SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — The Vera Perlin Society

Honourable senators, today I am pleased to present Chapter 83 of “Telling Our Story.”

Vera Elizabeth Crosbie Perlin was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, on November 28, 1902, the daughter of Sir John and Lady Mitchie Anne Crosbie.

She attended Holloway School in St. John’s and private schools in Toronto. On September 11, 1926, she married Albert Perlin, a prominent businessman, journalist and historian.

While working in a local United Church orphanage, Ms. Perlin witnessed children with intellectual disabilities fall behind and became concerned that no provisions were being made for their education. Later, she went to a board meeting and asked, “What is going on with those children?” She was told, “Well, they are intellectually challenged. They cannot learn, so we are not sending them to school.”

Realizing very early in her married life the important role parents play in the education of their children, Ms. Perlin started her own classroom in 1954, for six children, like the six she took care of at the orphanage. Believing that these children needed to be cared for by loving teachers, Ms. Perlin persuaded Ms. Molly Dingle to take on responsibility for the first class.

Ms. Perlin received many of her ideas for instructing children with intellectual disabilities through visits to schools in Great Britain. In the early years, Ms. A. M. Fuller of Wales, an expert in the education of children with intellectual disabilities, was invited to come to Newfoundland for six months to assist the local movement.

With an increase in the number of classes, more space was needed. In 1957, Ms. Perlin purchased a house on Patrick Street for $17,000. She persuaded her husband and his business associates to finance the purchase. Through her belief in the self-help principle, parents became involved in the renovation of the Patrick Street building. The program demands continued to grow and, under Ms. Perlin’s leadership, a multi-purpose building was constructed on Pennywell Road. The building was initially named the Vera Perlin School and is today known as the Perlin Centre. Ms. Perlin’s efforts led to the formation of a Newfoundland association which is now known as the Newfoundland Association for Community Living.

In 1959, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip visited our province, and to commemorate that visit, the government announced an annual grant of $10,000 to help continue the work of the association. The grant continued until the government in 1971 accepted the responsibility to provide education to all children in the province, including children with intellectual disabilities. That decision came to fruition because of the dedication and commitment of Ms. Perlin.

This year, 2024, marks the seventieth anniversary of the Vera Perlin Society. Since 1954, the society has been fostering the development and happiness of individuals with intellectual disabilities and has improved the lives of countless people in Newfoundland and Labrador. At the present time, in its dual role of advocate and provider of services, the society is keeping with Ms. Perlin’s ideals of including individuals with intellectual disabilities in every aspect of our schools and communities.

Ms. Perlin was a dedicated and independent woman, and when I think about the incredible difference her life’s work made for so many people in our province, I am reminded of the words of Mahatma Gandhi, who said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Vera Perlin sure did.

Colleagues, I ask you to join with me today in thanking and congratulating the Vera Perlin Society on 70 years of dedicated service to Newfoundland and Labrador.