Theresa Ducharme
Encyclopedia
Theresa Ducharme was a Canadian
activist for the rights of the disabled and a perennial candidate
for public office. She lived in Winnipeg
, Manitoba
, Canada
.
after suffering polio in 1953. She subsequently went into a coma
for six months during her mid-twenties, and for the rest of her life required a respirator. She founded the disabled-rights advocacy group People in Equal Participation Inc. in 1981, and was the organization's chair for many years thereafter.
In 1981, she became the first person requiring an on-board life-support system to fly as a regular passenger on a commercial Canadian airliner. Her flight to Vancouver
was the culmination of a lengthy battle with officials from the government and Air Canada
, who had resisted her attempts to fly because of medical concerns.
Ducharme was a vocal opponent of euthanasia
. In 1993, she asked the Supreme Court of Canada
to rule against Sue Rodriguez
, a British Columbia
woman who had a terminal illness and was seeking the right to take her life. Ducharme was quoted as saying, "We believe in the commandment, thou shall not kill. We have enough obstacles that access to life, not access to death is our commitment." She later called for criminal charges to be laid against Member of Parliament
Svend Robinson
, following Robinson's decision to sit beside Rodriguez as she apparently took her life with her doctor's assistance.
Ducharme organized a national anti-euthenasia petition in 1994, and received more than 27,000 signatures. She personally presented the petition to Member of Parliament Don Boudria
, who later tabled it before parliament
.
In 1995, Ducharme sought legal standing for her organization to testify at Robert Latimer
's appeal of a conviction for second-degree murder. Latimer had killed his daughter, a twelve-year old girl with cerebral palsy
, in an act that many had described as a mercy killing. Ducharme argued that Latimer's conviction should be upheld, and indicated her support for a ruling which gave him a life sentence. She sought legal standing again when Latimer was granted a new trial in 1996, and accused the media of having a pro-Latimer bias.
Ducharme also campaigned to have several public services made wheelchair-accessible in her home city of Winnipeg. She led a public protest again the provincial government's decision to privatize home care services in 1996, and later testified before the Romanow
commission on health. In 2003, she supported city council's decision to legislate a smoking ban in Winnipeg.
Ducharme was a Ukrainian Catholic, and was opposed to abortion
as well as euthanasia. In 1995, she was given an Apostolic Blessing from Pope John Paul II
.
She was given the Province of Manitoba's first annual Special Caring Award in 1998.
Ducharme wrote a self-published autobiography, entitled Life and Breath. Federal cabinet minister Lloyd Axworthy
wrote a preface to the book.
, and for the Transcona ward on Winnipeg City Council
in 1983
and 1986
. She was considered a fringe candidate, and was defeated each time.
Ducharme supported Susan Thompson
's bid to become Mayor of Winnipeg in 1992
, but was later strongly critical of Thompson's record in office. She was Thompson's first declared challenger in the 1995 municipal election
. Ducharme said that her top priority was creating a youth advisory committee of city council, and she also criticized Thompson for not having done more to promote downtown business. She was again considered a fringe candidate, and finished well behind the frontrunners.
She campaigned for the Transcona ward again in 1998
, finishing second to Shirley Timm-Rudolph
. During the election, she spoke against youth curfews and the sale of Winnipeg Hydro
.
Ducharme also sought election to the Canadian House of Commons
as an independent candidate in 1997
and 2000
. She planned to run for mayor again in 2002
, but withdrew due to health problems. She had intended to run in another municipal by-election shortly before her death.
in June 2004, as she was being driven to hospital for dialysis treatment. She never regained consciousness, and died on June 7.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
activist for the rights of the disabled and a perennial candidate
Perennial candidate
A perennial candidate is one who frequently runs for public office with a record of success that is infrequent, if existent at all. Perennial candidates are often either members of minority political parties or have political opinions that are not mainstream. They may run without any serious hope...
for public office. She lived in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Activist
Ducharme was required to use a wheelchairWheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
after suffering polio in 1953. She subsequently went into a coma
Coma
In medicine, a coma is a state of unconsciousness, lasting more than 6 hours in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light or sound, lacks a normal sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. A person in a state of coma is described as...
for six months during her mid-twenties, and for the rest of her life required a respirator. She founded the disabled-rights advocacy group People in Equal Participation Inc. in 1981, and was the organization's chair for many years thereafter.
