Photo By: Richard Evans
For anyone who has suffered with vision loss or serious sight impairment finding local assistance can be a daunting task at best. The Pembroke White Cane Club is in it’s 79th year and Club Organizer Gerry Frketich is eager to get the word out to anyone who is looking for answers as to how to better cope with their affliction.
This local chapter, which is affiliated with the Canadian Council of The Blind has 70 chapters right across the country with each operating independently and guided by the national office.
The white cane originated in 1921 when James Biggs, an English photographer who lost his sight in an accident, painted his cane white to increase its visibility, especially at night. This innovation soon became a symbol for the blind community and is now globally recognized. In Canada, nine provinces have implemented laws restricting the use of the white cane to individuals who are legally blind, as stated by the CCB.
This past February, the White Cane Club hosted a three day information session at Pembroke Mall where demonstrations of white cane usage and assistive technologies available for people with vision loss were showcased.
During these sessions, Frketich noted the number of people who lauded the Handibus service in Pembroke saying that the solution was really important to helping folks with sight impairment getting around. Frketich hopes to hold these sessions again in the near future.
Anyone interested in learning more about the club can reach out to www.ccbnational.ca.
(Written By: Richard Evans)