July 31 - Niagara Falls, ON

Niagara Falls is a must visit on the list for any tourist and many took this to heart today. I think that it is a good stop for anyone – with or without sight. As well as the amazing spectacle of the falls, there are so many other sensations – the rush of the water can be heard even from a distance, and up close the spray of the water is cool and refreshing. Lyle and I walked up and down the promenade at the edge a number of times before we met up with the others who had come to walk with us, and I must admit that the crowds were a bit unsettling. It wasn’t that people were purposefully ignoring my cane. It was more that their attention was almost totally focused on the falls.

Today, Niagara Falls has broken the record for the hottest day of our walks, and I want to thank the CNIB staff and clients who came out to support me. Their dedication to the cause of white cane awareness overcame the call of an air conditioned office.  There were around 12 of us on the walk and that included two women walking with their guide dogs. Here we are in the picture below.

 

From left to right you can see: Myself, Pat with her dog, Mae, and Hilda with her dog, Valor.

When Lyle and I returned to our vehicle, I drank two bottles of water and a can of Ginger Ale.  It was a hot day!

July 30 - Article in London Free Press

Here is an article of the London walk written by Gillian Wheatley from the London Free Press:

http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2012/07/30/20044206.html

July 30 - London, ON

We connect with other people in so many different ways. Around eight or nine years ago, while taking a distance education course through Athabasca University I made a connection with Suzanne. We were both enrolled in a course which required a collaborative assignment.  Suzanne lived in London.  The other student in our group, Bev, was living in Italy, and I was at home in Alberta. The assignment called for research on universal design and exemplified the concept of distance education.

Initially I had decided to withhold the condition of my vision impairment.  I didn’t want to be treated any differently by fellow students. I wanted to be no more and no less than others in the class – a name and a course participant. I wanted to be evaluated only by what I could contribute to class discussions done on the Internet and by the quality of any assignments that needed to be completed. However, it was during the course of the collaborative assignment that I mentioned above, that I decided that I needed to come clean – at the very least to Bev and Suzanne. For example, I struggled with Power Point, diagrams, and illustrations when they weren’t accessible by the audible screen reading program on my computer. From my personal experience as a visually impaired distance education student, there was much that I could offer to our assignment. I began to feel the need not just to educate myself, but to further the understanding of other students and professors as I continued with my studies.

It was nearly three years following the Universal Design collaboration, that Bev, Suzanne and I had a chance to meet in person. Bev had moved back to Toronto and Lyle and I were coming to London to visit our daughter. It was great to meet the others face to face for the first time. Over the years, Suzanne and I have kept in touch and I was super pleased when she was able to join the White Cane Connections walk in London today.

Thanks to Athabasca University for facilitating this connection, to Cherry and Shannon from the London CNIB office for their support, and to the London Free Press for the media coverage.

Tomorrow we are headed to Niagara Falls and we’ll meet outside the Table Rock Restaurant which is across the road from the top of the falls.

The picture below shows Suzanne and myself on a bench in Victoria Park.

July 29 - Article in Waterloo Region Record

Here is the article I mention in a previous post written by the Linda Givetash from the Waterloo Region Record:

http://www.therecord.com/news/local/article/768737--woman-walking-the-land-in-quest-to-put-focus-on-vision-loss

July 27 - Stratford, ON

Lyle and I have just spent a delightful two days in Stratford. We saw two shows at the Festival Theatre and walked a leisurely three kilometers around the Avon River Park trail. I know that this blog is mostly about the white cane walks, but I really want to mention the Stratford Theatre. When I phoned to book seats a few months ago, I hoped that I would be able to get seats as close to the front of the stage as possible. I was informed that this wouldn’t be a problem. Stratford Theatre puts aside special front row seating for each performance for CNIB clients. What a great accommodation for people with little sight!

I remember that when I could see, we used to prefer seating towards the back of a theatre. When my sight changed, it took Lyle some time to adjust to a change in seating. For the most part, he has adjusted well.  However, I do remember one particular summer theatre performance. The show was Camelot and we sat with our knees nearly under the edge of the stage. Of course, I was the one who had requested this particular seating. At one point, Lancelot sings a solo. His singing was quite full of saliva and Lyle threatened to sit with his program over his head and was very reluctant to return to the theatre for the second act.

The front row seats in Stratford were excellent. The performances were very professional and we thoroughly enjoyed both Henry V and 42 Street. I would highly recommend both, but do book tickets well in advance, and if you happen to be a CNIB client, remember to quote your CNIB ID number when booking.