In 1981, she became the first person requiring an on-board life-support system to fly as a regular passenger on a commercial Canadian airliner. Her flight to Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
was the culmination of a lengthy battle with officials from the government and Air Canada
Air Canada
Air Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada. The airline, founded in 1936, provides scheduled and charter air transport for passengers and cargo to 178 destinations worldwide. It is the world's tenth largest passenger airline by number of destinations, and the airline is a...
, who had resisted her attempts to fly because of medical concerns.
Ducharme was a vocal opponent of euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
. In 1993, she asked the Supreme Court of Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeals in the Canadian justice system. The court grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts, and its decisions...
to rule against Sue Rodriguez
Sue Rodriguez
Sue Rodriguez was an advocate of assisted suicide.She was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with the given name Sue Shipley, and grew up in Thornhill, Ontario, a suburb of Toronto. Her first marriage was short-lived....
, a British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
woman who had a terminal illness and was seeking the right to take her life. Ducharme was quoted as saying, "We believe in the commandment, thou shall not kill. We have enough obstacles that access to life, not access to death is our commitment." She later called for criminal charges to be laid against Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
Svend Robinson
Svend Robinson
Svend Robinson is a former Canadian politician. He was a Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons from 1979 to 2004, representing the suburban Vancouver-area constituency of Burnaby for the New Democratic Party...
, following Robinson's decision to sit beside Rodriguez as she apparently took her life with her doctor's assistance.
Ducharme organized a national anti-euthenasia petition in 1994, and received more than 27,000 signatures. She personally presented the petition to Member of Parliament Don Boudria
Don Boudria
Donald "Don" Boudria, PC is a former Canadian politician. He served in the Canadian House of Commons from 1984 to 2005 as a member of the Liberal Party of Canada, and was a cabinet minister in the government of Jean Chrétien....
, who later tabled it before parliament
Parliament of Canada
The Parliament of Canada is the federal legislative branch of Canada, seated at Parliament Hill in the national capital, Ottawa. Formally, the body consists of the Canadian monarch—represented by her governor general—the Senate, and the House of Commons, each element having its own officers and...
.
In 1995, Ducharme sought legal standing for her organization to testify at Robert Latimer
Robert Latimer
Robert William "Bob" Latimer , a Canadian canola and wheat farmer, was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of his daughter Tracy . This case sparked a national controversy on the definition and ethics of euthanasia as well as the rights of people with disabilities, and led to two...
's appeal of a conviction for second-degree murder. Latimer had killed his daughter, a twelve-year old girl with cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement....
, in an act that many had described as a mercy killing. Ducharme argued that Latimer's conviction should be upheld, and indicated her support for a ruling which gave him a life sentence. She sought legal standing again when Latimer was granted a new trial in 1996, and accused the media of having a pro-Latimer bias.
Ducharme also campaigned to have several public services made wheelchair-accessible in her home city of Winnipeg. She led a public protest again the provincial government's decision to privatize home care services in 1996, and later testified before the Romanow
Roy Romanow
Roy John Romanow, PC, OC, QC, SOM is a Canadian politician and the 12th Premier of Saskatchewan ....
commission on health. In 2003, she supported city council's decision to legislate a smoking ban in Winnipeg.
Ducharme was a Ukrainian Catholic, and was opposed to abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
as well as euthanasia. In 1995, she was given an Apostolic Blessing from Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
.
She was given the Province of Manitoba's first annual Special Caring Award in 1998.
Ducharme wrote a self-published autobiography, entitled Life and Breath. Federal cabinet minister Lloyd Axworthy
Lloyd Axworthy
Lloyd Norman Axworthy, PC, OC, OM is a prominent Canadian politician, statesman and University President from Manitoba. He is best known for having served as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien...
wrote a preface to the book.
