Celebrate a stirring symbol of accessibility with special programming on VoicePrint (Feb. 7-13)

Every year VoicePrint and hundreds of individuals and organizations committed to a more inclusive Canada join together by commemorating the Canadian Council of the Blind’s (CCB) annual salute to the White Cane.

VoicePrint invites you to tune in to hear special programs that will inform, educate and illuminate you about Canadians who are blind and low vision – their triumphs, aspirations and accomplishments.

And their challenges.

During White Cane Week you’ll hear a series of interviews with Canadians who have compelling and engaging stories to tell about accessibility, about independence, about life as they know it – and live it.

See below for our program line-up, but first here’s some background on White Cane Week:

In 1921, a photographer named James Biggs, of Bristol, England, was blinded in an accident. Released from hospital, he had the idea of painting his cane white so it could be easily seen at night.

The advantages of the White Cane soon became apparent as people alerted to Biggs' blindness assisted his movements with guidance and warning of obstacles.

Biggs' innovation soon became an internationally accepted symbol of blindness. Today, nine provinces have legislation which restrict the use of the White Cane to those legally blind.

Since 1946, the first week of February has traditionally been White Cane Week in Canada.

 

Listen to our White Cane Week promos (MP3):

Promo 1 | Promo 2 | Promo 3 | Promo 4 | Promo 5 | Promo 6 | Promo 7 | Promo 8 | Promo 9

 

White Cane Week Programming Lineup (Subject to Change)

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 7

4:30pm

There are more than 15,000 Canadians who are deaf-blind. They are a minority within a minority. Who are the deaf-blind? What are the challenges they face? What is the quality of life for people who are deaf-blind?

VoicePrint’s award-winning interview program, Contact, presents an interview with Cindy Accardi, executive director of the Canadian Helen Keller Centre (CHKC) in Toronto.

The Canadian Helen Keller Centre (CHKC) is the only residential training centre in Canada for people who have become Deaf-Blind. Their services help people develop ways to care for oneself, one's family and one's home, plus helping to facilitate connections to peers and the community through the development of alternative forms of communication, computing and through self-advocacy and peer support.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 8

12 Noon

VoicePrint Halifax interviews Duncan Williams of the CNIB and Cleon Smith of the CCB on the Right to Read Campaign that is being launched to save the CNIB library.  Mr. Williams and Smith will also discuss White Cane Week events happening in Halifax including a Bingo night on Friday the 12th and a blind bowling tournament on Saturday the 13th.

6:00pm

Profiles of vision impaired people:

VoicePrint Winnipeg interviews Garry Robertson and Scott Best, both vision impaired, of the radio station CJNU, the nostalgia radio station.   Mr. Robertson and Best will give two different perspectives on being blind in broadcasting.

Then, VoicePrint Fredericton speaks with Lui Greco, Assistant Executive Director of the Premier’s Council on the Status of Disabled Persons.  Mr. Greco talks about his life and career and how a vision impairment doesn’t determine the quality of his life.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 9

12 Noon (repeated at 6:00pm)

VoicePrint Ottawa interviews Mike Potvin, Programs and Communications Director for the CCB.   Mr. Potvin will discuss the annual Curling Bonspiel as well as other White Cane Week events happening in the Capital Region.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 10

12 Noon (repeated at 6:00pm)

VoicePrint Sudbury profiles Tony Bimeglio, a vision impaired resident, who will discuss accessibility initiatives in Sudbury.  Mr. Bimeglio will also touch on the issue of how awareness of blind issues is a double-edged sword.   Does the media stereotype blind people as heroes?

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 11

12 Noon (repeated at 6:00pm)

A focus on blind sports:

VoicePrint Toronto speaks with Ann Lafontaine of the CCB Blind Curlers of Toronto and she will give an overview of blind curling and discuss the challenges of getting ice time and recruiting new members.

Then, VoicePrint Calgary speaks with Randy Cameron, coach of the Calgary Seeing Ice Dogs, and discusses blind hockey in Calgary.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 12

12 Noon

VoicePrint Lethbridge profiles David Zech, a resident who uses a cane and a guide dog.  Then, an interview with Brian Yee and Nellie Van Klei from Vision Resource Centre, a local service provider for the blind in Lethbridge.

6:00pm

VoicePrint Edmonton speaks with the Edmonton Public Library on their many services for the blind.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 13

12 Noon

VoicePrint Vancouver interviews Shawn Marsolais, President of Blind Beginnings, a Non-profit organization striving to guarantee quality of life for children and youth who are blind or visually impaired by promoting equal access to the world's resources and opportunities.