Brain Injury Awareness Month

On May 30, I spoke in the Manitoba Legislature in response to a Ministerial statement on Brain Injury Awareness Month.

Mr. Gerrard: Madam Speaker, brain injury awareness month in June, which we support, is important because it brings attention to the critical need to pay more attention to individuals with a brain injury in Manitoba and to the major need to improve the support for individuals who have a brain injury.

I will mention briefly two individuals.

First, Marcel Blanchette had a brain injury which resulted from his home being invaded by an aggressive criminal who assaulted him. He woke up after some time in a coma to find that the Public Guardian and Trustee, acting on behalf of the government of Manitoba, had been such a poor steward of his interests that all his belongings were taken away–I mean all his belongings–including all his photos, all his documents, everything. He managed to recover a few scraps from a thrift store, but in essence his life was taken away from him by the combined actions of the criminal who attacked him and the Public Guardian and Trustee who failed miserably in the duty to be a guardian of people who have a disability. And he never even got an apology.

The second story is of Taylor Pryor, a promising young student and athlete who had a concussion. The concussion led to suicidal ideation, and when she did not get the help she needed in time, she committed suicide.

The tragedies of both these stories is that of Manitobans of great promise who had brain injuries. In both cases, the system of support in Manitoba failed them badly. We need to do much better moving forward.

And I urge all to support brain injury awareness month, and those who can to go to Brandon for Saturday, where the walk for brain injury month will occur, or to participate in the event on June 23rd.

Thank you. Merci. Miigwech.

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