Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. – Helen Keller  

This year, The Honourable Dr. Helena Jaczek, Minister of Community and Social Services and MPP for Oak Ridges-Markham will receive the 13th Annual Canadian Helen Keller Centre Award at the April 5th luncheon at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel.  Minister Jaczek has been chosen for this due to her enduring help and dedication to the betterment of the community. 

This year also falls on an important milestone for deafblind communication. On April 5th, 1887, Helen Keller was finally able to understand that everything has a name. When her teacher, whom later became her life-long companion, Anne Sullivan spelled ‘water’ into the hand of the young girls he life began to take shape. Helen Keller later went on to become the first deafblind person to earn a degree, she graduated with honours from Radcliffe College in 1904.

To help raise money to support the important services that CHKC provides free of charge to its clients, each year an annual luncheon is planned to help raise funds and awareness and to also recognize those who have supported the deaf-blind community and their families.

Special guest speaker at this year’s event is Gail Asper O.C., O.M., LL.D., President of The Asper Foundation and sitting Board Member of The Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg Manitoba. Ms. Asper currently is currently the Chair of the Board of the National Arts Centre Foundation, is a member of the Board of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and is a Governor of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

2016 attendees wait for the Award presentation in the Concert Hall of the Fairmont Royal York Hotel.

As of July 2001, the doors opened to Canadas first and only residential training centre for persons with vision, hearing, and combined vision hearing impairment, The Canadian Helen Keller Centre is a place for the deaf-blind community to go for affordable housing, access to services, and training to live independently.

CHKC has been giving the award since 2005, past winners include York University; George Brown College: Canadian National Institute for the Blind; The Honourable David C. Onley; IBM Canada; The Honourable Vim Kochhar; ICICI Bank Canada; Microsoft Canada; Reverand Robert L. Rumball; Jim Sanders;  and Joan McTavish.

http://www.chkc.org/

Intervenor teaches a CHKC client the “two-hand touch” method of communicating

Written by: Paula McDines

Do not miss this 23rd Annual Hall of Fame Induction at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel Concert Hall. Reception starts at 11:45am leading up to the luncheon at 12:00pm.

Come out and support the CFPDP and the physically disabled people of Canada! All support and contributions are greatly appreciated!

This year the guest speaker was Bruce McQuaig the President and CEO of Metrolinx who spoke about how transportation can provide communities with opportunities.  The audience also heard from Stacey Campbell, Executive Director and CEO of Prison Fellowship Canada as the Philanthropic Partner who spoke about children and the absence of Christmas when a parent is incarnation.  She told a story of a young man who had lost his parents to the system who they supported his ongoing education.

Bells on Bay St. was created out of a desire Intriciti had to share the spirit of Christmas with business leaders.  The idea was birthed to Alana in the early days of her ministry as she struggled with the “market bells” dominating Bay St.  She coined the phrase “Bells on Bay St.” for each of us (including herself) to be mindful of the “church bells” in the midst of the hustle and bustle at Christmas.

This year, Intriciti expanded this signature event to Ottawa with the inaugural “Bells on Bank St.” to over a few  hundred people.

When: December 3, 2014

www.intriciti.ca

Each year, it gives CityEvents great pleasure to assist CFPDP in the planning of this awards ceremony and witness many outstanding Canadians inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The Selection Board has chosen the following inductees in the categories of Builder, Achiever or Athlete.  These individuals have been selected because they have truly made a difference for people with disabilities.

• Sudarshan Gautam, Achiever – First armless person to climb the summit of Mount Everest without the use of prosthetics.
• Mark Wafer, Builder – As a Tim Hortons franchisee, Wafer has hired nearly 100 people with disabilities in competitively paid positions and developed an influential case mode for inclusive hiring practices.
• Elisabeth Walker-Young, Achiever – Four-time Paralympic swimmer and multi-medalist Walker-Young was recently named Team Canada’s Chef de Mission for the 2015 Parapan American Games in Toronto.
• Chris Williamson, Athlete – Visually impaired athlete and Markham, Ont. Native Williamson is one of the world’s most decorated para-alpine racers.

Maureen Sabia, Chairman, Canadian Tire Corp. will be the keynote speaker this year. CFPDP is expecting an incredible turn out with over 500 guests registered for the event.

The Hall of Fame, located at both the former Metro Hall and the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, is open to the public around the clock. Nominations come from sources across Canada, including community groups, private citizens, associations and organizations of and for people with physical disabilities.

For more information about CFPDP visit their website, www.cfpdp.com.

CityEvents will be tweeting live from the event. Follow us on Twitter @CityEvents for frequent updates.

The acclaimed British Canadian Chamber of Trade and Commerce celebrated this year’s Christmas Fare in style. With crackers and carols. The famous BCCTC draw prizes also surely made it exciting. There was a gift for all!

Thanks to the sponsors the raffle the prizes were very appealing to all. Especially the two tickets to London, England, the ipads and many more amazing gifts. With great food, service, gifts and a feeling of community, the Christmas spirit was all around.

For more pictures go to:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cityeventstoronto/sets/72157628293244389