Alex Abolash

I was born in Italy. My family moved around Europe and we eventually came to Canada. I don’t remember how old I was when my parents moved me into Rideau Regional Centre.

While I lived there, I went to school and learned to read and write. I also went to the dances. I didn’t have any friends there and I remember being scratched by a girl. I had a girlfriend named Elaine. We wanted to get married but my mom said no.

I lived in a house at Rideau with 5 other people. In my spare time, I would go for walks. My family would come and visit me but they would never take me home.

When I was 30 years old, I went to live at Prince Edward Heights. I lived with 5 other people in a house in the Village. I had my own bedroom and my own TV. I also had my own money and would go to the canteen to buy a coke. I didn’t have any friends here either, but I had a girlfriend named Margaret.

I went to the school for the continuing education class. I did bead work there. I would also go to church and go to the dances at the rec hall. I liked going for walks and picnics. In the summer we would all take the bus and go camping.

When I first moved to a home in the community, I didn’t like it. I didn’t get along with one of the men I lived with, and the house had bats.

I then moved into the house where I live now. It is the best place I have ever lived. I share the house with other people and I have my own bedroom.

I worked for a while at Quinte Vocational Support Services making distributor caps. I would use some of the money I made to buy myself some beer.

I like to go camping at Grippen Lake. I have lots of fun there. I go tubing, boating, fishing and we play Bingo or sit around the campfire.

If you asked me if I would ever like to go back to live in the institutions, I would quickly and loudly say a very big “NO”!

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The Reclamation Project: The Value of Living Life at the Helm

Stories of life in an institution and the voices that closed them

Alex Abolash