Reports

Activities Report

February 2007

• AEBC SELECTS FIRST NATIONAL EQUALITY DIRECTOR
  

  Following a national search, Albert Ruel of Victoria, BC has been hired as AEBC's first National Equality Director.

  Albert was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan in 1956 and he began work with the MacMillan & Bloedel Plywood Plant in June 1973, following high school, moving to the Paper Mill in November 1974. In May, 1977, he began losing his sight from Retinal Vasculitis, and became totally blind in March 1990 from glaucoma.

  During the mid 1980s, Albert was a stay-at-home Dad and did all that is required of that challenging work. He took a woodworking course through Alberni's Adult Education program and built and restored several pieces of furniture. Of course the 1958 Chevy Impala in the garage was his pride and joy, and he devised ways to do much of the work it required. He returned to his job at the Mill in 1985 and resigned in 1992 when he went to work for CNIB in Prince George, BC.

  Albert also joined and participated in many community activities, like the local Car Club, and a disability support group that catered to the needs of people with many different disabilities.

  "These past 14 years have been a wonderful experience of ongoing discovery for me," says Albert, "as teaching may be the best way to solidify one's own learning.

  For most people blindness generates a fear of extended movement, both within one's home and community, but that doesn't have to be the case. Independence comes from personal desire and increased skill. Remember, life is 10% what happens to you and 90% what you do about/with it."

  Albert brings to the position his personal experience with losing vision as an adult, along with 14 years' work in the field.

  "I am looking forward to having someone on board who has this much experience, whose job will partly be to bring new ideas, approaches and energy to the work of AEBC," said AEBC President John Rae upon announcing Albert's hiring.

• AEBC RETURNS TO WINNIPEG

  AEBC is delighted to again have a chapter in Winnipeg. We welcome the new Chapter Executive: Ruth Hogue, Shannon Hannah, Janet Hunt and Christine Ross and wish them well.

• 2007 VICTORIA CONFERENCE WILL FOCUS ON UNIVERSAL DESIGN

  AEBC's 2007 Conference and AGM will be held at the Harbour Towers Hotel, Victoria, during the Victoria Day long weekend, Thursday-Sunday, May 17-20, 2007. The theme of this year's Conference will be Universal Design, and an exciting program of workshops and activities is being planned, so mark your calendars and plan to attend. See a special supplement to this month's Activities Report that will provide more details.
  Members at large who would like to apply for a subsidy to assist in attending the Victoria Conference should do so by February 15th.

• AEBC 2006 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

  AEBC's Scholarship Program is an important part of our work. This year, the AEBC would like to congratulate the following recipients of our 2006 Scholarship awards and wish them every success in their futures:

  • Laura Bulk, Victoria, BC
    
  • Jennifer Dillon, Toronto, ON
    
  • Danielle Laplante, Montreal, QC
    
  • Jacob Vaynshteyn, Edmonton, AB

• UN CONVENTION ADOPTED

  On December 13, 2006, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, marking the conclusion of negotiations that commenced in December 2001 with the creation of the Ad Hoc Committee. The Convention is the first core human rights treaty to be adopted in the 21st century!

  Though the Convention has now been adopted, the most important work – that of ratification and implementation - is just beginning! It is hoped that persons with disabilities around the world will encourage their countries to participate in the signing ceremony to be held at the UN on March 30, 2007, and that those countries will quickly move to ratify and implement the Convention in consultation and partnership with persons with disabilities.

  To read the final text, visit: www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable (opens in a new window)

• ONTAROP CITZENS ASSEMBLY

  Ontario has appointed a Citizens Assembly to discuss alternatives to the current electoral process, and AEBC has submitted a Brief discussing a variety of access issues. To read this Brief, visit:
  http://tinyurl.com/2fz3td (opens in a new window)

• TORONTO CHAPTER ELECTS NEW EXECUTIVE

  On December 9, 2006, AEBC's Toronto Chapter conducted elections, and the following were elected: President Carole Robertson; Secretary Marcia Cummings; Treasurer David Swiderski; and Member at Large Richard Quan. They Join Phil Wiseman, VP, whose term did not end in 2006.

  Marcia Cummings has also been appointed to the Toronto Transit Commission's Advisory Committee on Accessible Transportation (ACAT). She will serve a three-year term and is very interested in joining the Design and Communications subcommittees. Both of these will allow her to address many issues of AEBC members. For more information on the ACAT, visit: http://www.toronto.ca/ttc/schedules/service_reports.htm#acat (opens in a new window)

• 2007 MEMBERSHIPS ARE NOW DUE

  With the hiring of our first National Equality Director, a new Chapter in Winnipeg, and our 2007 Conference set for Victoria in May, this coming year already looks like an exciting and productive time for the AEBC, but it's up to all of us to get involved and make things happen.

  Please send your 2007 dues to your local Chapter, or if you do not live in an area where a chapter currently exists, then please send dues to National Office.

• 2007 MEMBERSHIP RECRUITMENT CONTEST

  Active members in good standing can win:

  • First Prize: $100.
    
  • Second Prize: $50.
    
  • Third Prize: $25.

  The best way to attract new members to our organization is for current members to encourage new or lapsed members to sign up for membership. Review your list of friends and contacts, talk to fellow blind, deaf-blind or partially sighted individuals and tell them the benefits of joining an organization of and for Blind Canadians.

