Dozens turn out to support launch of Diane Sims’ book, “Living Beyond the Shadow”

Diane Sims, author of “Living Beyond the Shadow,” poses for a photo with Stratford BIA general manager Jamie Pritchard during her book-launch event at Fanfare Books Nov. 15.

It seemed like all of Stratford turned out to support the launch of local author, journalist and accessibility advocate Diane Sims’ unflinching autobiography, “Living Beyond the Shadow.”

The author, who is living with end-stage multiple sclerosis (MS) and has been approved for medical assistance in dying (MAiD), was joined for the launch of her latest book at Fanfare Books Nov. 15 by family, friends, her family doctor, her colleagues from the city’s accessibility advisory committee, members of the Downtown Stratford BIA, current and former city councillors, Stratford Police Chief Greg Skinner and even Stratford Mayor Martin Ritsma, among others.

“I was overwhelmed with the support I had!” Sims told the Times. “Every time I had a chance to peek up, the room was full of people and books, a dream for a writer! We sold out of books, which would make Bob at Fanfare very happy as it did me and my publisher.”

Though “Living Beyond the Shadow” follows Sims’ MS journey from her first long hospital stay in Toronto at age 14 and her eventual diagnosis in 1975 to her more recent decision to take control of her own fate through MAiD, highlighting many of the health, personal and professional challenges she’s overcome along the way, its message is one of hope and joy and she says there are so many funny and endearing tidbits from her life and her work contained within those 385 pages.

Dr. Sean Blaine, Sims’ family physician for the past 25 years and the man who wrote the foreword in the book, spoke at the book launch about Sims’ bravery in telling her story.

“I’ve read the book and for me, knowing Diane for the last 25 years, there’s so much I didn’t know,” Blaine said. “In the medical community, we see people at certain points in their journey. I thought I knew Diane, but in fact, this book was masterful, really, and the way you weave your friends and your family and Canadian events and Canadian icons through the story is just incredible.

“It was a real treat and thank you so much for your friendship.”

Also asked to speak at the book launch, Ritsma, who in recent years has developed a professional and personal relationship with Sims as they’ve worked to make the Stratford police station accessible, spoke about Sims’ tireless efforts in her advocacy on behalf of Stratford residents with mobility issues.

“(Diane) will send me a text and say, ‘Phone me now,’ and guess what, I phone her now,” he said. “ … You’re a wonderful human being. I appreciate the fact that you’ve chosen Stratford as your current home. Thank you and best wishes with this (book), and I look forward to more.”

Skinner, who has also worked closely with Sims over the past several years in making the police station accessible, spoke at length about Sims’ tenacity and passion for accessibility, even going as far as to call her a friend despite what could have been a contentious relationship.

“When I first met Diane, it was not under the greatest of circumstances,” Skinner said. “She had a complaint about the accessibility of the police station. It was a rainy day, she came by to try to get into the police station to get some paperwork taken care of and, of course, couldn’t get into the front of the police station. … Everyone was trying to accommodate her to the best of their ability, however the fact that you couldn’t access the police station was the issue.

“When Diane brought this to my attention, I thought, ‘Uh oh, this is going to be a tough relationship,’ but it’s been the exact opposite. Diane has been the best advocate that any police chief can have in their community. She has been very vocal about the issues she has had with accessibility, in particular with the police station, she’s made deputations to the police board, she’s talked about the need for a new police station and the mayor has definitely bought in to everything she has brought to the attention of those of us who don’t need to be accommodated to get into buildings.”

As a result of Sims’ hard work, advocacy and unwavering tenacity, Skinner told those at the book launch that the current police station is being outfitted with an accessible ramp that will be completed by the end of this year – a stop-gap solution that will make the building at least partially accessible as the police service and the Stratford Police Services Board look toward building a new police station in the future.