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Authority record
Luke Elwood (b. 1977)-
Person · (b. 1977)-

Luke Elwood grew up in Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia. He is the son of Maureen and Rick Elwood and has an older sister, Melissa (b. 1975). In 1986, when Luke was in Grade Three, the Elwood family were amid a court battle against the Halifax County- Bedford District School Board (HCBDSB, 1982-1996), who had been trying to halt Luke’s integration into his neighbourhood Atlantic View School. In May 1987, one night before the case was scheduled to go to trial, the Elwoods reached an agreement with the School Board. Luke would be allowed to attend Atlantic View School for another year, then move on through mainstream schooling with his peers. Along the way, Luke has made many friends within his community through various activities including swimming lessons and church groups. Luke has also been an avid goer to Big Cove Camp, where he has volunteered as a junior camp counselor.

Melissa Elwood (b. 1975)-
Person · (b. 1975)-

Melissa Elwood is the older sister of Luke (b. 1977), and the daughter of Maureen and Rick Elwood. She and her family lived in Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia, where she also attended Atlantic View School. Melissa followed her parents in advocating for Luke’s inclusion at school. One record contains Melissa’s speech notes for a presentation on inclusive education. Another record is a draft to a book based off the Elwoods’ story written from the perspective of an older sister to a sibling with disabilities, taking direct inspiration from Melissa’s account of Luke’s journey.

Rick Elwood (fl. 1977-2016)
Person · fl. 1977-2016

Rick Elwood is the father of Luke (b. 1977) and Melissa Elwood (b. 1975). He and his family lived in Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia. During the years of the court case, Rick worked as a firefighter.

Family · fl. 1977-2016

Maureen and Richard “Rick” Elwood raised their two children, Melissa (b. 1975) and Luke (b. 1977) in Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia. Maureen was heavily involved in inclusion and integration efforts for people with disabilities and a regular attendee of meetings and conferences through the Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL); Rick worked as a firefighter. Both Melissa and Luke attended an integrated pre-school before the family’s fight for Luke’s inclusion at elementary school arose. It was during Luke’s Grade Three year that the fight reached Case status between Elwoods and the Halifax County-Bedford District School Board (HCBDSB). After an injunction ordered the School Board to allow Luke to stay in his mainstream classroom at Atlantic View School, the Case was eventually settled before trial. By June 1987, Luke would be able to stay with his peers all throughout his schooling years. The Elwood Family’s case set a precedent across Canada for the right to education for all students with disabilities and is a milestone in Nova Scotia’s disability rights history.

Zeiman, Gerald K.
Person

Gerald Zeiman was born in Halifax, to Mary and John. He grew up in Dartmouth and later settled in Amherst, Nova Sciotia. He started the company, X, in 1959 and it was a great success.