Tom Boorman

I lived at Prince Edward Heights for a long time. I liked it there. I could do whatever I wanted and go wherever I wanted. I would walk downtown and go to the library or walk around town. I had a girlfriend who lived in town and I would visit her, or she would come to my house to see me.

I lived in a house with 3 other men. I had my own room and my own belongings. Nothing was ever locked up and I could come and go as I pleased. When I was at home I would watch TV. Our meals were delivered on a truck but I also made my own pancakes. I had lots of friends at PEH and I would go visiting them often and drink coffee. I remember a staff took us on the train to a ballgame in Toronto.

I didn’t work because I didn’t want to. I went to the school building where I learned to knit. I still enjoy knitting. I would go to the canteen or play pool at the Rec Hall. They had dances at the Rec Hall and I would go to those too. I really liked the Halloween dances where everyone would dress up in their costumes.

8 years ago I moved in with my support family into their home. I like it much better here. They take me out all the time. I go to church most Sundays.

I did get some money from the settlement but I don’t want to talk about the bad things that happened there.

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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

Tom Boorman