Joni Goes to the Alan Jackson Concert

The Alan Jackson concert was to be on May 1 but it was postponed until May 6 because Alan had to go to the funeral of his friend George Jones. It was Alan Jackson's first time on the Island. My Dad had given me the concert ticket for an early Christmas gift. I was happy to get the ticket. I went with Brenda and her boyfriend and her parents. We went out for supper at the Oval in Summerside. The meal was great. Then we went down to the rink. Kris MacDonald was the M.C. for the evening. He did a great job. It was at the Credit Union Place in Summerside, PEI.

My Mom came to my apartment to help me get ready, and at 5:00 PM Brenda picked me up. There were a lot of people there. The seats were great. I enjoyed the concert a lot. I took lots of pictures -- some from where I was sitting and some up close. Alan did a lot of great songs. A few of his songs stood out. One was Where I Come From, and he substituted places on the island for the original places. I also liked the song Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning. The music had a good sound. I was talking to Brenda about all of his songs. He did the song Remember When. This song is for the people in the states that lost their lives on 09-11-2001. We will remember.   

Joni Miner

EOV Reporter 

Changes to Employment Insurance

Some of our readers have been asking for information about the changes to Employment Insurance. Here is a link to a government page explaining recent changes.

http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sc/ei/ccaj/vignettes.shtml

What's Happening Downtown in Summerside this Summer?

E.O.V dropped in to pay a visit with Joanne Ellis early this week and we asked her to share what upcoming events Downtown Summerside has planned for this summer.

Joey Blacquiere

What kind of events and entertainment do you have coming?

Atlanticade is coming up and that’s about the first thing. It runs from June 26th to July 02nd.  The Highland Gathering is that same weekend too, so there should be lots for everyone to do. 

The Lobster Carnival this year is July 05th to July 13th and  we do the SideWalk Sale, so we are working hard and getting lots of entertainment secured for that and looking at setting up fun games and activities for the whole family. 

Shawna Chappell 

Where Downtown will the events be held?

We are still in the middle of planing right now. The events will be in the downtown area of course.  Some maybe along Summer street here and the Sidewalk Sale is always on Water street. Those are the biggest things underway right now.

Joni Miner

Who is helping organize all these events?

We have a Marketing Committee as well as myself and volunteers, so everybody works together to get those things underway.  A big part of what we do is based on volunteers.  Our volunteers come in and help us with set up and that sort of thing but the majority of the planing is done by the Marketing Committee.

Shawna Chappell

How far in advance do you plan for each event?

Last year! Most of our events are a year in the planning but the big kick is coming on right now. A lot of the things we will want to have finalized by the end of the month and then we will work out the logistics of it. It’s definitely a long process, as they are big events.

Joey Blacquiere

How do you decide what events to bring to Downtown Summerside?

Most of the focus is on Economic Development and on community support so that is a big reason why we chose to support Atlanticade because it does bring in so many people to the area. Also family involvement is important to us so last year we started “The Witches on Water Street” to bring a lot of the families back to the downtown area and make it something that everyone can look for word to. It was a big success and a lot of fun. We had lots of positive feedback.

Joni Miner

Do you already have all your volunteers for your upcoming events?

No, it is always a work in progress. We do have a few people that come on year after year but we always need more and you can never have to many hand on deck .

Catherine Dickson

How do you go about getting your volunteers? Do you put a call out?

 We do put calls out. For example, the last event that we did we sent an email out though the Harbourfront Theatre as they have a great group of volunteers that they work with. And we will likely do that again.  We’ll probably put a couple of ads the paper and it will also go in the news letter and just about whatever creative way we can get the word out.  It’s a great way for people to meet new people and if anyone is  interested in volunteering they can always contact us by email, phone or drop in! We’d be happy to have them come on board!

http://www.atlanticade.ca/en/schedule.php

http://www.city.summerside.pe.ca/event-calendar/2013-7/

http://www.collegeofpiping.com/gathering.php

http://www.downtownsummerside.com/

The E.O.V team with Joanne Ellis from Downtown Summerside Inc.
(From left to right: Shawna Chappell, Joey Blacquiere, Joanne Ellis and Joni Miner)

Photographs taken by Catherine Ann Howatt-Dickson

Joni's Trip Planning

I was about 9 or 10 years old when my Mom first got me started listening to country music on the radio.   It was the lyrics that got me.  They just take me from where ever I am and from what I'm doing and they pull me into the music and make me happy.  All those lyrics are stories; happy and sad messages,  that I can relate to.


