Spring 2007 Canadian Corner

Canadian Corner:  On the Move
by Jane Parsard, AER Canadian Board Representative

The first Canadian AER office officially opened in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1999 and in a short seven years with continued support of Canadians, AER membership in our country has risen to 150, the highest on record. To show the strength of Canadians, we anticipate a continued growth and John Martin, AER Canadian Affairs Consultant, and I extend a challenge to all professionals in the field to increase our membership by another 50 to hit the 200 membership mark within the next two years. This will be achievable only if all of us through the current four Chapters and the Canadian Office continue to promote membership and the organization of AER Canada throughout the country.

AER is not only about membership, but an increase in our numbers strengthen our cause when we focus on advocacy and social policy issues on behalf of those living with vision loss. For professionals who often work in isolated areas of our vast country, membership provides for a dynamic network of friends and colleagues working together across different regions, cultures and languages.

I was pleased to attend the recent conference hosted by the Northeast Chapter in Montreal and we will work on strategies to leverage support from all Canadian Chapters to host workshops and conferences.  In 2006, the idea of a workshop being sponsored by AER and CNIB was initiated by John Martin, and I am happy to report the efforts resulted in a presentation by Dr. Christine Roman on working effectively with young children who have cortical visual impairments. Over 100 participants attended the 2-day presentation. In 2007, John will again be working on hosting the second annual AER/CNIB Lecture Series.

On the subject of Conferences, we are delighted with the invitation extended by Greg Goodrich, Chair of the 2008 AER International Conference, for two Canadians to be nominated as members of the International Conference Committee. Cheryl Richesin, Mohawk College, and Cathy McFee, CNIB, will join the Committee to make the 2008 Chicago AER Conference the best publicized to Canadians and the best attended. “Modest goals, but they are achievable,” states Greg. I have every confidence that Cheryl and Cathy’s work on the Committee will create a unique conference that responds to the interest of Canadians and that their work will contribute to the best over-all conference.

This is only my second submission to the AER Report and I invite AER Canadian members and others to keep in touch and let me know how AER can better serve Canadian members. As AER President Sandy Ruconich stated in the last newsletter:  “I am glad to communicate our views to the International Board.”