a lot to do to make this world an equal place for all, but a lot of what we have today, we owe to people like Theresa Ducharme. If I could meet her, I would thank her over and over again for teaching us about life as a person with a disability, and for changing our world for the better! Thanks Theresa!
1 comment:
Very detailed, gives lot of imfromation. It gives the feeling that u know them in person.
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