April 13 - Kelowna, BC

As you already know, I have called my walks and my blog White Cane Connections. Well, today was definitely a day for making those connections. There were eleven of us who set off from the CNIB office in Kelowna, but I would like to tell you about just two of these people. I mention Al and Mary specifically because in our conversations today, they each expanded my awareness of the many capabilities of people with limited eyesight.

Al plays lawn bowls. He is totally enthusiastic about the sport and plays competitively at an international level. Last year, Al travelled with his wife Vi to an international competition in Melbourne, Australia. Next year they hope to go to the same competition in England. Vi travels with Al because she is also his coach and sighted guide.

Mary loves kayaking and tandem bike riding. She is able to participate in these sports with her involvement in CRIS (Community Recreation Initiatives Society.)  CRIS operates mostly in the summer with an influx of student volunteers and the blossoming of summer weather in the Okanagan.  Mary loves the outdoors and is an eager participant in many sporting activities.  Currently, she is on the Board of Directors for CRIS.

While I learned from both Al and Mary, I was fascinated to see them connect with each other. In the near future I wouldn’t be at all surprised to hear that Mary had begun to play lawn bowls, and perhaps Al and Mary both will join a dragon boat crew. Many thanks to Ayn from CNIB who lent her support to the White Cane Connections walks and to the support she and the other staff at the CNIB office give to people in this area who are either blind or partially sighted.