The first ever CUPE National Disability Activism Award was presented posthumously to sister Sylvia Diamond from CUPE 4222. Sister Diamond was a member of CUPE Persons with Disabilities National Working Group.
Sister Diamond was involved in the group from the time of its first informal meeting in 2000.
Her daughter, Margaret Scanlan received the Award on her behalf. ‘‘My mother would be honour and very proud of this award. Being on this committee was very important to her.”
“My mother enjoyed coming to these conferences. She made friends for whom she cared for. If she was here today she would probable say that we should try to remember the person and not the disability in the person.”
Sister Diamond was a strong advocate for disabilities rights. She was the co-chair of the Working Group and one of the instigators of the Wheel of Chances, an educational tool created to raise awareness about disabilities.
She will be remembering for her sense of humour and her tendency to see the positive side of things. She put emphasis on the abilities not the disabilities of her CUPE brothers of sisters. She passed away in July this past year.
