World Down Syndrome Day celebrated on Vancouver Island
Ribbons and pictures line a portion of the Gorge waterway in Saanich, B.C., put there by the Greater Victoria Down Syndrome Society to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day.
The blue and yellow ribbons represent the colours used to bring awareness to the rights and needs of those living the syndrome.
The pictures are those of children and youth with living happy lives.
Held on March 21 since 2012, this year marks 11 years since the United Nations started the campaign. The date of the 21st day of the third month represents the one trait all individuals with Down syndrome have, which is a third copy of the 21st chromosome.
This years campaign is called "With Us Not For Us."
"Often times in the disability community, well-meaning people want to do things for people that are disabled,” Paul Crowley, president of the Greater Victoria Down Syndrome Society, says.
"What the Down syndrome community wants you to hear is that they want support to be able to do things for themselves, so they want that support to be able to go out and find a job, to live independently and do those types of things."
Crowley said the lives of those with down syndrome are improving.
Forty years ago, the average life expectancy for people with Down syndrome was 25 years. Crowley says they now have a life expectancy of 60 years.
There has also been a focus on inclusion in education, employment, housing and other areas that has allowed individuals to live much more independent lives, he added.
“Often times individuals with Down syndrome are considered to not be able to respond, not be able to contribute, not given the opportunity,” he said.
“We ask people to kind of wait 10 seconds when you talk to somebody or ask them a question so that they have a chance to respond because if you do you’ll be amazed at what they can contribute."
The B.C. Legislature, Victoria City Hall and Saanich Municipal Hall will be lit up Tuesday evening in blue and yellow to show support for those living with Down syndrome.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.