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White Cane Week 2008
Manitoba DivisionCCB Manitoba Division held an informational display February 8, 2008 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM in Portage Place, Edmonton Court, as part of White Cane Week 2008 celebrations.
Purpose:
- To focus on the abilities of people who are blind or vision impaired.
- Highlight programs and activities that CCB Manitoba Division offers.
- Increase public awareness about the CCB
- Encourage the community to talk to family, friends and others about the programs, peer support and advocacy for accessibility that CCB members offer to people who are blind or vision impaired.
- To clearly identify that these programs are offered by people who are blind or vision impaired.
- Presentation of the “Inclusion Award”. In recognition of significant efforts that have been made by individuals, companies, groups or organizations who have enhanced accessibility in Manitoba.
A demo of JAWS and Kurzweil software.
Public awareness was highlighted in the “See If You Can” program and the presentation of the “Inclusion Awards”.
Advocacy featured two petitions for the general public to sign.
A presentation of a certificate was made to this year’s Inclusion Award recipients. The “Inclusion Award” is presented to a company, group, organization or individual who has created or expanded a product or service which increases accessibility for Manitobans who are blind or vision impaired.
A presentation at the Millennium
Library.
Manitoba Library Services – Trevor Surgenor, Acting Director and Winnipeg Public Library – Betty Parry, Coordinator Support Services accepted the Inclusion Award for the “Electronic Library of Manitoba” program. Everyone benefits from the universal design of both the website and client software. Manitobans with vision loss can now join fellow Manitobans by selecting, downloading and listening to current audio books from the convenience of their home computers.
Two petitions available in either print, Braille or audio formats were available for the general public’s consideration and support.
Summary of the petitions include:
- The CCB Manitoba Division reminds the government to consider all non-driving residents of Manitoba when working out the details for the new photo IDs to be made available to Manitobans later this year.
- The CCB Manitoba Division encourages the government to set up an adaptive technology and training funding program in Manitoba similar to other provinces.
The event was well received and was very successful in raising awareness about CCB. It also made a positive impact on changing any negative views that the general public may have had about people with vision loss.
February 1, 2008
PRESS RELEASE
The Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB) is pleased to announce that His Honour, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario David Onley will be the first recipient of the White Cane Week® Person of the Year Award. The award will be presented to the Lieutenant Governor at the annual White Cane Dinner and 2008 Canadian Vision Impaired Curling Championship awards night at the Ottawa Curling Club on February 8, 2008.
The national curling championship is comprised of blind and vision impaired curlers from across Canada with the championship team to participate in international competition later in the year. This championship is now an event sanctioned by the Canadian Curling Association.
His Honour is the first person to hold the office of Lieutenant Governor who uses a wheelchair. As quoted from CCB spokesman Michael Potvin. “His appointment and goals while in office inspires all Canadians with disabilities including the blind and vision impaired and his office brings the issue of disability more to the forefront of the Canadian social agenda.”
In his installation speech, the Lieutenant Governor stressed the need for computer literacy for aboriginal youth and the continued advancement of rights for all people regardless of their disability. As His Honour stated,
“My commitment to accessibility includes all disabilities not just the visible ones… I really want to be the compelling and driving force to help make this province a more accessible place."
Mr. Potvin is enthusiastic about the commitment from the Lieutenant Governor. “What the CCB is doing with its curling program or with other programs such as computer training, bursaries, the CCB computer club or plans for employment programs, we are changing what it means to be blind. The CCB emphasizes ability rather than disability. We cannot agree more with the objectives of the Lieutenant Governor and we look forward to working together.”
Mr. Potvin goes on to say “The blind and vision impaired community has one of the highest unemployment rates and the lowest per capita income of any disabled group in Canada. Historically, we have been marginalized by government and the private sector. The CCB is attempting to change this and with prominent role models and advocates such as His Honour, we will succeed.”
The CCB was founded in 1944 by returning war veterans and graduates from the schools for the blind. With 9 divisions and over 65 chapters across Canada, the CCB is the largest membership based organization with all officers and directors either blind or vision impaired.
For more information:
Mike Potvin
(613) 567-0311
mpotvin@ccbnational.net
CURLING CHAMPIONSHIP HAS NEW VISION: Sanctioned Event with World Championship Entry at Stake
February 1, 2008
The flagship of White Cane Week - the Vision Impaired National Curling Championship – will send the winning rink to a world championship this year. Indeed, since last season’s national championship, many exciting and revolutionary changes have taken place for this event.
- This is the first Canadian Curling Association (CCA) sanctioned Vision impaired Curling Championships. After round robin play, a semi-final and final will take place. Time clocks will also be used.
- Official Rules of Play for Vision Impaired Curling have been developed and are sanctioned by CCA
- Vision Impaired Curlers call their own game.
- There is a clear role of coach and guide.
Teams include Team British Columbia (Kelowna), Team Alberta, (Edmonton), Team Manitoba (Winnipeg), Team Nova Scotia (Sydney), Team Ontario (Kitchener) as well as teams from Ottawa, Toronto and Hamilton.
Doris Koop, a former Olympian (swimming) will head the Bison province rink. Team Ottawa, who recently competed in a mainstream mixed curling tournament, will also be there with the legally blind leadShawny Ross, coached by her sighted husband, David.
Special guest, Canada’s curling ambassador, Guy Hemmings, will open the event on Sunday February 3.
Because of the international connection of the event this year, many members of the Diplomatic Corps will be on hand that day for an exhibition curling match – using special sight impairing glasses.
The curling wars take place at the Ottawa Curling Club, 440 O’Connor Street (at the corner of Catherine and O’Connor Street) from Monday February 4 to the final on Friday February 8.
For more information:
Doris Koop,
(204) 793-0245
drkoop@mts.net
Check out our exciting 2008 Canadian Vision Impaired Curling Championship Public Service Announcements (PSA):
Thank you for your support!
CCB would like to thank all of the embassies who attended the 2008 White Cane Week Opening Ceremonies on Sunday, February 3rd, at the Ottawa Curling Club, and showed their support for blind curling. There were a total of 13 embassies that included:
1) Embassy of Peru
2) Embassy of Bulgaria
3) High Commission of the Republic of Cameroon
4) Embassy of Czech Republic
5) Embassy of Zimbabwe
6) Embassy of Slovak Republic
7) Embassy of Ukraine
8) British High Commission
9) Embassy of Iceland
10) Royal Danish Embassy
11) Royal Norwegian Embassy
12) Embassy of Croatia
13) Australian High Commission