So I'm planning a trip to Nashville.  I've got my passport and my Mom is very supportive and she's helping me save up money. I'm currently checking out different bus tours and trying to get one that meets my  financial needs as well as my personal safety needs.

 I can't wait till I get to visit the Grand Ole Opry and see music artists performing live on the stage, see Dolly World, and maybe get to talk to Terri Clark, Dean Brody, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and others!

Article written by Joni Miner

E.O. V. Reporter

A Link To "Inclusion Revolution"

Inclusion Revolution

Inclusion Revolution is a regional television show dedicated to moving our community toward inclusion of persons with all types of disabilities.

Inclusion Revolution provides our audience with an entertaining, informative opportunity to gain relevant knowledge that affects us all.

Each show features cutting edge news and dialogue with experts on a variety of topics.

Focused on the latest in "best practices" from across Canada and around the world, Inclusion Revolution is designed to change the way Canadians view disabilities in our community, workplace, and beyond.

Welcome to the Inclusion Revolution!

Only on Eastlink TV.

Biography of Tova Sherman

Tova Sherman is nationally-recognized for her expertise in disability issues as these relate to employment, public and private sector training and integration and research / policy development. For this reason, she is frequently called upon to provide expert consultation at various levels – from provincial governments and private sector markets to federal forums including parliamentary committees and international corporations.


In 2000, Ms Sherman was the founding director of reachAbility – a charitable organization she has nurtured from a small, grass-roots referral agency into a major comprehensive vehicle for the delivery of many innovative services. ReachAbility currently provides leading initiatives in research and new knowledge, education, employment, counselling and consultation. Under Tova’s leadership, reachAbility has received numerous awards and recognitions including the Canadian Bar Association Award (2001) and the Canadian Human Rights Award (2009).

Tova developed Inclusion Revolution as a multi-platform, media-based response to an ever-increasing demand for more information about disabilities from individuals, governments and corporations. Through Inclusion Revolution, Tova aims to address these demands with leading-edge key messages regarding research, employment, equality, human rights - and general human interest.

Show Time

Weekdays at 3:00PM

Show Producer

Tova Sherman

Get Information
about the
Inclusion Revolution

Sponsored By:

http://www.inclusionrevolution.com/

Christmas Greetings from EOV

             

                                                            On Behalf of the E .O. V.  Team

 I would like to take this time to wish everyone 

a Happy and Safe  Holiday Season surrounded by your loved ones!  

Merry Christmas and a very Happy and  Prosperous  New Year  to all!

Sincerely,

Joey Blacquiere on behalf of the Eye Opening Views Team

                                                   

Spooky Fun In Summerside with Wyatt Heritage

  Summerside Wyatt Heritage Ghost Walk 2012

Joni Miner recently interviewed two folks who were out and about during Wyatt Heritage's Ghost walk this year; Edward Greencorn about his first experience attending Wyatt Heritage's Annual Ghost Walk and Catherine Dickson who is a repeat performer with the Ghost Walk. 

EDWARD GREENCORN

Edward shared he had enjoyed the Ghost Walk experience immensely. He was impressed at how well done it was and felt the first vignette was a perfect mystical start to the whole experience.

 "It was really mystical and I loved the part where the kids involved were Circling us  and chanting. It was a very unique experience but overall the whole experience was amazing; the costumes were quite believable for the time periods and the weather was wonderful so there was no fighting off the cold and the rain and we were able to concentrate on the acting.  I really liked too that the experience was more of a haunting experience than a scary one... although buddy in the coffin was quite impressive! But really, the lines were well crafted and made it clear and interesting as to what they were talking about and what period of time they were drawing from. We will definitely be going back next year but next time we're taking along more friends and family!"

CATHERINE DICKSON

Catherine shared that she looked forward every year to participating in the Ghost walk and her many reasons why.