Political candidate
Ducharme ran for the Transcona-Springfield school board in 1980 and 1992Winnipeg municipal election, 1992
The 1992 Winnipeg municipal election was held on October 28, 1992 to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees in the city of Winnipeg.Susan Thompson defeated Greg Selinger in the mayoral contest.-Councillors:...
, and for the Transcona ward on Winnipeg City Council
Winnipeg City Council
The Winnipeg City Council is the governing body of the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.Members represent wards throughout the city, and are known as councillors.-2006-2010:Council elected in the 2006 election:-2010-2014:...
in 1983
Winnipeg municipal election, 1983
The 1983 Winnipeg municipal election was held on October 26, 1983 to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees in the city of Winnipeg. There were also two referendum questions, on bilingualism and nuclear disarmament....
and 1986
Winnipeg municipal election, 1986
The 1986 Winnipeg municipal election was held on October 22, 1986 to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees in the city of Winnipeg.Bill Norrie was re-elected to a fourth term as mayor, defeating former Member of the Legislative Assembly Russell Doern and ten other...
. She was considered a fringe candidate, and was defeated each time.
Ducharme supported Susan Thompson
Susan Thompson
Susan Ann Thompson was the 40th mayor of Winnipeg, Manitoba. She was the first female to serve as mayor of Winnipeg and served two terms as mayor and held this post from 1992 to 1998.Thompson graduated with a BA from the University of Winnipeg in 1971...
's bid to become Mayor of Winnipeg in 1992
Winnipeg municipal election, 1992
The 1992 Winnipeg municipal election was held on October 28, 1992 to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees in the city of Winnipeg.Susan Thompson defeated Greg Selinger in the mayoral contest.-Councillors:...
, but was later strongly critical of Thompson's record in office. She was Thompson's first declared challenger in the 1995 municipal election
Winnipeg municipal election, 1995
The 1995 Winnipeg municipal election was held on October 25, 1995 to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees in the city of Winnipeg.Susan Thompson defeated Peter Kaufmann and Terry Duguid in the mayoral contest.-Councillors:...
. Ducharme said that her top priority was creating a youth advisory committee of city council, and she also criticized Thompson for not having done more to promote downtown business. She was again considered a fringe candidate, and finished well behind the frontrunners.
She campaigned for the Transcona ward again in 1998
Winnipeg municipal election, 1998
The 1998 Winnipeg municipal election was held on October 28, 1998 to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees in the city of Winnipeg.Centre-left candidate Glen Murray defeated populist right-winger Peter Kaufmann in the mayoral contest.-Councillors:...
, finishing second to Shirley Timm-Rudolph
Shirley Timm-Rudolph
Shirley Timm-Rudolph is a former politician in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She was a city councillor from 1986 to 1992 and again from 1995 to 2002, and served on the city's Executive Policy Committee from 1997 to 1998...
. During the election, she spoke against youth curfews and the sale of Winnipeg Hydro
Winnipeg Hydro
Winnipeg Hydro is a former provider of electrical power in the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It was established in 1906 and was purchased by Manitoba Hydro in 2002....
.
Ducharme also sought election to the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
as an independent candidate in 1997
Canadian federal election, 1997
The Canadian federal election of 1997 was held on June 2, 1997, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 36th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's Liberal Party of Canada won a second majority government...
and 2000
Canadian federal election, 2000
The 2000 Canadian federal election was held on November 27, 2000, to elect 301 Members of Parliament of the Canadian House of Commons of the 37th Parliament of Canada....
. She planned to run for mayor again in 2002
Winnipeg municipal election, 2002
The 2002 Winnipeg municipal election was held on October 23, 2002 to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees in the city of Winnipeg.Glen Murray, the city's centre-left mayor, was re-elected to a second term over challenger Al Golden.-Councillors:...
, but withdrew due to health problems. She had intended to run in another municipal by-election shortly before her death.
Death
Ducharme suffered a heart attackMyocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in June 2004, as she was being driven to hospital for dialysis treatment. She never regained consciousness, and died on June 7.
External links
- MHR Connections, June 2004 (includes obituary)