Under the Canadian Council of the Blind's initiative the first week in the month of February has traditionally been White Cane Week in Canada since 1946. The council has more than 65 chapters across Canada and is governed by its own members. White Cane Week is a time to raise awareness, educate and promote the work of the Canadian Council of the Blind.
With that in mind I would like to introduce you to a few of the executive members of the Prince George White Cane Chapter. Elaine Sokolowski is the president, Ron McIvor is vice-president, Doreen McFarlane is the secretary, Sylvia Cooney is the treasurer and Rose Dorish is past-president. Rose, Sylvia, Ron and Bea Dezell have each been involved with the chapter for more than 30 years.
"The Prince George White Cane Chapter has been active in Prince George since April, 1979. We will be celebrating our 35th birthday later this year. Our chapter meets on the fourth Monday of each month from September to May at St. Giles Presbyterian Church (15th Avenue and Edmonton Street). We invite guest speakers from the community to speak on pertinent issues of interest to our members," says Sokolowski.
"I have only been involved in the chapter for the past two years. Like any other group these days our membership is down. We currently have 29 members and they are almost all seniors. I got involved because I felt it was important to keep the club going. It is the goal of our club to try and enhance the well-being of individuals who are blind or visually challenged," says Sokolowski.
I asked Elaine to tell me about some of their projects and she said, "Our projects for White Cane Week in the past have included updating washroom signs in all the senior centres and two of the medical buildings. We changed the signage on all of their washroom doors. The signs now have raised visual cutouts and the names are in Braille. The signs are also written in large white letters on a black background to help those that are visually impaired. Over the more recent years we have donated money to our local library to purchase books on CD's.
"In the past we did an awareness program where we visited senior health facilities and spoke to staff members making them aware of the difficulties that the blind and visually impaired face every day."
White cane week runs from Feb. 2 to 8. If you have a friend or a family member who is blind or visually impaired please do them a favour and introduce them to the Prince George White Cane Chapter. Memberships provide inclusion, purpose, fellowship and social interaction with peers who understand and support each other. Sighted members are welcome and encouraged to join in support of their family and friends. Just phone Elaine for more information at 250-563-9627 or check out the website at: www.ccbnational.net/Wuzzy/
The White Cane brochures say it best: "Most of us do not know what it is like to be blind, so try this: Just close your eyes... FOREVER."
