By: Alice Clark
CNIB is deeply saddened by the passing of The Honourable David C. Onley, former Ontario Lieutenant Governor, journalist, and disability advocate.
In 2007, The Honourable David C. Onley was appointed as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. In this role, he served as the viceregal representative in Ontario, carrying out most of the monarch’s constitutional and ceremonial duties in the province. Onley was the first person with a visible disability to hold the role of Lieutenant Governor and used his viceregal position to help remove barriers to inclusion for Ontarians with disabilities, including obstacles to employment and housing.
During his tenure as Lieutenant Governor from 2007 to 2014, Onley became a friend of CNIB, working closely with the organization to break down barriers to inclusion. As Lieutenant Governor, he was the Queen’s Patron for CNIB and would invite members of CNIB staff to his semi-annual receptions at his suite at Queen’s Park.
CNIB worked closely with Onley again in 2018 when he was appointed to complete the third review of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
The Honorable David C. Onley passed away on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at the age 72. CNIB hopes his legacy inspires others to continue to work together to create a more accessible society. We send our deepest condolences to his family as we mourn the loss of this remarkable trailblazer.