 "This was my fourth year  performing but hopefully not my last.  I've been the ghost of a few residents of Summerside, a woman who died in a fire, a pirate that ended up throwing herself in the ocean, and repeat performances of a Pagan Celtic leader.  I love performing the Celtic leader as it sets the tone and it's fun to delve into my Celtic ancestry but regardless of which ghost I represent I love that I'm supporting  Wyatt Heritage and their arts programs. Marlene Campbell creates new vignettes for each year, all based on actual people that lived or visited in Summerside at one point in time or another and their deaths and whenever possible she tries to have the vignettes performed where the people lived and/or died. Marlene is such a creative force and Summerside is blessed to have her. 

Overall it is always a wonderful experience. It's wonderful to come together with other members of your Community (some you know  and some you don't) make new acquaintances and support an event that supports and elevates the Community so absolutely.  However this year it was even more of a heart warming experience for me because my son was asked to be involved as well. So it was something that the artist in me always delights in but this time the mother in me was also given an opportunity to share that experience with my son which was thrilling.  

Thank you Edward and Catherine for your time.  

E.O.V Team

Joni Miner, Joey Blacquierre and Shawna Chappell

Eye Opening Views

Victoria By The Sea Chocolate Festival 2012

On Saturday, September 15th, the some members of the E.O.V. news team hopped in the van and headed out to beautiful Victoria By The Sea to take in some of the picturesque village sights and their delicious 5th Annual Chocolate Festival. 

The village streets were filled with the smiling faces of chocolate lovers from all over; locals, Islanders and tourists all munching and/or sipping happily on their favourite chocolate candy and drinks.  But sampling wasn't all that was taking place.  Chocolate Chess tournaments, Buskers, Street Musicians, Best Brownie Competition and judging, seminars on how to eat chocolate, Chocolate therapy sessions and more!

Be sure to take in next years Chocolate Festival in beautiful Victoria By the Sea!

You won't be disappointed!

(story and photographs by EOV Reporter, Joni Miner)

Elisha's Story

Elisha Savoie

Elisha Savoie was diagnosed as having Epilepsy before she turned the age of two and has been on medication ever since. From the time she was a baby she had symptoms which her mother, Tania Peters, didn't recognize as being caused by illness. Tania said “I use to notice that she was scared , it looked like she was seeing things that made her scared. She would hold on really tight to me but I didn't realize she was sick.”

She has different kinds of seizures that affect personality, thought processing, including language and Speech. Her epilepsy causes within her brain a cluster of short seizures that start and stop suddenly. Sometimes she will take as many as 10 – 20 or more seizures, one right after another. Tania shared that Elisha has also experienced generalized seizures over the years, that have effected the whole of her brain and believes they have caused some damage.

Most recently, in 2002 Elisha went to Halifax to see if she could have surgery to remove the part of her brain where the seizure activity was happening but they dicovered her seizure activity was all over herbrain, not in one place. At that time they decided to try a Cyberonics Vagus Nerve Stimulation (V N S), which is a implant. It has not completely stopped her seizures but her mother feels it has helped her. Normally, when Elisha would experience a seizure, she would not be able to recognize people around her, loose bladder control, use expletives, run away and sometimes enter other's homes by mistake not realizing where she was.

The journey with epilepsy has been a difficult and lonely one for Elisha, often when she would take seizures around folks who didn't know her, they would just think she was acting strange and not realize she was experiencing an epileptic seizure. This often left her feeling confused and misunderstood. 

Today, however, Elisha would describe her life as being much happier.  She loves to sing at benefits, volunteers with Special Olympics and in her spare time likes to spend time with her boyfriend, Joey and with her other friends.  

"All in all" says Elisha, "the future is looking pretty good."

http://www.epilepsy.ca/en-CA/Epilepsy-Canada.html

http://www.cylex.ca/company/epilepsy-canada-16693527.html

Summerside's New Bus Service

                                                                      Take   Transit    Today

 The Citizens of Summerside got a special announcement recently informing them that Mr. Cassidy from Trius  tours and the City of Summerside have worked out an agreement and they will be working together on a one year pilot project that started on July 3 rd. City council are willing to participate in this pilot project for service for the City and will see how it goes over the next year.

  http://triustransit.ca/ 436-7272 or1(902) 566-9962 http://www.city.summerside.pe.ca/