May 1, 2017 Bulletin

• Martina reported that we have committed our full budget for supporting campers to Camp Tidnish and she had to cut off further applications. She encouraged members to refer further requests to her.  She will be getting a few people together as a committee to discuss future years for the program.
• Lech reported on the Yearbook.  He is the new chair and it is time to start to work on soliciting for this years Yearbook. He indicated that a new version of the list had been created and will be coming to members as a link.  Members were encouraged to review and update with those businesses they will be visiting.  He is trying to nail down a date for a launch event.

Ed McQuillan. Ed has been involved with the CANADIAN ADAPTIVE SNOWSPORTS (CADS) program for the past 6 years and has been president and chairman for the past 5 years. Edward became involved with CADS after having a life changing spinal cord injury in March of 2010 while skiing. He has learned and continues to ski with the adaptive sit skis that are available through the CADS program.

 

In the past 2 years Ed became involved with SURFABE and Life Rolls On, a surfing event at Martinique beach that uses adaptive surfboards for community members to enjoy the ocean and beach for a day. Ed has been involved with para-rowing and was a participant in the first ever para-rowing race in Nova Scotia at Lake Banook 3 years ago.

 

Ed has been a long-time volunteer for 25 yrs in the community where he lives serving as President and Vice President for the Milford Recreation Association, as a Deacon, Elder and Council Chairperson for his local church for over 10 years.

 

Ed continues to be active with volunteering, sports, family life and is always willing to talk with people about his spinal cord injury and how it has changed his life, in many way for the better.

 

Hiro Ozawa. Born in Japan, Hiro has been teaching skiing since 1989 and snowboarding since 1993. He has been a full time level 2 Ski and level 3 Snowboard instructor at Ski Wentworth since 2000.

 

He is also a level 3 CADS ski and snowboard course conductor and is on the National Technical committee.  He is the instructor of instructors for Adaptive snow sports in the region.

 

Ed presented some statistics on disabilities. There are 4000 members of the CADS organization in Canada. 50% are under 20, 5% are visually impaired, 20% are sit Skiers and 20% are stand up Skiers with assist.  60% are cognitively impaired including autism. Only 3% of disabled individuals are involved in organized sport. This region has a lot to do to build programming.  Instructor capacity is one of the challenges.

 

Ed outlined his journey following a skiing accident that left him with a spinal injury.  It was a year to the day that he tried a sit ski at Sunday River and he has never looked back. He outlined some of the features of the new unit that the club helped purchase stating that it is bigger, more robust and stable than other models to accommodate larger skiers.  It also increases the capacity as on busy weekend all 5 units at Wentworth are booked. 

 

Ed told the club how important it is to be able to get out and enjoy the winter and enjoy sports like people without disabilities for both physical and mental heath reasons and he thanked the club for our support.

 

Hiro asked how many in the club skied or boarded.  A surprising number raised their hand.

 

He talked about his role in training people to help disabled skiers and boarders. He started about 12 years ago and discovered how he could positively change peoples lives by helping them on the slopes.  Since then he increased his skills and has trained many people to be able to help family members and friends to ski or board. There is a continued need, however, for more volunteers to assist those without those resources.   He encouraged members to consider volunteering their time and become "ski buddies" at Wentworth.  With a larger pool, many more people will be able to become physically active. We would be rewarded with many wide smiles. 

 

Ed and Hiro were thanked for their excellent presentation by Rotarian and skier Wayne Gillis.