An Afternoon with Summerside Planning Officer, Thayne Jenkins

Joey (Q):

Good Afternoon Thayne. Could you tell us about what generated the Community Engagement Project that is currently happening in Summerside?

Thayne Jenkins (A):

Well, every five years we are required to review our official plan. Our five years actually came up in 2011 and that's when we started this review. It's taken more time then what we had hoped but that is pretty normal. Many types of reviews take longer then we think. Back to your question, it is a five year review and council has said that they want it completed by October.

Joni (Q):

What is it that you personally hope to accomplish with the community engagement project?

Thayne Jenkins (A):

Most of all we want to educate residents about what an official plan is and work to create a vision for the community. Hopefully some people will be interested in the process and want to follow the process and contribute to the process. When we gather and listen to people's ideas it allows them to become involved in the process. I think there are some people who feel no one is going to listen to them so why bother to contribute.  So the message we want to send is that we want to hear everyone's comments. We want to hear their ideas and we want everyone's help to create a new vision for Summerside for the future.

Joey (Q):

Summerside's population in 2011, according to census was a little under 15,000. Have you received much in the way of feedback from Summerside residents ?

Thayne (A):

I have received feedback at the farmers market  but certainly there is room to receive more. At our Roundtable on April 23rd we hope to receive a lot more feedback or at least provide people an opportunity to become more aware of the process.  

Interesting point you bring up about our population. Since the 1995 amalgamation the population of Summerside has only grown by 250 residents which is not very much. We have to grow our population. A concern we are hearing from some people, a "What's Red Alert", is a concern that we are losing our youth. How do we keep our youth here? I think one possible way of increasing the population is to try to attract immigration to Summerside. 

Joni (Q):

Have you had time to go through all the feedback that was passed in so far or are you waiting for the feedback from the April 23rd Roundtable talks at Credit Union Place?

Thayne (A):

I have had a chance to go through some of the comments after each time at the farmers market.  In general people are saying that the Boardwalk is a great asset so obviously then a lot of people feel that way. But the purpose of this review is to try to get a general overview of what people are thinking. There maybe ideas expressed that we never even thought of at all and that's what I want to hear too.

Joey (Q):

How much weight will the feedback that you get from Summerside residents carry in future changes to the city?

Thayne (A): 

I am hoping that it does carry a lot of weight. It will depend on the nature of the comments but I am thinking the comments should get a lot of weight I will pass them along to Council and we will try to develop policies from their comments. Ultimately it's up to Council wheher they want to except, modify, deny or just refuse whatever the policy is but I am also trying to engage Council to learn the process as well because they have to listen to their constituients as well and hear from them.   I did extend the invitation to Council  and was happy when Councilor Desroches and Councilor McColeman joined me at the Farmers Market.

Joni (Q):

Will the information be made available to the general public?

Thayne (A): 

That's my hope. I want to have this on the city's website and perhaps social media.

Joey (Q):

Will the suggestions that come from the majority of the people who take part in this project be the suggestions that are given priority?

Thayne (A):

I think we will have to take everyone's suggestions and put some kind of ranking priority on them if we can and certainly any comments that apply. There could be questions that partly apply to other departments, may be parks and recreation for example, and those suggestions will certainly be given to those departments.

Joni (Q):

In carrying out this project, have you surprised by anything?

Thayne (A):

I was surprised that the reaction that I got at the farmers market actually because I had no idea what to expect and until you try, you really don't know what's going to happen. The purpose of the colors is that colors always attract people and because people see them and the colors engage them.  However, it's not just the words, its the graphics, how you present your display and how you frame the question. It should be easy for people to understand.  I am only looking for people to put down one or two words. We are not looking to write an essay.

Joey (Q):

What are the "one things" that you would list under each of your created categories; golden, rust, blue, and red?

Thayne (A): 

I did start putting down my own comments and for me what was golden is being that I am a big walker, I would say the boardwalk. I think what I put down for being rusty was Reads Corner. As you come into Summerside I think I would like to see a more attractive intersection. What was blue to me would be to have bike lanes. I am not a big biker or anything but that is something I would definitely do in the future. For a red alert,  I see the loss of youth as a concern, as well, concerns about retail. We are losing a lot of our retail from our downtown and that is a concern. I am a big believer in downtown.

EOV Interviews Albert Stairs

(Q) Joey : Albert, how did having a heart attack affect how you have done things since?

