PLATER, JOHN CHARLES
On July 28, 2012, Canada lost a tireless advocate and
champion for human rights. John Charles Plater was born on June 1, 1967. When
he was one he was diagnosed with severe Hemophilia A, but learned to thrive
with the disorder. John died on July 28, 2012 at Toronto General Hospital from
complications caused by HIV and Hep C. He was 45.
Born in Collingwood, Ont. and raised in Craigleith, John
graduated with a BA in political science from the University of Toronto and an
LLB from Osgoode Hall Law School. Called to the Bar in 1998 he practiced with
ARCH: A Legal Resource Centre for People with Disabilities until 2000 when he
started his own law practice.
John was committed to making life better for all. He worked
to ensure the safety of the blood system, help lead the call for the Krever
inquiry and to get compensation for people who had acquired HIV and Hep C
through tainted blood. He was a champion for HIV treatment for all and opposed
criminalization of HIV.
John served at many levels in the Canadian Hemophilia
Society. He served as co-chair of the Ontario Advisory Committee on HIV/AIDS,
Chair of the Ontario Hepatitis C Task Force, and Co-chair of the Ministerial
Advisory Council on the Federal Initiative on HIV/AIDS. He chaired the HIV/AIDS
Community Advisory Panel of St. Michael’s Hospital for several years and was
briefly involved on the Board of the HIV/AIDS Legal Clinic of Ontario. He was
also active at Thornbury First Baptist Church, serving as Moderator and chair
of the Deacons.
John and his wife Karen (Watts) lived on a small hobby farm
in the Beaver Valley, together with his mother Margaret, 30 sheep, six
chickens, four horses, Lucy the cat, and Mikey the dog. He was predeceased by
his father Donald. John will be greatly missed by sister Heather, partner
Patrick and children Noah and Eli; in-laws George and Prue Watts;
brother-in-law Mark, wife Patti, children Ethan, Hayden and Selina; and
brotherin- law Brent, wife Lisa, children Taylor, Emma and Zachary. He is also
beloved by aunts, uncles and cousins across Ontario and Scotland.
Family will receive friends at the Beaver Valley Community
Centre in Thornbury on Wed. Aug 1, 2012 from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm. where the
funeral will be conducted on Thursday at 1:30 pm. with interment to follow at
Thornbury-Clarksburg Union Cemetery. As your expression of sympathy, donations
to the Canadian Hemophilia Society, the Beaver Valley Outreach or a charity of
your choice would be appreciated and may be made through the Ferguson Funeral
Home, The Valley Chapel, PO Box 556, Thornbury, ON N0H 2P0 (519-599-2718) to
whom arrangements are entrusted.
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Canadian Hemophilia Society
