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| Ron Dalton |
While the atmosphere at the Law Society of Ontario’s Convocation Hall was festive, the hosts were quick to remind those present that the event was not a celebration of wrongful convictions but rather a celebration of the indomitable spirits of the wrongly convicted.
Highlights of the evening included the introduction of some 20 wrongly convicted individuals from all across Canada, along with several individuals awaiting decisions from the federal minister of justice on their applications for exoneration. Many of the wrongly convicted men and women spoke briefly, but powerfully, about their experiences of wrongful conviction. It was particularly moving to hear from two individuals who had their convictions overturned in the past year after a combined incarceration of over 60 years. The group was honoured to hear directly from former minister of justice Arif Virani who was able to personally meet several individuals whose cases he had helped resolve. A message from the current minister, Sean Fraser, was played for those assembled, and his words of appreciation and hope were warmly received.
The evening was not solely focused on the horrors of wrongful incarceration as guests took the time to celebrate the strength of the human spirits on display. There was an unveiling of original artwork with portraits of three recent exonerees shown to the subjects for the first time. For the 11th consecutive event, Dave and Trish Moran travelled from Montreal to perform original music for the group and took part in an inspirational tribute to the late Billy Wine, the recently deceased director of the Innocence Canada Foundation and friend of the wrongly convicted. The gathering was also treated to an excerpt from the Justice for Maurice Henry Carter play thanks to creators Alicia Payne and Don Molnar who were accompanied by actors from their troupe.
As has become the custom, awards were presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to the innocence movement in our country including George Allain, the latest recipient of the Rubin Hurricane Carter Champion of Justice Award; Dan Lett, recipient of the Tracey Tyler Award for his investigative journalism with the Winnipeg Free Press; Linda Fischer, the newest recipient of the Donald Marshall Jr. Award for her long-standing support of her own son and the innocence movement generally; and Rosemary Meir, who was awarded a special recognition certificate for the work she and her late husband, Peter Meir, contributed to the formation and ongoing support of Innocence Canada. Each of the worthy recipients demonstrates what is best about our fellow citizens and instill a sense of hope in all of us that we still have the power to rise above tremendously difficult circumstances. It was truly inspirational to hear about their dogged determination as they fought to bend the arc of Canadian jurisprudence towards justice.
The evening took a sombre turn as those gathered took a moment to remember those no longer with us including news that had just been received of the passing of Robert (Bobby) Mailman of Saint John, N.B.
On a personal note, this writer recalled meeting both Mr. Mailman and his co-accused, Walter (Wally) Gillespie some 35 years ago when all three of us were serving undeserved life sentences. My own conviction was overturned 27 years ago, while Bobby and Wally had to wait over 40 years to see themselves acknowledged as innocent. Despite suffering under the yoke of wrongful conviction for over half their lives, they were finally able to depart from this life as acknowledged innocent men.
Although that recognition seems far too little and far, far too late, it is an example of the fruits of our collective labour in the innocence movement that we were able to accomplish that.
Special thanks go out to the Law Society of Ontario, our staff, volunteers, directors, sponsors and the founder of this event, Win Wahrer, our inspirational leader in all things associated with wrongful conviction and its myriad victims.
In 1988, Ron Dalton was a 32-year-old bank manager when he was wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife. It took the next 12 years to prove his innocence, restore his freedom and return him to his family, including the couple’s three children. Since that ordeal, Dalton has tried to reintegrate into family life and earn a living, and he is co-chair of Innocence Canada, a nonprofit organization working to free other wrongly convicted individuals.
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