(A) Albert: How did it affect me? Well, things certainly changed. You can see this hand and my two feet. I lost both feet, the right hand and my fingers, and the ends of some of my fingers so that's how what happened affected me.  Since that, I have been in the process of reacquiring all of my facilities and being able to look after myself.

(Q) Joni: What were the symptoms that you personally experienced at the time of your heart attack?

(A) Albert: That one is the most difficult to answer because it's only long after that I realized I missed things. I missed symptoms like when I was out shoveling snow or something physical like that, I would begin to get headache and I would need to come in and rest for about a half hour before going back out and continuing on. The day I had my heart attack, about an hour before I started to go for a walk and I just got down the street and I felt pain in my shoulder and arm and I turned around came home went to the hospital. I collapsed just inside the emergency just as I got though the doors...that's how short a time it was for that to happen.

(Q) Joey: How has having a heart condition affected your lifestyle?

(A) Albert: Readjusting, because I am still involved in a lot of things and I am carrying on. It has made very little difference in the practical things that I do but relationally with other people, a positive effect is that I am finding that I am being able to motivate and encourage others and that is a good thing.

(Q) Joni: Were you alone when you had your heart attack?

(A) Albert: No.

(Q) Joey: How many heart attacks have you had?

(A) Albert: Just one.

(Q) Joni: How old were you when you experienced your heart attack?

(A) Albert: 79

(Q) Joey: Did you have have to have any surgical procedures? If so, what type?

(A) Albert: They had to take my hand, my fingers and take my two legs.

(Q) Joni: What was the recovery process like for you? Challenges?

(A) Albert: I was 20 weeks in the hospitals between Saint John, Summerside, and Charlottetown.  In Saint John they did open heart Surgery at 2:00 am in the morning. My body reacted to one of the drugs that they used and they had to operate. Then they sent me back to Summerside at Prince County Hospital. I healed after the operation and recovered. Once that had taken place I went to Charlottetown for rehabilitation and I was very fortunate as they were able to make me new legs and and an arm right in the Hospital.

(Q) Joey: What advice do you have for people about heart health, having been

through all your experiences?

(A) Albert: We have to take our own health into our own hands and think in terms of preventive medication rather than rely on catastrophic medication. It is fortunate we have the facilities but I need to and each of us needs to think in terms of our own heart, our own health, because it is our responsibility.

(Q) Joni: What advice do you have for someone who recently had a heart attack or stroke?

(A) Albert: Don't feel sorry for yourself! Look at it as something that you want to deal with and recover as much of your function and your independence as possible. If you don’t have that as your view, you will find yourself becoming depressed and you will begin feeling sorry for yourself.  But if you look for the positive and move forward, you'll find you can do just about anything. There are very few things that I can't do that I did before, very few.

For me, it is just a matter of approach. I recognize the kind situation I have on my hands and then I decide how I am going to respond to it. I don't view anything as a limitation because I don’t want to perceive myself as being limited. I believe that's a powerful choice. Very powerful. You see, I realized after my heart attack that when adversity comes, it can be a great education. There is always an opportunity when we experience a difficulty...if you choose to look for it. God wants to make good out our experiences and will if you will allow him to. 

Interviewers: Joni Miner and Joey Blacquiere

What Are You Doing for Valentine's Day?

We asked a few people around Summerside, Prince Edward Island, about their plans for Valentine's Day.  What are YOUR plans?



Heather Moyse - "What am I doing on Valentine's Day? Well.... nothing overly exciting! I am travelling all over the country these days doing motivational speaking and events, but will be flying to PEI on February 13th. I will only be home for a week because I am taking a certification course in Florida the following week, so I will most likely be getting some work done on Valentine's Day!
My brother and his wife and my two adorable nieces will also be on the Island for the weekend, and since my sister-in-law's birthday is on the 13th, we might have a little family party for her on the 14th.... Or maybe I will watch the kids, and I'll send my parents and my brother and his wife out for a nice evening (probably not to the same place)....
But as for me? I'm single. I will be happily spending time with two little girls who add so much joy to my life, and probably watch a good movie after they are in bed. But if I did have a boyfriend, I would hope that Valentine's Day is not the only day on which he shows he cares!
;-)
But for all of you who do have a significant other, I hope you have a wonderful day together. I hope that person shows you how valuable and wonderful and loved you are on a daily basis."
Smiles..... ~ Heather




Basil Stewart - "I'm going to take the wife out for a nice dinner."

