She accomplished a lot for injured workers and the disability rights community.' - James Clancy
Ottawa (28 Sept. 2006) - Carol McGregor, a long time disability rights activist and the National Union’s representative on the Canadian Labour Congress Disability Rights Working Group, passed away Sept. 23 after a short battle with cancer.
She will be missed by her many friends in the National Union and her home component, the Ontario Public Services Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE), where she served as chair of OPSEU’s Disability Rights Caucus.
Carol was well known as a strong advocate for injured workers.
She became a member of OPSEU Local 525 when she started working in 1995 with Injured Workers’ Consultants (IWC), an independent community legal aid clinic in Toronto.
Prior to working with IWC, Carol had a career in nursing and years of activism and advocacy in disability rights organizations. She was already known to the injured worker community through her efforts to make connections as an activist in the disability community.
Some of her many other achievements include:
- Co-director of Disabled People for Employment Equity (1990-1992);
- Executive Director of People United for Self Help Ontario (1992-1995);
- Advisory Group member to the National Transportation Committee;
- Member of the Premier’s Council of Ontario under the Rae government;
- Member of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities; and
- Member of the Native Circle and Aboriginal Council of Toronto.
In the 1990s she also served as president of Advocacy Resource Centre for the Handicapped (ARCH), a specialty legal aid clinic dedicated to defending and advancing the equality-rights of persons with disabilities.
Nothing could stop her
Undeterred by losing her sight, she quickly mastered and worked in one of the most complex, paper intensive areas of law, often with few or no accommodations. Carol carried a very active caseload of highly demanding cases. Many injured workers are grateful for her results at the highest level of appeal at the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal.
Carol had outstanding skills as an advocate through her focus, discipline, commitment, analysis, and her personal capacity. She shared these skills as she helped prepare injured workers to speak to the media, to the Minister of Labour, to the Chair of the WSIB/WCB, and to audiences at injured worker events.
She knew the importance of the presence of injured workers in the process of decision making and law reform and as such she took great pride in the attendance of injured workers at the Supreme Court of Canada on the issue of equitable compensation for Chronic Pain Disability in December 2002.
Tribute from Clancy
“There are few people in our movement who have demonstrated a stronger commitment and passion to human rights and social justice than Carol McGregor,” noted NUPGE National President James Clancy in paying tribute to her life and many accomplishments.
“Carol had always been a determined activist and she accomplished a lot for injured workers and the disability rights community. And without a doubt, Carol made our union and the Canadian labour movement more aware of equality issues and more inclusive,” added Clancy. “She will be remembered as an inspiration for everyone who knew her.”
Carol attended many OPSEU, NUPGE and CLC Conventions with her ‘spirited’ and faithful dog companion, Xayla, and will be remembered for her passionate contribution to debates on disability rights, workers compensation issues and other equality and human rights issues.
Carol is survived by Wayne, her husband for 27 years, her son George Taylor-Purser, and other family members and friends.
A Memorial Service to celebrate Carol’s life will be held at Eden United Church, 3051 Battleford Road (at Winston Churchill Blvd.), Mississauga, on Tuesday, October 3, 2006 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Credit Valley Hospital or Eden United Church. NUPGE
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