A victim of physical and mental abuse at the Whitbourne Boys’ Home is back at the steps of Confederation Building.

Jack Whalen, now 63, was at the home in the mid-1970s, enduring long periods of isolation among other abuse.

He built a replica of the cell where he spent that time as a tangible, visible reminder of what he went through, and displays it in the pan of his truck.

But he can’t sue for compensation due to time limits on claims for physical abuse in this province, as well as New Brunswick.

Lawyer Lynn Moore has been helping Whalen with his efforts to change that.

“We see now that the government is catching up with the times,” she said. “Mental injuries now count for workers’ compensation, and there’s a greater recognition, except this area of the law is severely lacking.”

Whalen next plans to drive his cell to Ottawa, with a stop in New Brunswick along the way, to further his cause.