Rachel Palmer - "I'm going to spend the evening with my lovely family."

Melissa Gallant - "Enjoy my time here at home before heading back to Alberta."

Jim Dickson - "Catherine and I are performing in a Valentine's Day show at The Haviland
Club called Love's Serenade ~ Revival.  It's going to be lots of fun... music, dance, and theatre all rolled into one. If anyone is interested, it starts at 8!"

Hailey Rix - "I'm going to enjoy the weekend at home in Summerside, back from college."

Bill McLean - "We're hoping to have family over and take some family photos."

David Dodds - "My wife and I hope to go to a Valentine's Day show in Charlottetown.  It's the one that Catherine Dickson is in."

Valentine's Da

Feed My Sheep - Summerside breakfast program

Interview with Rev. Jenny Sharp of the Summerside Anglican Parish of St. Mary and St. John regarding the Feed My Sheep breakfast program.

(Photo From Left-Joni Miner, Rev. Jenny Sharpe, and Joey Blacquiere)

Joni - When and why did the “Feed My Sheep” breakfast program start?

Rev. Jenny - I am not sure exactly but it has been going at this church for about a year and a half. It got started because we saw a need that wasn't being met. People who are hungry can get fed during the week at the Salvation Army but there was nothing on the weekends, so we do it once a month and now Summerside Trinity United Church has joined us. They started in September and they do it once a month as well, on the second Saturday, and we do the third Saturday of each month.

Joey - How did you discover there was a need for this type of breakfast project ?

Rev. Jenny - We also volunteer at the Salvation Army during the week and saw that there were a lot of hungry people. The Salvation Army however doesn't serve meals on the weekend and we don't like to see people go without food.

Joni - How many people on average attend your breakfasts?

Rev. Jenny - We have about 35 people that attend our breakfast program.

Joey - What types of breakfast foods do you serve ?

Rev. Jenny - It depends on the Saturday. It could be pancakes & sausages or bacon & eggs and there is always cold cereal, and sometimes hot oatmeal. And of course we have coffee, tea, and juice and sometimes yogurt bars but we always have a hot meal.

Joni - How do you go about getting the grocery items that you need in order to provide these meals?

Rev. Jenny - Two weeks before we have the meal, we put out a list at church of what we need. There might be bacon or cereal, whatever is needed and people donate them. We also have a local farmer who will donate eggs, so it is mostly people that attend the church that provide the food and sometimes they just give money and we buy it.

Joey - Do you accept donations of food items?

Rev. Jenny - Yes we do!

Joni - How do interested people go about dropping off their donations?

Rev. Jenny – They can bring them to the church the Sunday before or drop them off here at the hall.

Joey -Do you have enough volunteers?

Rev. Jenny - There is no such thing as enough volunteers. We can always use more!

Joni -How could other churches get involved?

Rev. Jenny - I go to Christian Council and I have been telling them about what we are doing. We ask them if they want to take it on and that's how Summerside Trinity United Church became involved. We need at least two more churches.

Joey - Is there a name and number they should call?

Rev. Jenny - Rev. Jenny and the number here at the office is (902) 888-2234.

Jim - Why do you believe it is so important to be providing this service?

Rev. Jenny - There's many layers to that question:

On a personal level I don't believe that anyone should go hungry. Also, in scripture Jesus tells us we are to look after others and “feed my sheep” was a phrase he used. That is where we came up with the name for the breakfast program.  So, we are to look after each other and love our neighbor as ourselves. We wouldn't want to go hungry. We shouldn't want to see others go hungry either.

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We'd like to Thank Rev. Jenny for taking time to meet with us and share more information about the Feed My Sheep breakfast program. The E.O.V team would like to take this time to wish all the people involved in the Feed My Sheep breakfast program all the best with this very worthwhile endeavour.

E.O.V (Eye Opening Views) Reporters:

Joey Blacquiere

Joni Miner

Q & A with Summerside's Mayor Basil Stewart

                             

In your opinion, is it important for everyone who can vote to get out and vote on November 03^rd?

It is very important. We live in a democracy and we have 160,000 thousand Canadians in

graves overseas who have died fighting for freedom in the world wars and there were many others that were injured fighting for freedom, so its important to vote no matter who you decide you want to vote for. My Dad was a veteran and said to me, “Basil, as long as I am well enough, I will crawl to the poles if I have to and vote because of our freedom and the price that we payed to have it.”