July 26 - Waterloo, ON

Lyle and I spent this morning at the University of Waterloo. Walking around the paved trails was pleasant. All the paths we took were paved and level. We also stopped to visit the Museum of Vision Science in the Optometry building. I was disappointed. There were very few exhibits and most were encased in glass. This made it impossible for me to see and I merely listened as Lyle read the descriptions. Initially, Lyle had wandered around the building looking for the exact location of the museum, and he reported that there were way more optometry devices in the lecture rooms upstairs where summer classes were in full session. Nevertheless I have included a picture of myself in front of the museum sign – just to prove that we were really here!  I am also posting a more interesting picture that Lyle took at the lookout at Spanish.  This is from the top of 143 steps overlooking the marina.

One nice surprise at the beginning of our walk today was a meeting with a reporter and photographer from the Waterloo Record.  Linda’s questions gave me pause to reflect on the more personal motivation for the series of walks and to examine more carefully some of my feelings about blindness. It was a thoughtful interview and I am looking forward to reading Linda’s article when it goes to print.

July 25 - Sudbury, ON

Thanks to Paivi-Lee for co-ordinating today’s walk in Sudbury. We were a good group of eleven people with four of us using white canes, plus Dorothy and her guide dog, Adler.

In our pre-walk discussion, Paivi explained the proposed route to us. She particularly mentioned one street corner where overhanging branches were a hazard at face level. Dorothy had already walked our route in the early morning and said, with some annoyance in her voice, that in spite of several phone calls to the city, the tree branches were indeed still hanging. After these initial observations, our little group set off. When we reached the street corner in question, we were all amazed to find that between 8:30 a.m. when Dorothy and Adler had walked, and 10:00 a.m., the time of the group walk, there was nothing left of the branches but saw dust. Advocacy does work, but persistent advocacy works better. Good for the City of Sudbury for paying attention!

I enjoyed chatting with the entire group at various times during our walk. In my conversation with Rita, I commented on her very positive attitude and her independent spirit. I was touched by her reply. She said, “My family mean so much to me...how could I be any other way. I would never want to be a burden to them.”

 Rita, you are certainly not a burden, and you are also an inspiration to your family and to others who know you.

Next, I walked with Barb. Barb has been with CNIB for nearly thirty years and, and her head was swimming with information both from the present and from the past. Barb, you really should write a book!

Barb had just come back from Camp Freedom at Brantford, a summer camp for youngsters who are either blind or have visual challenges. She had spent the past week there on vacation, assisting the youngsters with daily living skills and was buoyed by their enthusiasm, their determination and their many abilities and capabilities.  As a teacher myself, I know the thrill that comes from watching young people learning and that sudden moment of clarity and understanding when they finally “catch on”.

Lyle and I enjoyed the hospitality that was offered by Sudbury CNIB and by others we met on our brief stay there. We appreciated the post-walk refreshments and the visiting. As well, a special thank you to Colleen at the Sudbury Star for the media coverage of the White Cane Connections event. 

Some of our group at the beginning of the walk in Sudbury.

July 24 - Spanish, ON

The most interesting thing about our walk in Spanish today was to climb 143 steps to a lookout above the marina at the northern tip of Lake Huron.  The first thirteen steps were cement with no handrail.  The remaining 130 steps were metal, with a handrail.  I usually find climbing up steps easier than coming down.  I used to think that it was because my eyes were closer to my feet when I was going up and I could perhaps see a little better.  I have now concluded that it is also further to fall when I am going down than when I am going up.  In actual fact, the metal steps were not too bad.  They were evenly spaced and I held the handrail all the way.  Lyle told me that the view at the top was especially lovely and peaceful.  We are off to Sudbury and the big nickel this afternoon.

July 23 - Sault Ste. Marie, ON

My resolve to continue with the White Cane Walks nearly weakened this past weekend. Lyle and I spent Saturday and Sunday at Pancake Bay Provincial Park Campground and it was very tempting just to stay there.  What a lovely spot! We walked on the sand, swam in Lake Superior and roasted wieners and marshmallows over a campfire.  It wasn’t that I felt discouraged about the White Cane Project, but rather it was good to relax and just have holiday time for ourselves.  Nevertheless, I remembered all your words of encouragement to me and for the White Cane Project, and this morning Lyle set the alarm for another early start.

We began today’s walk in the Roberta Bondar Pavilion.  Sault Ste. Marie is the birthplace for Bondar, Canada’s first female astronaut, and the pavilion and park where it is located are named in her honour.  I am quite fascinated with the idea of men and women travelling in space, and once had the privilege of meeting and shaking hands with Mark Garneau, Canada’s first ever astronaut.

