Template:Did you know nominations/Huronia Regional Centre

Huronia Regional Centre

 * ... that particularly during the 1960s, patients of the Huronia Regional Centre were subjected to "despairing conditions" and abuse?
 * Reviewed: Bernadett Szél
 * Comment: Self-nomination. Quotation from here.

Created by TheFeds (talk). Self nominated at 02:35, 27 September 2013 (UTC).


 * Symbol possible vote.svg Almost ready. Article created new and brought up to standards between 22–24 September. It is meticulously well-researched and cited, and more than meets DYK standards. The primary claim made by the hook is verified and appropriate—though it may seem controversial, the abusive conditions at the facility are now commonly recognized and have been acknowledged by the Ontario government as part of a lawsuit settlement. The only part of the hook I'm not sure about is the "during the 1960s" claim. TheFeds: Is there a source for this? I don't think the article reproduced from 1960 quite does it. Thanks you for this great contribution. groupuscule (talk) 06:59, 12 October 2013 (UTC)


 * The 1960s claim follows particularly from the Williston report and from the Berton piece; I've added the Williston report as a reference and added a bit more material from it. Regarding the conditions, on page 30 it says, "Overcrowding was most apparent in wards where profoundly and seriously retarded adults, naked or near naked, sat rocking, or aimlessly walking or crawling, often dirty. There was little attempt at programming their activities. Conditions such as these prevailed in Orillia and Smiths Falls until the new systems were introduced beginning in 1964, and until three years ago at Aurora." (emphasis added). I don't have specific knowledge about the duration or frequency of abuse. TheFeds  07:44, 22 October 2013 (UTC)
 * TheFeds, may I recommend:
 * Alt1 ... that a 1960 report exposed abuse and "despairing conditions" for patients at the Huronia Regional Centre?
 * This is a little more precise based on the sources we have. groupuscule (talk) 05:54, 25 October 2013 (UTC)


 * Maybe it would be more precise to just remove the 1960s reference? After all, the 1960 Berton article described mostly poor conditions, but not details of abuse, and the 1971 Williston report described poor conditions, but again didn't quite allege abuse. Instead, it was the fallout from the patients/families' allegations and lawsuit, and the government's admission that established abuse, but the time period doesn't necessarily match up.So maybe Alt2: ... that patients of the overcrowded Huronia Regional Centre were subjected to years of "despairing conditions", and in some cases, abuse?I don't want to make it seem too biased against the staff—because the referenced material doesn't give a clear picture of how many staff were "dedicated" (per Berton), and how many were abusers. TheFeds  08:08, 25 October 2013 (UTC)


 * Agree with all of your reasoning here. groupuscule (talk) 22:25, 26 October 2013 (UTC)


 * Symbol confirmed.svg Alt2 is good to go. groupuscule (talk) 22:25, 26 October 2013 (UTC)
 * I read the quote and wondered if the "despairing conditions" referred to the poor working conditions faced by the staff there. Anyway, here's an alt hook for Halloween Jack-o-lantern.svg:
 * ALT3a: ... that there are more than 1400 unmarked graves in a field across from the site of the former Orillia Asylum for Idiots?
 * ALT3b: ... that there are more than 1400 unmarked graves in a field across from the site of the former Ontario Hospital School in Orillia, Canada?
 * --PFHLai (talk) 12:26, 27 October 2013 (UTC)

I don't know about the intended tone of the DYKs for Hallowe'en, but if macabre is par for the course, those could work. I think I still prefer Alt2 by virtue of being more descriptive of what's in the article. TheFeds 07:30, 29 October 2013 (UTC)
 * Now that you mention it, I guess the meaning of "despairing conditions" could go either way.
 * Symbol voting keep.svg ALT3a and ALT3b confirmed. AGF of other DYK requirements based upon previous review by Groupuscule. --Allen3 talk 10:46, 29 October 2013 (UTC)
 * My sense: that making this a themed holiday story is a bit disrespectful. I also prefer Alt 2. groupuscule (talk) 04:41, 30 October 2013 (UTC)