I believe we are living in the best corner of the world. Some countries have one name on the ballet, so it is very important to vote. Watch the International news tonight and see how many places in the world where it would not be comfortable to live. Where they have an army in their streets, bombs, hurricanes, diseases, and starvation. You know that's the world we are living in and if we narrow it down to Summerside, if someone has a pot whole it's not a serious problem compared to what other places in the world are dealing with. Winston Churchill made a comment, he said, “Every people get the government they deserve.”

If they elect a good bunch of people, they deserve that and if they elect people that are not capable of doing it, they deserve that because they put them there. So its important to vote and to know who you are voting for, read their background and what they are for and what they are against. The percentage of eligible voters coming out to cast their vote in Municipal Elections usually averages around 60% to 65 % and although I understand that people who are away or not well obviously can't make it to the poles, I can't understand why everyone else wouldn't want to vote. 

Are there any modes of transportation set up for folks who have mobility issues and no transportation?

Well in my case, we will be providing transportation for people who want to go and vote and depending on what the disability, if they need a wheelchair van we will call one of those. Every pole in the city is suppose to be accessible.

Having served the people and the City of Summerside for 29 years, what would you say are your top 3 highlighted experiences?

I might add a few words to that because I served the people for 14 or so years as a

Police Officer before that. So on November the 3^rd, the day of the election, it will be 43 years since I moved to Summerside. I served the people as a Police Officer and as Mayor and along with that I had 35 years in the housing business. I think I am just one tooth in the cog and I work with the other two orders of government and council.

Now to answer your question. The west end had been bothering people for 75 years and was unsightly but now with the West End Redevelopment Project, we have a beautiful boardwalk. It is lighted now and there is a person-made beach and as a result of that, the area on the other side of the street and newly developed property there have become more valuable and that 200 acres out past the west end is now starting to be developed. That was a great accomplishment. Another is our Credit Union Place. We have the best recreation facility East of Montreal and it is not just for recreation, it's to help the economy of Summerside by bringing in the Elton Johns and others and that brings new money into the city and it's a great promotion for our city.The GST Centre, has a soft spot in my heart. When the base closure was announced I tried to get that tax centre for Summerside and it is nice to go by there now and see 1,500 people at peak time. As a result of that of course, the development of the former base into a Aerospace PEI, there other businesses out there too, and the Atlantic Police Academy. There are more people working at the base now then when the base was there. So that too was a great project.We worked with the wind farm, and that has been another successful project. We got financial assistance from the other two orders of government, got it in place, and the wind farm made a big profit last year. There is a whole lot of new streets and new sidewalks downtown. We upgraded our electric utility in the city. It's an industry right in the city. The jobs are here and anything we need for the city, we purchase locally. We had to replace our City Hall. It was built in 1883 and had very little work done on it over the years, so we made a decision a number of years ago to renovate the old one and put a piece on to it and the new design is similar to the 1883 architecture. We are in the processes now to get a new fire hall as our fire hall is out dated and we need a new fire hall in the city. Read's corner was a problem here for years but we worked with the other two orders of government to put in a new set of traffic lights. We renovated the Police Station and added to it. We did some work on public works buildings and we got to do some work on Central street and the Pope intersection. There is a whole big long list and I can't narrow it down to the top three because they're all important.

In closing, of course I would appreciate your support but regardless of who you vote for it is important to get out and vote because we can and we have a choice.  

Reporters: Joey Blacquiere and Joni Miner

Q & A with Adam Binkley

Can you tell us about the “Strengthening Families Program”?

The “Strengthening Families Program” is a National Crime Prevention initiative that (so far) has chosen our organization. We still have to dot our i's and cross our t's, but our initial application has been approved. The whole idea around the “Strengthening Families Program” is to reduce addictions and substance abuse among youth in the City of Summerside.  The program would be a four-year initiative that would equip us to pay for six to eight qualified trained employees. They would then provide the services needed to families who are struggling with similar issues.

What sort of services will be provided?

The first thing they will do is 'break bread.'  There will be a brand new industrial kitchen in our Youth Engagement Centre where youth and their families (guided by employees) are going to make supper. We will provide all the ingredients, everything that the families and the youth will need in order to work together to make a meal. Once supper is cooked, youth and families will have a sit-down meal and as they are eating there will naturally be conversation, so they will be building upon their communication skills as they talk about their days. When we eat we are happy and it changes the atmosphere. A meal is a great foundation to kick-start the program. After they eat, they will do some cleaning up and then be broken up into groups. The youth go in one area and the parents and guardians go in another area to be assisted by support workers. In their individual groups they will work on curriculum that will help them build resiliency and communication. They will be building skills to help them be able to address situations in order to reduce the chance of using prescription pills, alcohol, etc. and put that energy instead towards achieving their goals.