We walked from the pavilion towards the boardwalk along the St. Mary River.  My first surprise was a group of men – two RCMP, two customs officers in uniform, and numerous males in business suits.  All were wearing dark glasses.  When Lyle told me of this group I immediately wanted to have my picture taken with them.  Lyle explained to me that these men were not there for the white cane walk!  Perhaps they were just being cool and going incognito. There is no photo attached here!

My next surprise was in the parking lot.  Lyle spotted 36 geese walking along the edge of the path.  He helped me carefully thread my way through the other evidence of their presence there!

We walked the three kilometres to the St. Mary’s canal locks.  I found the boardwalk was not conducive to the roller on the tip of my cane and ended up lifting it up and using it more as an identity cane.  The cracks in the boardwalk were too jarring otherwise.

We were in luck at the lock.  Two boat we inside the lock.  Although I couldn’t exactly see the level of the water I did see the boats lowering in the lock as the water was drained.  The lock gates then opened and the boats proceeded down the river.

The afternoon we are headed further down the highway in preparation for the walk in Spanish tomorrow morning.

July 23 - News article from The Outlook

Below is an article that appears in The Outlook, published last week. The article is divided into three pictures (as this is the only way I can get it on the blog). Read as you would a normal article but click on each of the three pictures to get the large print version.

July 18 & 19 - Nipigon & Marathon, ON

When I first started planning the White Cane Connections Walks, Nipigon and Marathon were just two dots on the map.  Over the past couple of days, both of these places have come to life for me.

In Nipigon, because it was just the right distance past Thunder Bay, we planned to stop for gas, check email – we were after all beginning our walk at the local library, and complete a short thirty-minute walk. Well, we did get gas, and we did check email, but instead of thirty minutes, we spent just over three hours in this lovely place.

Our first surprise was a coincidental meeting with Shanna and Holly from Thunder Bay CNIB. We were approaching the library when someone called out a greeting. Shanna and Holly were on their way to a family conference in the area and I was struck anew by the huge distances covered by Thunder Bay CNIB staff -  all the way from Kenora to Marathon and then for a considerable distance north as well.

Nipigon has made itself a pleasant and interesting spot for residents and tourists alike by using the theme from the book, Paddle to the Sea. If you are not familiar with this book, you can find a video link at the following website.  Be forewarned the video is twenty-seven minutes long.

www.nfb.ca/film/paddle_to_the_sea

Using the sequence of events from the book, the town has created the most splendid and imaginative playground area situated behind the town office and library.  Climbing, crawling and tunneling through the various stations, youngsters can follow the voyage of the little wooden canoe and its captain as they make their way through the beaver dam, over the log jam, through the bulrushes and herons, and so on. The apparatus is incredibly imaginative and appears to meet any safety standard that might be leveled its way.  Overlooking all of this is the stone image of the canoe and its captain. Of course, I couldn’t resist hopping into the canoe also (this is not only permitted but encouraged) for a picture opportunity. After all, Lyle and I are also making our way to the sea!

In Marathon we found a perfect parking spot overlooking the lake. For all the world, Lake Superior is much like an ocean. While it isn’t unusual for me not to be able to see land on a distant horizon, Lyle assured me that even he could only see water until it merged with the sky.

Today in Marathon we were joined by Roger and his new guide dog, Jenna. We didn’t walk all that far because just as we were about to set out, a train pulled across the main street crossing. It took nearly 45 minutes to make the crossing. We all sat on a nearby bench and chatted about white canes, guide dogs and life in general. It was a pleasant way to spend an afternoon.

July 19 - Pononka News Letter to the Editor

Here is letter submitted to the Ponoka News about the walk in Golden:

http://www.ponokanews.com/community/162925636.html

July 18 - Thunder Bay, ON

Thunder Bay was awesome! Lyle and I met some super friendly people and we thoroughly enjoyed our morning. There were six of us on the walk along the bay area and three of us used white canes. I used a mobility cane, Scott used an identity cane and Jean used her support cane. The picture below shows us overlooking the marina at the entrance of Lake Superior.

 

After several days of heat, the day chosen for our walk was perfect.  The temperature was mild, the sky was blue and there was a light refreshing breeze.

After the walk came time for conversation. Lyle and I were treated to refreshments in the cnib board room and we lingered with staff and clients and a robust discussion of the use and significance of the white cane. Shanna was especially informative about the children’s program. Interestingly, this vibrant program has many similarities to groups of seniors with vision loss. We all acknowledge that using a white cane becomes easier with practice, and also we can grow in confidence when we share and engage in social activities with other white cane users.

