Remembering Laurie Beachell

December 7, 2024

It is with deep sadness that the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) announces the passing of Laurie Beachell, who died from complications due to pneumonia. As Heather Walkus, CCD’s Chairperson notes, “Canada has lost a remarkable and dedicated champion of disability rights. Laurie served as the National Coordinator of CCD from 1984 to 2015.”

When Laurie joined the organization, the focus was on the implementation of the 130 recommendations of the Obstacles Report of the Special Parliamentary Committee on the Disabled and the Handicapped, the first such report to be issued by Canada’s Parliament. In 1985, Section 15 (the guarantee of equality) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was proclaimed and CCD under the leadership of Laurie participated in several court challenges aimed at holding the Canadian government to its promise of equality for persons with disabilities. Of particular note, was CCD’s legal challenge to VIA Rail for its decision to deliberately purchase rail cars which could not be accessed by persons with disabilities. After countless hours of testimony provided by Laurie and several appeals by VIA, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in favour of CCD. While Laurie savoured CCD’s legal victories, he was also quick to point out that equality for persons with disabilities was a very slow business and seemed to only move forward by centimetres. And yet he continued to believe in the power of using the law to promote human rights of persons with disabilities. He was a strong supporter of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and spent his latter years with CCD, working on ways to ensure that the Convention could be implemented to improve the lives of disabled Canadians.

Poverty elimination was a key focus for Laurie. He was a member of the federal advisory panel that recommended the creation of the Disability Tax Credit. He was also appointed to the Canada Revenue Agency’s Disability Advisory Committee. Laurie coordinated CCD’s Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council research project, Disabling Poverty, Enabling Citizenship.
As the National Coordinator, Laurie supported the work of the many volunteers who helped to carry out CCD’s work as members of the National Council and its many committees. Laurie recognized the importance of relationships. As such, some of us regarded him as the penultimate schmoozer  and expert at making personal connections and getting people on side with the disability agenda. He spent much of his day “working the phones” having conversations with senior government officials, key politicians and community leaders discussing and strategizing on how to best achieve the objectives of the disability community. For many, Laurie was more than just a colleague. He often became a valued and trusted friend.

Laurie was very passionate about human rights. When it was announced that there was to be a Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR), Laurie made it his mission to ensure that the Museum was accessible to people with disabilities and inclusive of our human rights story. He was relentless in his advocacy with the CMHR and to their credit, the Museum recognized Laurie’s expertise and dedication and involved him on a number of their committees over the years. Laurie attended the opening of the Museum and most recently was pleased to be a guest at the Museum’s 10th Anniversary celebration.

Laurie’s achievements were recognized by the University of Carleton which awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. If you follow this link, you will have access to Laurie’s comments at the 154th Convocation: Laurie Beachell awarded degree Doctor of Laws (Carleton University, 154th Convocation) - YouTube. In his address, he urged us all to be guided by the principle “No New Barriers.”

CCD will truly miss the wise counsel and advice that Laurie generously offered even while retired. But we are truly grateful for the profound and firm human rights legacy he has left to CCD and we will never forget his relentless message of “no new barriers” for persons with disabilities.

On Behalf of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities

April D’Aubin
Yvonne Peters
Heather Walkus