Why is it so important for youth and their parents and caregivers to work together in this program?

A lot of programs we had researched separate the two, so it is either the parents or the youth that are getting help. Through the “Strengthening Families Program” we want to build up effective communication to keep families together, thus the strengthening of families. Through this program, youth and their families will be working together, breaking any barriers that exist because the youth will know they have their parents backing them. To be successful it is important to have the strength you get from your family. There will be a strong focus on belonging within our engagement centre.  Everybody needs to belong to something, it creates a better chance of youth being able to overcome obstacles and achieve goals. You could almost call the Engagement Centre a "belonging centre" because that is what we want to focus on.

How will the twenty youth be selected?

Referrals will go out to groups across Summerside and maybe even outside of Summerside and they would refer families and their youth who are struggling with addiction issues. Then twice a week they would meet at our Youth Engagement Centre with our staff. Our hope is that it will be a community hub for different agencies that are already doing amazing things with the youth and their families. Our youth engagement centre is going to be a place where youth, their families, and the different agencies can all focus together, and the youth can get help from different supports systems in the one centre. It's great to have our eyes opened to other programs that are already in existence and if you can engage them in what you're doing, then you've got the best of both worlds.

Why are you opting for a day program and not an overnight program?

Little steps. The biggest thing we want to do is offer structured evening programs for families. Down the road, as we see fit, we would like to expand to a survival centre and make an overnight program that offers life skills, washers and dryers, and showers. It would be great to have a facility for youth who are having issues with couch surfing and homelessness but we believe that we need to get the “Strengthening Families Program” and the youth engagement project up and going first and then down the road we would branch into that program area.  I agree with you, there is a definite need for the overnight programs even though you don't see it in Summerside as much as you do the other cities. Couch surfing definitely exists. But here at the Boys and Girls Club, we go one step at a time so, with the Youth Engagement Centre we are already undertaking a huge step with the “Strengthing Families Program.”  We are also going to offer the “Rogers Raising the Grade,” which provides education and awareness.  We are going to also add to our programs and services a bullying program, which we hope will provide the education and the skills needed to eliminate the program down the road with an overnight program. But, like I said, we have to take things one step at a time.

Do you have any plans in place to rase the rest of the $150.0000 that you will need?

I am glad you asked that question. Right now we are in the middle of the Aviva campaign. Last year we came in second and received five thousand dollars through Aviva. This year we are aiming for one hundred thousand dollars. We are setting our hopes high! Currently,I think we in fourteenth place which is pretty neat over all. I think we need to be in the top twenty to move onto the second phase. The best thing about Aviva is the exposure that we are getting with the Youth Engagement Centre.  We have had such huge support from the City of Summerside granting us the right to build an addition onto the property purchased. In January we are going to kick off a Capital fundraising campaign. Our goal will be to generate an additional $10,000 with that and it's definitely reachable, as well we will continue our fundraising with our gold rush.

Are you looking for community volunteers to assist with the fundraising?

Yes. We will be putting out a call for volunteers, whether it be canvassing or other fundraisers that we come up with. We try to direct our fundraisers now towards being experience events, like “Race for Kids” where they participate in part of the Amazing Race.  With these types of fundraising events, whether the kids win it or not, they enjoy themselves.  In January, we are looking at doing a fundraising hockey game that's going to help the Youth Engagement Centre. It's a secret right now but hopefully I'll be announcing the details soon!

Here's another way people can volunteer:  what we really need is for our youth to speak up and speak out. Whether through websites or through Facebook, they can give testimonials stating how badly we need this Youth Engagement Centre. It doesn't have to be a personal testimony. It could be just to share how a friend is a couch surfer and doesn't have a place to wash their clothes.

People say for them to get out and get a job but you have to have the skills to do that and the ability to put a resume together and without clean clothes, good social skills and no resume it's hard to get a job.

What organizations and businesses have come on board to support you?

