June 30 - The Battle of Seven Oaks

The Battle of Seven Oaks in Winnipeg played a significant role in the history of that city.  In the early days of the settlement, pemmican (dried meat) was in high demand by both the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) and the North West Company (NWC).  The dispute came to a head when HBC declared that this pemmican could be sold only to them.  This decision didn't sit well with the NWC who needed the pemmican for survival, or the Metis people who wanted the right to trade freely with whomever they chose.  The conflict itself was a one-day battle, in which twenty-one members of HBC were killed and one Metis from the NWC side.  Free trade for the Metis people was established.

When Lyle and I arrived in Winnipeg - nearly two weeks ago now - we were in time for the June 19trh ceremony which commemorated two hundred years to the day since the battle.  The area, only a few blocks from the banks of the Red River, has now been set aside as a national park.  We first visited the small museum, then watched a re-enactment of the battle before listening to the speeches of the various dignitaries.  It was a good day!

I do have a couple of pictures from the day but they will have to wait until I am back with my home computer in Alberta.  That will not happen until after a significant piece in our family story.  We are waiting here for the birth of our second grandchild!

June 27 - Touring the Mint

Touring the Royal Canadian Mint in Winnipeg was informative, but truthfully, not the best experience for someone with sight challenges.  The tour was on the second floor looking down through glass windows to the coin making activity on the main floor.  Even the few coins that were passed around for inspection were enclosed in plastic.

Initially we were refused a disability discount for admission, but when I expressed surprise and disappointment at this, Rheal at the front desk consulted with his supervisor and the discount was recognized.  Admission was only $5.00 so it wasn't the price but rather the principle of the thing.

Unfortunately there were no free samples at the end of the tour!  However, we did get to touch and hold a solid gold bar which was worth about three quarters of a million dollars.  The bar weighed 27 pounds.  It was about 20 centimetres long and about four to five centimetres thick.  Although there was an armed guard standing beside the display, the gold bar was also attached by a chain through the pedestal of the table.

In the picture below, I am standing beside the table and tipping the bar to a vertical position.

Sue with a Bar of gold

June 25 - Canadian Museum of Human Rights

Lyle and I are in Winnipeg.  Today we visited the Canadian Museum of Human Rights.  The building is relatively new, with a unique architectural design.  The base is a half globe with a tall tower pointing skyward.

I was excited to visit the museum because currently it is host to a photography display titled "Sight Unseen."  The photographs in the display were all taken by camera artists with visual impairments ranging from total blindness to partial sight.  Several photos were accompanied by tactile and/or auditory descriptions.

There were brief biographies of all the photographers.  Many gave their reasons for taking up this particular art form.  Some said that it was a p9olitical statement and inroad to a visual world.  I immediately identified with one comment, the gist of which said that sighted photographers photograph what they see, but a legally blind person might photograph something so that he/she can see it.  I often ask Lyle to take a picture of something so that I can see it more easily using my magnifying technology at home.

While I was impressed with the "Sight Unseen" display, I found the remainder of the museum - it is seven floors tall - to be more geared to a visual experience.  There was much to read and many pictures to view.  I was glad to have Lyle along to read and explain things to me.

The museum covered many topics dealing with disabilities, inclusion, and minority groups.  The topics ranged from national issues such as residential schools in Canada to international issues such as apartheid, the holocaust, modern day refugees, and discrimination against women and the gay community.

We spent several hours at the museum, but the highlight for me was definitely the Sight Unseen display. Winnipeg is only a temporary home for the display as it moves on (I think to Vancouver) in the third week of September.  Don't miss it if you have the opportunity to see it.

June 23 - Feeling Foolish

Over the years, I have heard people who are using their white cane described in many ways - most complimentary - brave, courageous, independent, adventurous, etc.  Probably, we can all identify with each of these traits at one time or another, but sometimes as users of a white cane, we can also feel scared, nervous, timid, and my word of the other day - a little foolish.

Lyle and I have been on a road trip to Winnipeg and I wanted coffee.  Because Lyle couldn't get through the McDonald's drive through in our motorhome, he parked on the street and sent me inside.  I had followed his directions to cross the parking lot, but when I approached the side of the building, I couldn't see the door to enter. Suddenly there was a whoosh and an automatic door opened in front of me.  Ah ha!  I proceeded inside, bought my coffee, and turned to leave.

Again I stood in front of what I now knew was the doorway.  Nothing happened.  There was no whoosh.  I stood with coffee in hand, waiting patiently.  Was the door broken?  Perhaps I wasn't standing close enough.  I inched forward and then it occurred to me.  The door was already open!  Cautiously I reached out my hand.  Sure enough - open space!

Now I'm sure this incident only took a few seconds, but for me in my state of uncertainty, the minutes seemed interminable.  I didn't feel brave or adventurous - just a little foolish.  Still, when you don't se well or when you don't see at all, there are often days with the potential of little blunders.  That is when the courage steps in.  We just chalk it up to experience and carry on.

I did enjoy my morning coffee!

June 17 - Thinking About Things

It has been a little while since I have put a post on this blog and you might have been wondering what has been going on. Well, I have been busy. Doing what you might ask.  I have been busy thinking!

Let me explain! Several weeks ago, Lyle noticed an article in the paper about a company called Esight. The article told how the company had produced a pair of goggles that could potentially enable partially sighted people to be able to see. Lyle sent an email request for more information and the next thing I knew, a representative from the company phoned me to ask if I was interested in meeting with someone to learn more. Chad asked me a number of questions about myself and it seems as if I might be a possible candidate for the product, although there is no guarantee of success.

I was surprised at the mixed emotions all this has brought about. Since 1986 when my sight changed, and I was told that there was absolutely no chance of any recovered sight, I felt that I needed to resign myself to that way of seeing. I wouldn’t say that this was easily accomplished. Nor did my acceptance of the situation happen overnight. Now here it is nearly thirty years later and I could possibly be given a second chance, so how do I feel about that? If the question had been proposed those three decades ago, I am sure that I would have no hesitation. Now I am unsure. It has taken me all these years to get used to the idea of seeing imperfectly, and I have been asking myself, how much learning would it take to readjust to the world if I had my sight back.

I know that there are a few things that I would dearly like to be able to see. Probably the most important of these would be the ability to actually see the faces of my family.

The upshot of all this is that I have decided to go ahead and meet with the Esight representative when he or she comes to Alberta. (The company is based in Toronto.) I am a little nervous and a little excited all at the same time.  I will continue to think things through, and I will certainly write an  update when the next step in the process is reached.

The web address for the company is:

 www.Esighteyewear.com