Iconic Canadian Landmarks, Athletes, Agencies and Consumers
Celebrate June as Deafblind Awareness Month
Coalition works to educate and make a wave from coast to coast
TORONTO, ON – June 1, 2017 – Several iconic Canadian landmarks will
take on a new look as they are lit up in blue to celebrate June as Deafblind
Awareness Month across the country. The lighting of the CN Tower kicks
things off today, followed by the TORONTO sign and City Hall towers at
Nathan Phillips Square, the Calgary Tower and Montreal’s Olympic Stadium
on June 12. The lighting of these landmarks will help educate Canadians
about the unique dual disability as part of an awareness initiative led by
service providers, individuals who are Deafblind and supporters who have
joined together from coast to coast for a second year.
The Senate of Canada issued a proclamation in 2015 to nationally recognize
June as Deafblind Awareness Month. With organizations now working
together with a single voice, there is greater opportunity to highlight both
the abilities and challenges of the estimated 65,000 Canadians who are
Deafblind. June is also the birth month of Helen Keller, one of the most
internationally recognized people who lived with Deafblindness.
“For many Canadians, it is difficult to imagine what it must be like to live
with a combined loss of both vision and hearing. Our national awareness
initiative is extremely important because Canadians who are Deafblind have
tremendous potential in their daily lives, as participants in their communities
and as employees,” said Jennifer Robbins, Chair of the national committee
and Executive Director of Canadian Helen Keller Centre (CHKC), which
helped found the national coalition. “In just one year, we have made
significant progress in educating the public. We hope that our continued
efforts will help more Canadians learn that people who are Deafblind can live
full, active and meaningful lives if they have the right support systems in
place.”
Perhaps nobody knows this better than 65-year-old Penny Leclair, an
individual who receives support from CNIB Ontario's Deafblind Services. As a
person who is Deafblind, she had little or no intervenor support when she
lived in British Columbia. An intervenor is a specially trained professional
who acts as the eyes and ears of a person who is Deafblind, providing
accurate information to enable choices, actions, successful communication,
navigation in their environment and as much independence as possible.
When Leclair moved with her husband to Ontario, a leader in providing
intervenor services, it was like a window opening to a new world.
“Thanks to my intervenors, I can live an independent and active life that
includes walking, swimming and riding a tandem bicycle,” says Leclair.
Unfortunately, Leclair's husband died, leaving her with no family close by.
Consequently, she is now being forced to choose between returning to
British Columbia, a province that does not provide provincially funded
intervenor services, and staying in Ottawa, where intervenors are available
to help her live independently. It is precisely these kinds of anomalies that
consumers, service providers and supporters are trying to bring to the
forefront by working together from coast to coast.
“We hope that our joint efforts to raise awareness will ultimately lead to
similar levels of support in all provinces and increased levels of employment
for the extremely capable individuals living with Deafblindness,” says Leclair.
Throughout June, CNIB Ontario encourages you to spread the word about
Deafblindness and make a wave from coast to coast. Follow CNIB Ontario on
Facebook and Twitter and share stories to raise awareness about
Deafblindness and the abilities of individuals who are living with a combined
loss of hearing and vision. To learn more, visit:
cnib.ca/en/ontario/programs-services/Deafblind-Services/Pages/DeafblindAwareness-Month.aspx
Kim Wrigley-Archer, a successful business professional, advocate and
accessibility expert, began receiving intervenor services herself in 2007
through an outreach program offered by CHKC in Toronto. An active
participant on the organization’s Board of Directors since 1998, she made
history last year when she became CHKC’s first Chairperson who is
Deafblind.
“Everybody who is Deafblind should have the ability and opportunity to
make their own choices and build the vital life skills they need to be active,
contribute to their communities and thrive,” said Ms. Wrigley-Archer. “As
more light is cast on the unique challenges facing people who are Deafblind,
we are confident that they will receive the support they need, no matter
where in Canada they choose to live and work.”
Awareness Events from Coast to Coast
The national coalition invites members of the media and the public to think
about Deafblindness and learn about the capabilities of their fellow
Canadians through a variety of events happening in communities across the
country, including:
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TORONTO, ON – June 1, 2017
CN Tower lit in blue to kick off Deafblind Awareness Month
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WINNIPEG, MB – June 6, 2017
Tandem bike ride at The Forks
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HAMILTON, ON – June 6, 12 and 28, 2017
Awareness event at local library
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OTTAWA, ON – June 8, 2017 at 12 noon
Senate Reception at Parliament Hill
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VANCOUVER, BC – June 11, 2017
Roundhouse Event
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TORONTO, ON – June 12, 2017 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
JuneFest, a day of awareness, at Toronto Nathan Phillips Square
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CALGARY (AB), TORONTO (ON), MONTREAL (PQ) – June 12, 2017
The CN Tower, Calgary Tower and Montréal Tower will be lit up in blue
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WINNIPEG, MB – June 12, 2017
Launching of Resource Centre for Manitobans who are Deafblind
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TORONTO, ON – June 14, 2017 at 7:07 p.m.
Eight-year-old Deafblind consumer Alex Graham throws the first pitch
as the Toronto Blue Jays take on the Tampa Bay Rays at the Rogers
Centre

PARIS, ON – June 24, 2017
Street Festival
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VAUGHAN, ON – June 24, 2017
Deaf Awareness Day at Canada’s Wonderland
Please visit the calendar of events for National Deafblind Awareness Month
to learn about all the other events happening in your community.
About Deafblind Awareness Month
The National Deafblind Awareness Month initiative is made up of service
providers and consumer groups working in partnership to publicize June as
Deafblind Awareness Month. Our goal is to share information about the
unique disability of Deafblindness and the supports available through
intervenor services with members of the public. We are interested in
planning and executing an annual Deafblind awareness campaign each June
that is celebrated from coast to coast.
Participating agencies include Canadian Helen Keller Centre, DeafBlind
Ontario Services and Canadian Deafblind Association (CDBA) Ontario as
founding members as well as:
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Alberta Society of the Deaf-Blind
Canadian National Society of the Deaf-Blind (CNSDB)
E-Quality Communications Centre of Excellence, Manitoba
Canadian Deafblind Association (CDBA) British Columbia
CDBA National
CDBA New Brunswick
CDBA Ontario
CNIB Alberta
CNIB Ontario
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Deaf-Blind Association of Toronto
George Brown College, Intervenor Program
Greater Vancouver Association of the Deaf-Blind
Intervenor Organization of Ontario
Lions McInnes House
Manitoba Deaf-Blind Association
Resource Centre for Manitobans who are Deaf-Blind
Usher Syndrome Association of Quebec
W. Ross McDonald School
For more information, please contact:
Adam Bello
Media & Analyst Relations Manager
Primoris Group Inc.
+1 (416) 489-0092
[email protected]