  This Membership Contest is open to all AEBC active members in good standing (except National Board members, staff and contractors). New members include persons who are blind, deaf-blind or partially sighted and who are not now current members of the AEBC. They also include past members who have not renewed their membership for one year.
  Remind your friends and contacts that when they are filling out the form, they should enter your name in the section "who encouraged you to join". Membership forms are available on the internet at:
  www.blindcanadians.ca (opens in a new window) or by contacting the national office by telephone, Toll Free: 1-800-561-4774, or Email: info@blindcanadians.ca

  Members can also add their addresses and other details by phoning the above toll free number. The contest will run from January 1st to May 1, 2007. Their names will be announced at the conference in Victoria.

  LET'S INVITE SOME EXCITING NEW MEMBERS TO JOIN OUR ORGANIZATION AND HAVE
  SOME FUN DOING SO!

• REMINDERS: AEBC AWARDS

  The Volunteer of the Year Award was created to recognize the AEBC member who has made the greatest volunteer contribution to the work of the AEBC during the previous calendar year. Please email your nomination by March 15, 2007, along with a brief rationale in support of the nominee, to AEBC's National Secretary, Marcia Cummings, cummings@blindcanadians.ca , or call
  416-901-0318.

  Each year, every member organization of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) can nominate one individual to receive the Annual CCD Award. Please send nominations no later than March 15, 2007, along with a short blurb about your nominee to AEBC's National Secretary, Marcia
  Cummings: cummings@blindcanadians.ca or call 416-901-0318.

• LISTS OF INTEREST

  ‘Sightlines’ is a place to share news clippings, computer tips, humour and more. To join send a blank email to sightlines- subscribe@yahoogroups.com

  ‘Writing Blind’ is a list for writers or want to be writers. We discuss both the issues involved in writing as a blind person and general writing issues. Also read and comment on one another's work. To join send a blank email to writingblind- subscribe@yahoogroups.com

• UPCOMING MEETINGS

  Thurs.-Sat. Mar. 29-31, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Vancouver
  Thurs.-Sun. May 17-20, 2007 AEBC Conference and AGM, Victoria
  Fri.-Sun. June 8-10, CCD National Council, Winnipeg
  Sat.-Tues. June 16-19, the Festival of International Conferences on Caregiving, Disability, Aging and Technology (FICCDAT), Toronto
  Mon.-Thurs. June 18-21, 11th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons (TRANSED), Montreal
  *********
  The AEBC Victoria Chapter invites you to attend this year's Conference and AGM to be held from Thursday May 17 to Sunday May 20, 2007, at the Harbour Towers Hotel and Suites.
  Here's some info to whet your appetite.
  HARBOUR TOWERS HOTEL
  345 Quebec St., Victoria BC
  Telephone: 1-800- 663-5896

  The hotel is conveniently located downtown just one block from the bustling Inner Harbour, harbour transportation terminals and BC Parliament. On a leisurely stroll, guests will encounter all the quaint shops, world-class restaurants, whale watching and marine adventure excursions, cultural centres, horse-drawn carriages, wind-swept beaches and warm hospitality for which Victoria is famous!

  Amenities:
  

  • Impressions Restaurant features West Coast cuisine
    
  • Lounge providing drinks and pub-style food
    
  • Club 345 Fitness Centre features workout machines, a pool, hot tub and sauna
    
  • Penthouse Day Spa provides facials, massages and other ways to pamper yourself!
    
  • Free shuttle to downtown upon availability
    
  • Gift shop
    
  • Business Centre
    
  • ATM (not accessible)
    
  • In-house coin laundry

  The Harbour Towers Hotel & Suites is a 12 storey, 4 Star, 3 Diamond property. Guests will love stretching out in our larger than average standard rooms, luxurious one or two bedroom suites with kitchens, or fabulous two-level penthouse suites (some with 2 fireplaces and jacuzzi). Many of our rooms and suites have balconies and spectacular views of Victoria's picturesque Inner Harbour or the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the majestic Olympic Mountains.

  All 195 rooms include generous bathroom amenities, coffee/tea maker, hairdryer, iron and ironing board, ceiling fan, voice mail, cable TV with in-room movies/games/music, and high-speed Internet access. Several Standard rooms also include a roll-in unit with a microwave, toaster, kettle, dishes and utensils, and some rooms have an extra sink vanity.

  Some of the finest Pacific Northwest food in Victoria can be found in Impressions Restaurant & Lounge on the lobby level, including a variety of daily specials. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

  Our spacious 1700 square foot Club 345 fitness centre is fully equipped with cardio machines, free weights, Apex fitness machines, Swiss balls. Some of the fitness equipment is wheelchair accessible, as are the showers in the roomy change rooms. The centre also has a Kid Zone playroom, indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna and sun tanning capsule.

  AEBC Victoria Chapter will be sponsoring a Hospitality Suite which will be open each evening and hopes to offer wine, specialty coffees and snacks.
  On Thursday afternoon, for those who arrive early, we hope to arrange a visit to a museum. You will also have an opportunity to view the Conference exhibits from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m. In the evening, there will be a reception from 7:00 to 9:00.

  On Friday evening, we are planning a narrated horse drawn wagon ride around the local area ($15 per person) which will end up at a popular pasta restaurant.

  On Saturday evening, we are planning a rousing game of Trivial Pursuit in the lounge, to use up all that mental energy left over from the afternoon's deliberations. There will be prizes, so start boning up. This will be followed by dinner at one of two restaurants, one a short walk away and one which requires a walk around the Inner Harbour.

  So start planning. The Victoria Chapter hopes to see you all there!