May 29 - White Cane Connections – The People

Since writing the last post on this blog, I have been thinking of the many people I met on my 2012 white cane journey. Many of the names have drifted to the back of my memory bank, but I remember the connections we made. The people I met were supportive and encouraging. Without exception, they were enthusiastic about spreading an awareness of what the white cane means to people who are blind and partially sighted.

This enthusiasm was immediately evident when Bill, a complete stranger at the time, got wind of my proposed trek and contacted me to ask what he could do to help. After persuading me to begin my white cane walks in his hometown of Seschelt, Bill whirled into action. At this point, I must mention that Bill was completely blind. He didn’t use a white cane himself but used the “eyes” of his guide dog.

Before I arrived, Bill planned a walking route, contacted media, made a presentation to the town council and arranged for several councilors to join the walk on the big day. Somehow or other, he managed to talk the mayor into not only joining us but into wearing a blindfold, using a white cane and being led by a sighted guide. Bill made sure that the route we were to follow passed by several sidewalk obstacles – broken pavement and overhanging branches – obstacles which he pointed out to town representatives. Members of Bill’s support group joined the walk as did members of the local Legion and Lions Groups. Shop Owners who had been alerted in advance, applauded and cheered us as we walked by. The day was a huge success.

Bill’s generosity of spirit was fairly typical of the people I met.  Bill asked nothing in return for his efforts.  In supporting me, he was part of a venture which supported an awareness of the challenges of people with limited or no sight. The White Cane Connections walk was his way of contributing.

There were many other people who lent their support as I made my way across the country and it was a privilege to hear their personal stories. People in every province had something to offer.

 

In British Columbia, I walked along the seawall with members of the Nanaimo CCB chapter. I walked with Sue and her guide dog in Osoyoos. After a walk around downtown Golden, Lyle and I were treated to a meal by fellow white cane user, Lesley and her husband.

In Alberta, I sat beside my friend, Dorothy as she tied tiny ribbons to the ends of hundreds of book marks that I planned to distribute on my walks. Dorothy followed my blog entries with supportive comments of my progress for my entire journey.

In Saskatchewan, I walked with a group around the lake trail in Regina and then chatted over coffee and goodies in the CNIB auditorium.

In Manitoba, a group of us followed the CNIB rabbit mascot on one of the windiest days of the walks. This was also a special day because our daughter-in-law joined us for the walk.

In Ontario, I especially remember walking in Kingston. It was here that the father of the four-year old whom I mentioned in my last post, insisted on handing me a $20 bill. He wanted to support the walk to promote an awareness of white cane users. He said that although his son was only four, as his boy grew older he would benefit from what we were doing that day and he wanted to do his part.

In Quebec, we stopped in at Drummondville and met the president and staff members of HumanWare.  This organization gears its business to creating innovative devices and software programs for people who “See Things Differently”. Their home page mission statement says it all.

In New Brunswick I walked around the streets of Moncton with two delightful women who explained to me the challenges for people with disabilities when it came to getting around their city.

In PEI, after walking around the historic downtown area of Charlottetown, we were treated to conversation and lobster rolls by David and David. Thank you so much!

In Halifax, Nova Scotia, I was able to talk with a support group of newly blind adults and later met with Leona. I knew Leona from our shared connection with CNIB in Alberta  

In Cape Breton, I met Louise, the national president of CCB. With her friends and members of the blind and partially sighted curling team, we walked around Sydney and shared stories over coffee and muffins.

Finally in Newfoundland, we walked around St. John’s. It was only days after a summer hurricane, and the streets were littered with fallen branches. The group I met there pointed out some of the more permanent obstacles to pedestrians with sight challenges.

I know that this list seems long, but I have scarcely touched the surface. Lyle and I walked in over eighty communities and met hundreds of people who shared in our enthusiasm to spread an awareness of the challenges faced by people who used a white cane as a mobility tool.  These were the people who were the connections in my White Cane Connections Walks. Thank you all so much!

May 18 - White Cane Connections

 

It has been just over nine years since I began my white cane walks across Canada. It has also been just over nine years since I first started writing this blog. The other day I was sorting through by collection of mementos from that time and I came across the page that listed my original goals for the white cane connections walks.

High on my list of priorities was a desire to connect with other people who were either blind or partially sighted. In the relatively small town where I was living, I knew of a few other people with limited sight, but at the time, I was the only one who needed to use a white cane. I wanted to meet other people with my shared background and to hear their stories. How did they cope? Were they living in isolation or did they have support networks in place? Were they new to the use of the white cane or was the cane a long-term mobility tool for them?

At the beginning of my journey, I wasn’t at all sure how I would make any connections at all. I was a CNIB client but CNIB upper echelons told me there were issues of confidentiality. This would prevent them from giving out names or contact information of other clients. My only hope was that each individual office would pass along my own information and route itinerary. Some CNIB Staff were super helpful and others were dismissive.  I also contacted the national president of CCB (Canadian Council for the Blind) to enlist her support. This organization was very helpful in assisting me in making connections with other white cane users.

But that was just the details of planning and organizing my project. Success came when I was able to meet with those people who came to walk with me. I was fascinated by the stories they told and by the general air of enthusiasm when it came to spreading an awareness of the white cane and its significance.

Even these nine years later, some connections stand out for me. I walked alongside a four-year-old boy who had been blind since birth. I walked beside four people in their nineties. One woman encouraged me to come back the following year when she would turn one hundred. I walked beside several people who came with their guide dogs, and one woman with mobility issues and who accompanied me on her scooter. All were supportive and seemed to be pleased to be contributing to a project that would spread an awareness of people who needed to use a white cane.

However, I think that there was one connection that, for me, made the whole journey worthwhile. I was nearly halfway through my route in Ontario. As I chatted with one of the walkers in the group, I learned that this was the first time ever that she had ventured out of her home using her cane. Until that day, she had been apprehensive, nervous and even embarrassed, but the thought of walking with others who also used a white cane had given her the incentive and the courage she needed to take that first step.

I recalled my own first ventures outside my home using my cane. I had the same misgivings. I am glad that the white cane connections walks were instrumental in providing a pathway for this woman to begin her journey towards independent mobility. If the white cane connections walks touched the lives of others, my life was also touched by the people I met along the way. It has been difficult to make any connections in the past months of the pandemic, but 2012 was a great year for making white cane connections.

May 1 - Spring

Spring has sprung. The air is fragrant and the colours are vibrant. I do find it difficult to discern the different colours of the various flowers, but there is no doubt that they are in bloom. Their fragrance gives them away. They are one of the reasons I so enjoy this season.

In spring, my senses seem to come alive. No longer do I need to bundle up and cover my face against the cold icy frost of winter. Instead I can feel the cool crisp air of early morning or the warmth of the afternoon sun on my skin. I even like the occasional rain that comes with the season.

The songbirds, too, recognize the changes that are brought about by the warmer weather. I was delighted a couple of weeks ago when the first of the returning Canada geese flew overhead. A woodpecker has built a new nest along the street and I often hear his drumming in the morning or late afternoon. I can’t see the smaller birds but Lyle watches for the first robin to appear on our lawn.

Even walking in the streets downtown has a different ambiance. I hear the voices of people visiting on open air patios and I can definitely smell the freshly brewed coffee.

Yes, I do enjoy spring weather. Next to summer it is my favourite season.

There are two pictures with this post. Both were taken in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. I find it difficult to distinguish the deeper red and purple hues so I have chosen two pictures that show blooms with bright yellow and contrasting orange. I just wish that I could add the fragrance of the flowers for you as well.

Flowers along a path

Flowers around a tree