The Freedom Tour 10th Anniversary

“We have a responsibility to ourselves and to our fellow citizens to say no one, no one, should live in an institution.”

— Shane Haddad – Past President, People First of Canada, Freedom Tour member

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Freedom Tour documentary. The film grew as a response to – and a rejection of – a decision by the Manitoba government to invest millions into a rundown institution that warehoused people with intellectual disabilities.

The film documents the incredible journey of 16 self-advocates and friends who travelled across the Prairie Provinces to raise awareness about life in an institution. The documentary portrays compelling stories told by survivors of institutions who had moved into communities across the Prairies. The process of making The Freedom Tour was very unique as it involved people labeled with an intellectual disability working behind the camera from development to the big screen – and everything in between!

And over the past 10 years, The Freedom Tour has been on a tour of its own. From the big screen to film festivals, from movie theatres to lecture halls, from conferences to classrooms, in self-advocacy groups, government departments, and community organizations – The Freedom Tour has raised awareness all over the globe.

During the next few months, we will be sharing memories and milestones about the film. This fall, we will officially celebrate the Freedom Tour’s 10th anniversary with a full retrospective of this ground-breaking film and the impact it has had. Dates and details will be announced.

If you have any memories of the Freedom Tour that you would like to share, please send them to us here.