Barry has received the Queens Jubilee Award on two separate occasions. He was first presented with the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award in 2002 in recognition of his contribution to public life and subsequently with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award in 2012 to honour his significant contributions and achievements. Furthermore, the town of Richmond Hill has presented Barry with the Volunteer Achievement Award in recognition of his long term commitment and dedication in the community.
As an active advocate for the need for increased consumer focus and participation in the neurotrauma research field since 1992, Barry recently retired from the personal injury practice to focus solely on the Canadian Spinal Research Organization. The not-for-profit is dedicated to raising funds for spinal cure research and has raised nearly 20 million dollars since its inception in 1984. Some of the fundraising initiatives include Shoot for a Cure, Donate a Photo and the Easel Program. Along with everyone involved in the CSRO, Barry hopes to one day live in a world without paralysis caused by spinal cord injury.
Prior to dedicating his time and efforts to the CSRO, Barry worked as a personal injury attorney. He obtained his bachelor of Laws from the Osgoode Hall Law School in 1994 and was called to the bar of Ontario two years later. Founding partner of Robertson, Munro Barristers and Solicitors for ten years, Barry then moved on to specializing in personal injury at Aylesworth LLP before making partner at Falconeri, Munro, Tucci. As a matter of fact, Barry specialized in personal injury, medical malpractice, long term disability and life insurance litigation. He retired from the practice in 2015 to focus on the spinal research cause.
Barry has been a vital member of the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation since the beginning. The organization hopes to make Ontario stronger by changing its citizen’s lives and attitudes, along with its public system. The ONF has 2 missions. The first is to prevent and reduce the incidence and prevalence of neurotrauma injuries and the second is to enhance the quality of life for those living with an acquired brain injury or a spinal cord injury. In this endeavour, Barry acts as the foundation’s Chief Development Officer.
After a diving accident, Barry became an influential member of multiple non-profit organizations. The paralysis caused by the spinal cord injury that he suffered did not prevent him from moving forward at all. Over the succeeding years, Barry has been involved with remarkable causes in various ways, such as taking on the role of director in organizations like Charities First Ontario, Neurological Technologies and founding both the Richmond Hill Mobility Accessibility Foundation and the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation. As of late, Barry has been a key contributor to the neurotrauma research field, accepting the role of Chief Development Officer for the Canadian Spinal Research Organization (CSRO).
You will need to become a specialist about your own injury and learn how to communicate to others effectively. The sooner you can advocate for your needs, the faster the journey to recovery will be.Ensure that you:
-Take the time to learn about your rights and obligations
-Make informed decisions about your health care options
-Are not afraid to ask questions of health care providers, lawyers and insurance adjusters
After and Beyond – Health Care Education for Families and CaregiversSpinal cord injury affects family, friends, employers, community and the health care system.
• People can, and do, make a positive adjustment to life with a spinal cord injury given the right supports at the right time.
• On average, it takes 2 to 3 years to attain sufficient independence following a spinal cord injury.
• Intensive psychosocial support is a critical component to rehabilitation from the onset of injury, through acute hospitalization, rehabilitation and transition to community living.
Help others understand how they can assist you in your recovery.
Knowledge is power! Take the time to learn everything you can to become an informed research advocate. If you want to understand the basic biology of the injured cord, and what the basic approaches scientists are taking to heal, mend or bypass the nervous system, you need to know what you as a non-scientist can do to speed things along.
OR
“Would you rather have regulators, funding organizations, politicians, scientists, and the general public decide what it the most important treatments that would support your recovery.”