Good question. First of all, APM with Tim Banks has donated $50, 000 in services rendered to help create and do the planning. Tim Banks is also involved with Killam Properties Inc. and Killam Properties Inc. is donating fifty thousand dollars in cash. The Summerside Rotary Club have come onboard with sixty thousand dollars and a couple of years ago we received twenty thousand from the Future Shop and we still have that tucked away.  So you can see we're talking about huge organizations and businesses who want to be identified with what we are doing.

Is there an official name for the facility ?

For now it is the Youth Engagement Centre. It's too soon to choose an official name yet.

Why do you believe the Youth Engagement Centre is needed here in Summerside?

We have amazing staff and they are doing an unbelievable job meeting the needs of 300 children daily from the ages of 4 to 12. So they start here at age 4 and for eight years they have huge role models and they have a place where they feel they belong. What happens when they turn 13 years old? We need a place for these 13, 14, 15, and 16 year olds to go and that's a huge job. We also need a place for our youth to be able to go to that offers them structured programming, tools to be able to handle the decision-making that comes at them during a critical time in life. At 13, 14, 15 – you are faced with everything from cigarettes and alcohol to drugs. You need to be strong enough to make proper decisions -- decisions that could change your whole life the moment you make them. We need somewhere for our club members to go when they hit the 13, 14, and, 15 mark. 

http://ssidebgclub.com/

https://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf19759

Giving a Gift That Lives On

Joni received her 25th Donation pin on Tuesday, September 23, 2014.

My mother at the age of 17 gave birth to a baby girl she named Joni Lee. That's me. When I turned two and a half, the daycare I was attending had an outbreak of chickenpox. I contracted it and became severely ill. I had to be air lifted to the IWK Hospital in Halifax. There I had to get an I.V. implanted in my left arm because I was taking so many seizures and had to get blood transfusions in order to have a chance to survive. When I came out of the coma after three months, the medical team soon discovered that I couldn't feel the right side of my body, partial paralysis due to brain injury.  However, the chickenpox was no match for the folks that had my back! The medical team at the IWK worked with my parents and they got me walking and talking and participating in life again!

At my High School they have Blood Drives and as soon as I was allowed, at the age of seventeen, I signed up. People at that time asked me why I wanted to do it and I told them it was simple... to give back for what I got when I was two and a half. Still to this day I continue to give blood. It's a good feeling I get knowing what I give is going to save lives.

I want everyone to give blood if they are able. Here are some good tips that have helped me.

• Remember to take your Blood Donor card or if it's your first time, take your ID or Drivers License.
• Drink a lot of water (makes your blood flow faster so you get it over with quicker).
• Eat raisins or blueberries to keep up your iron (you need a high iron to give blood).
• Eat before you give blood so you don't faint.

I like their saying, “Blood: it's in you to give.” It is. So please do.

Joni Miner    

http://www.bloodservices.ca/

In Response

In response to the article regarding Paige Cunliffe's story, I would like to share my experience living in a long-term care facillity.

When I was only 33 years old, due to personal circumstances I found myself in need of a place to live. I called my Father and being the great Dad he is, he said he would go and look at places for me and about a month later he told me he had found a place and we went together to have a look.

It was a long-term care facility in my home town. I was not thrilled about having to live there with elderly people but with being on a fixed income at the time, there really were no other options for me. It was hard for a few reasons. The ambulance would come often and it didn't take long to figure out why. The facility's house rules were pretty strict; if I was not home for supper I would not get supper, (they would throw it out). The facility had a curfew and I missed it once and I found myself locked out. I also wanted to take some daytime programming but long-term housing is very expensive and it was absorbing most of my disability support funds.

A new staff person got hired at this facility and we hit it off. She is a good listener and I felt safe sharing my concerns and frustrations with her. I was relieved one day when she told me she was going to buy a house and that she would take me in as a border. True to her word, she did. That was on May 2nd ,2002 and 12 years later I am still living with her and her family.  I have a high level of independence, have goals I am working toward, and feel more in charge of my own life.

I know the frustrations that happen when you are forced to live a life-style that is not your truth. I hope the government of Canada is listening to Paige and her supporters and to the rest of us who have had to live in long-term institutions before our time.

In closing, I would like to say, that the path I took towards more independence might not work for everyone but if it helps even one person, it will have been worth the time it took to share this story.

Joey Blacquiere

See Paige's Story by clicking on the link below:

http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/episode/2014/09/08/21-year-old-ontarian-living-in-a-nursing-home-this-is-not-a-home-its-an-institution-says-paige-cunli/