A special thank you to everyone at Thunder Bay who made us feel so welcome. Thanks to Jean for the beautiful little amethyst stone. It was both a lovely thought and a lovely memento of our visit. Thanks to Trevor for adding laughter to our otherwise serious discussions.  Thanks to Scott for sharing some of his personal experiences with me.  Finally, thanks to the CNIB staff for their hospitality, the CNIB mugs, the bottled water for our journey and most especially for the conversation we shared. We all had so many stories to tell that it was difficult to leave.

July 17 - Dryden, ON

Lyle and I walked in Dryden this morning. We started our leisurely stroll at the Dryden Museum – a beautiful old home, originally built in 1897 and now restored to former glory.  You can see some of this in the picture below.

We strolled down the hill to the business area and Lyle did an excellent job of describing each business front to me. I was especially enamored with the brightly painted wooden lawn chairs on the sidewalk outside two of the shops. I was also interested in the royal naming of the streets – King Street, Queen Street, Princess Avenue and Earl Court.

While the walk was pleasant, I still do not like the brickwork sidewalks that are present in so many of the downtown areas where we have walked. Straight pavement or cement sidewalks are so much easier for a cane. While I was lamenting this, we arrived back at the museum and we came across the wooden cutouts of the family from a century or so ago. How much more difficult it would have been then for a man or a woman who had no sight. Today, those of us who are blind or partially sighted have so many audible and computerized tools to ease our lives and help us overcome some of the barriers of living in a world geared to sight. As I type this, I know that many of the readers of this blog message will not “see” it, so much as hear it.

Nevertheless, I took a minute at the museum to pose behind the woman in the cutout with my white cane in front. Even if white canes had been around then, a cane would have been difficult to manage with a milk pail in the other hand.

July 16 - Kenora, ON

We are in Kenora – our first stop in Ontario.  On the drive between Winnipeg and Kenora we even passed the halfway point in the country. This is a good thing because we are already more than halfway with our anticipated time frame.

Kenora has been an interesting first point in the province. RV parking is scarce and the one traffic light we crossed did have an audible signal. Unforuntately the signal wasn’t operating correctly. It merely had a continuous beep when we pressed the button.  

On the plus side, the walk along the lakeshore was quite lovely and easy walking.  We have spent the morning here and will drive on to Dryden this afternoon.  It poured rain here last night, a definite change from the heat of last week.  We are looking forward to a clearer sky today.

July 12 & 13 - Kindersley, Rosetown, & Outlook, SK

We arrived at the Kindersley Library early enough to check our email before starting our walk, and the librarian came over to chat. Marilyn had noticed my white cane as we came into the library and wanted to know if I used an audible program for my computer. We also discussed the audible books that were available through the CNIB Library. Marilyn knew of a couple of people in Kindersley who used this library service. I also learned that there was a fairly active support group in town for people with vision difficulties. I know that I would like to come back for a longer visit some day.

My white cane was also visible when we walked through the downtown area. Several people greeted us with a friendly hello, and one youngster who was playing in his front yard, called out to ask me whether or not I could see.

In Rosetown, I chose to use my older white cane – partly because I knew we were going to walk on a gravel trail and partly because it had rained fairly heavily the night before. The old cane was a good choice.  My cane stuck in the gravel almost continuously and I found myself lifting and tapping instead of the roller sweeping that I am used to. When we reached the sidewalk area closer to town, the rain of the previous night had washed gravel, dirt and mud into the sloping driveways and again I found my cane pushing into the debris. There were so many tree branches hanging over across the sidewalk, that in the end, Lyle walked me out onto the road.

Outlook was our last walk in Saskatchewan. And what a great way to finish. If you haven’t already done so, I do recommend a visit to this prairie town. We began the afternoon with a tour of the Outlook Museum. It was fascinating and I appreciated the opportunity for a close up view of the various exhibits. My sight wasn’t good enough to count the number of salt and pepper shakers in one of the display cases, but there were many and many more!

After a chat with Derek from the local newspaper, Lyle and I set off down the path leading to the Skytrail Bridge. The trail was excellent – paved, wide and with no encroaching tree roots or branches. When we reached the bridge over the South Saskatchewan River, the view was spectacular.  This rail bridge was built in 1911 and the last train crossed in 1987.  The bridge was then converted into a pedestrian walkway and is now the longest pedestrian bridge in Canada. The open space of the prairies often gives me the impression that I can see. I can’t see detail, but when the sky stretches out for 180 degrees in front of me, I know that I see something. Lyle and I both enjoyed this walk as one of the most impressive in our journey so far. Thanks to Maureen for suggesting this route to me.

