Article content

Sherry Brachfeld had her wedding all set for Dec. 29 — the venue, the dress, the ring, a man she loved.

Then came a crashing intruder. Ontario’s Public Guardian and Trustee wants to leave her at the altar, now and possibly forever.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Egan: 'I should have the right to marry and live my life' — Ontario guardian stops wedding of disabled woman Back to video

In a Nov. 29 letter, the state Guardian said it had “serious concerns” that Brachfeld is mentally capable of making such an important life decision and is refusing to provide documents she needs for a marriage licence.

“I should have the right to marry and live my life,” she said one day this week. “I’m a human being. I have a right to be happy.”

Brachfeld, 33, says she has a mild intellectual disability and is on the autism spectrum. She also admits to a hoarding tendency and problems with personal care — the very reasons the Public Guardian took over her affairs in 2017 from her mother, who had legally been in charge.

But Brachfeld says she’s been working on her mental health and points to her record of independence: working at Tim Hortons for 11 years; stints at Elections Canada; a couple of years on her own in Israel; moving freely about Ottawa, including going to the see the Nutcracker at the National Arts Centre on Wednesday evening.