A Starry Starry Night cocktail reception fundraiser

This event is put on by the Ontario Health Coalition

The Advocacy Centre for the Elderly & the Ontario Health Coalition are pleased to invite you to join us for an evening in support of the fight for justice & equity for the elderly. Cocktail gathering with food, music and great people who care.

We will be joined by Steven Shrybman, LL.B., lead lawyer on the case,  family members who provided testimony, Graham Webb LL.B., executive director of the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly, Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition, Dr. Joel Lexchin, Dr. Nancy Olivieri (host) and friends.

Friday, November 22

6 – 7:30 p.m.

at Mercatto
located in the MaRS building, 101 College St., Toronto

Individual tickets: $550  (tax receipt approx. $482.75)

Couples/two tickets: $1000 (tax receipt approx. $865.50)

Groups (flights of six tickets): $3000 (tax receipt approx. $2,596.50)

If you are unable to attend, please consider purchasing a ticket to donate for others or making a contribution to help cover tickets for families through the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly’s Bill 7 Charter Challenge fund.

Tax receipts for those supporting the Bill 7 Charter Challenge, in accordance with Canada Revenue Agency rules will be provided.

If you are interested in purchasing tickets or donating a ticket:

• purchase online at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/advocacy-centre-for-the-elderly-ace/events/bill-7-charter-challenge-fund-raising-dinner/
• e-transfer to the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly: info@ace.clcj.ca  password: Bill#7
• or mail a cheque to:  Advocacy Centre of the Elderly, Attn: Office Manager, 55 University Avenue, Suite 1500, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2H7 

Bill 7 violates the Charter rights of the elderly forcing elderly hospital patients out to long-term care homes that they do not want to go to, under threat of having to pay $400 per day if they refuse. The legislation allows these elderly patients to be sent up to 70 km away in Southern Ontario and up to 150 km away — or further if there are no available beds — in the North. They can be sent to homes with terrible records of substandard care, or poor infection control, or to communities too far away for their loved ones. For most, this will be the last move of their lives.

The elderly have been targeted for this deprivation of their right to informed consent —  a fundamental right for all patients that is cornerstone to the practice of modern medicine and health care. The Advocacy Centre for the Elderly and the Ontario Health Coalition have brought this court challenge under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in the Constitution to protect the equality rights of the elderly and their rights to life, liberty and the security of the person.

Orchard Villa is a for-profit long-term care home owned by for-profit chain Southbridge. Southbridge has one of the worst death records of all in the pandemic and Orchard Villa has suffered from severe understaffing and inadequate care under their ownership. The military went into the home and found conditions that were horrific – flies and cockroaches, residents on bare mattresses without linens, mattresses on the floor so residents couldn’t get up and walk around, dangerous feeding that resulted in choking and death, and more. Families described their loved ones as starving and dehydrated. More than 70 residents died of COVID alone. Instead of holding the corporate owners accountable, the Ministry of Long-Term Care is planning to give them a new 30-year license and an expansion. This is contrary to the law which requires the government to only give licenses to owners whose records are in compliance with standards and requirements for care and living, and for the safety and security of the residents. The Ontario Health Coalition has brought a court challenge seeking a judicial order to require the Ford government to follow this law.

We have to raise the funds to pay for these court challenges. Any help you can provide is deeply appreciated.