Those who know Lois Godfrey describe her as a passionate character with unwavering commitment to her cause. She's loyal, resilient, kind and not afraid to stand up for what she believes in. The Burnaby resident has more than 50 years of history fighting for the rights of people with developmental disabilities.

She was one of the founding members of the Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion, a group that supports people with developmental disabilities so they can be part of their communities.

BACI was formed in 1956. It was a time when children with mental disabilities were not taught in public schools. Local school district staff encouraged a group of parents to get together and form their own school. By doing so, they proved to the provincial government that there was enough of a need for it to start letting the kids with developmental disabilities in public schools.

The Burnaby parents realized they needed to join forces with those in other communities, like Trail and Vancouver, and the B.C. Association for Community Living was created. Godfrey played a key organizing role, making dozens of trips around the province, helping parents set up local chapters. They formed a united front to lobby the provincial government to start allowing kids with mental disabilities to be taught in public schools.

Godfrey, now 85, is still going strong, advocating for the rights of people with developmental disabilities and making sure their needs are met.

When did you move to Burnaby?

I've lived here 61 years.

What was your role in starting BACI?

Actually, my first daughter had learning disabilities, and we become aware of that as she approached the age of five or six and was refused schooling in the public schools. She had cerebral palsy and was visually impaired. There was nothing to offer her.

There were two Burnaby principals that were aware of what was happening, and they put me in touch with parents with the same problem. We got together with the help of the school teachers involved. John Prior was one, a well-known Burnaby citizen, (former mayor) Bob Prittie was another one - he was a high school teacher at the time - and John was a principal of a high school in South Burnaby. And the parents, there were eight of us all together. Mr. (Clarence John) Frederickson actually was superintendent of schools at the time. We got together, and we were advised to form an association through the Societies Act and then start looking for accommodation to start our own school. We started in a church in central Burnaby. (That was BACI.)

Who was advising you to start your own school?

It was Mr. Fredrickson, and John Prior and Bob Prittie.

It made sense actually: Register (the association) under the Societies Act. Under the association, start our own school. We hired a teacher, and then when the school board was aware of what was happening, we negotiated with the school board all along, and they finally took us over.

You negotiated with the school board and they took you over?

They started classes for the handicapped. We had to also negotiate with Victoria as well. Leslie Peterson was minister of education at the time.

Was this the first time kids with disabilities were getting taught in schools?

Yes.

Were there other people pushing for that?

Trail was in the same situation. Vancouver was in the same situation. We were all doing the same thing. There was a common denominator that brought us all together.