July 17 - Amazing Race Canada

Have you been following this season of CTV’s Amazing Race Canada?  We have watched the series since the beginning but this year we have watched with special interest. One of the contestants is legally blind.  Lowell has retinas pigmentosa. He has no peripheral vision, reduced central vision and no vision in low light.  His sight will gradually decrease. In spite of his vision impairment, Lowell loves sports and is enthusiastic about travel. That is one of the reasons he and his wife, Julie, applied to compete in the amazing Race Canada. Lowell is an inspiration to others  who  cope with not just a vision impairment, but with any sort of disability.

July 11 - Pictures!

Well, Lyle and I are back in Alberta and here are a few pictures from our time in Winnipeg. Until now, I don’t think that I had realized what an interesting city Winnipeg is. Its diverse population is a positive reflection of its history over the years. So, bearing that in mind, here are the pictures.

The first is a photo of the Museum of Human Rights, with its unique architectural design - a huge tower pointing skyward from the main dome shaped base. The displays in the museum extend to an international level with each of the seven floors having a specific focus. 

Museum of Human Rights

 The second picture shows me standing beside an ox cart. I am filled with awe when I think of those early settlers coming across the continent with baggage and all their belongings tucked in and around one of these contraptions. This picture was taken on the bicentennial day at Seven Oaks so I am wearing my red souvenir t-shirt from the day.

Sue beside an ox cart

The third picture shows me standing beside the Seven Oaks monument. The monument was erected in 1861 by the Winnipeg Historical Society.  Could the society members have even imagined that their monument would be a focal point in a national park in 2016!

Sue beside Seven Oaks monument

The fourth and last picture is of me standing beside Nathan. I am wearing my red t-shirt   and Nathan is dressed in Scottish kilt and cap  and holding his bagpipes in front of him.  Many of the Scotish settlers were part of the North West Company. Many of them had arrived due to the influence of Lord Selkirk. His dream was to establish an agricultural settlement in the mid-west. Hence the reason for a Scottish bagpiper being a part of the bicentennial celebration.

Sue with Nathan

I hope that you have enjoyed the pictures and my brief descriptions of them.

July 4 - Interesting People

I like talking with people, but sometimes I wonder if I would be quite so chatty if it wasn't for the fact that I am writing on the blog.  Not only do I like to talk, I also like to tell you about the interesting people I meet.  I find it fascinating how our lives intertwine. To make the circle complete, I likely wouldn't be writing on this blog if it wasn't for the fact that I need to use my white cane because of my partial sight, and perhaps that is partly why you choose to read what I write - your own interest in what it is like to live with a vision challenge.

We met Nathan Mitchell at the Seven Oaks afternoon. Two musicians had been invited to participate in the event. A Metis man played the fiddle, and Nathan played the bagpipes.

I have always liked the sound of bagpipes.  I grew up living across the street from a Presbyterian church. Often on a Saturday morning several pipers would gather there for a weekly practice.  The strains of their music would drift across the street.

Nathan was only seven or eight years old when he learned the basics of the bagpipes from his grandfather. Today his musical talent has provided him with many opportunities. On a trip to Australia, Nathan earned money by busking at Circular Quay by Sydney Harbour. On another occasion he came face to face with Paul McCartney. The fifty-five strong drum and pipe band of which Nathan is a member, was rehearsing for their part in a McCartney concert. When Nathan turned around, there was McCartney right behind him. It was a brief encounter, but McCartney had time for a smile, a nod and a few words for the star struck piper.

We enjoyed chatting with Nathan and listening to his tales about his music, the band, and his travels.  Lyle discovered a connection with farming. Nathan is working for an agricultural machinery company based in Winnipeg with sales across the prairies, including central Alberta.

Nathan certainly one of the more interesting people we have met so far on this trip.