Full House to Honour ODSP activist Denise Vernier

On Friday October 28th, Denise Vernier, an advocate for ODSP recipients was honoured with a memorial dinner. Event organizer and SD&G Coalition of Social Justice Vice Chair Jason Setnyk was pleased with the success of the event. The spaghetti dinner and silent auction raised funds to assist in building a permanent memorial in Lamoureux Park.

PHOTO CREDIT - Jason Setnyk, OurHometown.ca

Cornwall - Nov. 2, 2011 - On Friday October 28th, Denise Vernier, an advocate for ODSP recipients was honoured with a memorial dinner. Event organizer and SD&G Coalition of Social Justice Vice Chair Jason Setnyk was pleased with the success of the event.

"We had a full hall on Friday night. It was truly a team effort, and I am very proud of the efforts of the entire coalition, to not only promote social justice, but to honour those like Denise who embody the spirit of this very important movement".

The spaghetti dinner and silent auction raised funds to assist in building a permanent memorial in Lamoureux Park for the ODSP Action Coalition activist. Vernier collected over 3,500 signatures for a petition she hoped to bring to Queens Park to advocate better conditions for those on disability pensions.

There was also guest speakers including SD&G Coalition for Social Justice Chair Helene Paquin, Treasurer Elaine MacDonald, City Councillor Bernadette Clement, and keynote guest speaker and co-chair of the ODSP Action Coalition of Toronto, Naomi Ives.

Ives said, "she worked to improve the lives of people on disability". There was live jazz music by the Keegan Larose band, and that was followed by an open mic where family and friends shared memories and stories about Denise Vernier.