I must also thank Boyd Jones, service manager from John Deere Farm Machinery. Lyle and I had been having some trouble with a short in the wiring to the electric step on our motorhome.  Boyd kindly took care of us ever so promptly. He pulled a mechanic out of the shop who replaced a short length of wire. Boyd then cheerfully wished us well on our grand adventure. His good nature certainly left us with a good feel for the town of Outlook. 

The pictures below show me on the Skytrail Bridge. I am standing on the bridge 156 feet above the river.

July 7 & 12 - Airdrie & Hanna, AB

These were our last two walks in Alberta, and as I write this, Lyle and I have already crossed the border into Saskatchewan. The walk in Airdrie was at the beginning of a very hot spell and I was glad that we were able to walk around the lake at the north end of town. The walking trail was paved all the way and the walking was pleasant and relaxed.

Our stop in Hanna was a great way to end the Alberta walks. We arrived on Wednesday night in time for me to give a presentation in the local library. Thanks to Janet for setting this up and also for the many other arrangements she made for our visit.

I met Janet about ten years ago when she and I attended the same CNIB conference. Janet lost much of her sight following surgery for a brain tumour. She was only fourteen at the time – quite a crucial time in a young girl’s life. Over the years, Janet has adjusted well and now in her home town, she is a passionate advocate for others who are experiencing vision loss. 

Last night we spent a couple of hours visiting another old friend and in the morning went with her to the Vacation Bible School at the Redeemer Lutheran Church. Hilde introduced us to Pastor Rob, and then we sat listening to the enthusiastic singing of the children and VBS volunteers. There were 100 children registered for the week of activities. I was surprised that a church in a town with a population of not quite 3,000 could attract so many children. Great job!

On the White Connections Walk we were a group of eleven. A special thank you to all who joined us for the morning. Mayor Mark participated by being guided with his eyes closed.  At another point he walked down main street with a borrowed white cane. Thanks also to town council member, Cathy, for walking with us.

In Hanna, I think that we broke two records. The hot weather had brought out swarms of mosquitoes and I am quite sure that I have never in my life seen and felt so many of the nasty little critters. On a very positive note though, I met Florence. Florence joined us for the walk and we chatted together as we walked. I could scarcely believe my ears when Florence told me that she was ninety-nine years young!  Hanna has broken the record for the most senior walker for sure. Not only that, a couple of years ago at the Seniors Games, Florence travelled to Moncton to participate. She competed in – now are you ready for this – the javelin throw!!

As I said, Lyle and I have now left Alberta but we are looking forward to hearing the amazing stories of more people as we continue on our journey. The picture below shows Janet and myself leading the Hanna walkers. 

June 27 & July 6 - Penticton & Golden, BC

Our day in Penticton was one of contrasts. The walk was on a relatively smooth path around the lakeshore, and although my cane glided easily across the pavement, the wind made the walking itself not so easy going. I always find that noise is a distraction to my concentration. On June 27, the sounds of summer at the lake were in full swing and the gusty wind both muffled and increased the cacophony of sound. It wasn’t a very relaxing walk.

Lyle and I celebrated Canada Day in Osoyoos with our daughter and son-in-law. It was a lovely week, and I was sorry to see it end.  However, end it did and we moved on to Golden for my last walk in British Columbia.

Truthfully, I hadn’t expected anyone else to join us for this walk, so I was surprised and immensely pleased when Dale and Sharon pulled up into the parking lot beside us. Sharon had heard about the walks through a cnib contact from Kamloops and so, there they were!

Instead of the short walk that I had thought of originally, Dale and Sharon led us on the most perfect guided walking tour of Golden. They had both lived their entire lives in town and so were wonderful and informative tour guides. They pointed out many of the regular tourist attractions, especially the Big 7 Mountain, as well as some of the challenges that Sharon encountered on her independent white cane walks in the downtown area. We also stopped in at the Golden Star, the local newspaper. Our tour complete, Dale treated us all to lunch at a local restaurant.

Thanks to Dale and Sharon for a great morning and a marvellous wrap up to the BC portion of the White Cane Connections Walks.

The picture below shows Sharon and myself in the spirit Square in Golden where we had stopped to “smell the roses” along the way. 

July 3 - Lethbridge Interview

I am posting the link to the interview with Bob Short in Lethbridge. The interview will also be shown on Accessible Media Inc:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT6T504vx6A&feature=plcp