Each year, the OICF proudly presents some of the finest visual and performance arts programming for young audiences.

Described by former CBC theatre reviewer Alvina Ruprecht as “a children’s paradise,” the OICF offers visitors the opportunity to sample the world of dance, theatre, visual arts, music and live performance theatre. This year’s line-up offers a range of shows such as the ever-popular theatrical performance of Where The Wild Things Are; the high-energy, Quebec-based Evolution Of BBoying featuring local choreographer/dancer Yvon “Crazy Smooth” Soglo; Denmark’s A Sonatina, a hysterical version of Little Red Riding Hood; Ghosts and Ladders, which features acrobats and musicians who combine movement, music and poetry; and Step Afrika! from the US, showcasing the dance style “stepping” where tradition meets rhythm as performers use their bodies as instruments.

Don’t forget to join us for all the ongoing fun and excitement with activities, music, crafts, exhibits, and participatory games. Roving entertainers, hands-on explorations and arts activities will allow everyone to unleash their creative side.  This year features award-winning, multi-talented performers The Silly People whose show has folks of all ages rolling in the aisles with laughter; Kromatik, the international superstars of face-painting, transform children into works of art; Make Your Mark gives kids an inside look at urban arts and graffiti; the Long and McQuade Instrument Petting Zoo is a hands-on experience like you’ve never seen featuring guitars, drums, keyboards and horns instead of typical farm fare; and the 100 Watt Earth Stage (created and performed by young local artists who share a passion for environmental conservation).

Tickets for the Festival are $12.50 per person, or you can choose your three favourite shows by purchasing a 3-Show Package (to any 3 shows) for $30 per person. Tickets can be purchased through the OICF office by calling 613-241-0999, by visiting the office at 294 Albert Street, Suite 602, Ottawa (Mon-Fri, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm), through the OICF website or on-site at LeBreton Flats Park, between May 28 and June 2. These shows usually sell out, so call early to avoid disappointment! For more information about the schedule or ticket information, visit the website at www.ottawachildrensfestival.ca.

The archetype of knits belonging alongside antiquated domestic drudgery and the art of housewifery has been dispelled for good. The growing trend back to this almost lost art has been taking place subtly and quietly behind the scenes and had its moment of renascent glory at the wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William in April 2011. Since then, knits have become a favorite for brides getting married early or late in the season and boutique designers offer a variety of beautifully designed and finished creations for discerning brides-to-be.

New York Weddings celebrated the knitting nuptials in its December 2012 issue. With this, the knit has now had its coming-out party and is a full-fledged belle. From decorative accessories to a full ensemble, knitting is back in vogue – though generations of knitaholics would deny it ever left. Many brides are choosing to commission or make their own wedding dresses; this reduces the cost of insuring the dress, and the brides have a made-to-measure family heirloom perfectly fit to pass down through the generations.

High Fashion Design

Catwalk designers have taken knitwear to heart. Luis Buchinho’s collection was aired at Portugal Fashion 2013 in March; his signature was apparent in the stylish sophistication of the pieces, with a broad palette of color, strongly structured overlays and unpretentious detail.

Canadian designer Mark Fast chose the setting of the ME Hotel as the backdrop for his Autumn/Winter collection for 2013/14. Creating an elegant salon ambiance for his understated collection, he aimed for a “less is more” impression and achieved exactly that. The open-knit creations that are his hallmark were in evidence throughout: Mark enjoys working with knitwear, s he finds it the best expression of his imagination. He believes that knitwear will stay in the fashion eye in the future, with contemporary yarns and imaginative design taking the craft forward.

Internationally recognized designer Paula Hian rolled out her 2013 holiday collection in New York this week, with knits made in France, where she spends her time when not in Philadelphia. Her knitwear is made in what was the original Herve Leger factory, founded by Herve Leroux (formerly Peugnet), who designed for Princess Diana. (One of Paula’s pieces is in the Louvre!) Paula’s favorite dress this season is a bronze and black sensuous cocktail dress confected of a combination of twill, knit and cloque. Buyers are quoted as saying that this is a breakthrough collection for the rising star of the fashion world.

Closer to Home

Cecilia Rebagliatti, born in Peru and now a resident of Vancouver, has made her mark using luxury and contemporary yarns imported from Europe. The fashion statement sweaters, wraps and accessories of the Cecile Benac line, hand-knitted and assembled in Vancouver, sell in up-market boutiques across the United States and Canada. The subtle influences of South American culture are incorporated into her designs using shell buttons and alpaca wool, with sporadic glimpses of bright color. Cecilia is known for her drop stitch designs: these create a lacy look which complements formal and informal outfits, looking as effective with an evening dress as they do with jeans. Winner of a number of design awards, Rebagliatti enjoys the interaction with her clients and the creative aspects of her work, finding these fulfilling and absorbing. Feminine and flattering, Cecile Benac can be found in Malary’s, Find Finds, Jacqueline Conoir Studio, Tutta Mia, Marilyn’s, and Amos and Andes.

Olena Zylak, Canadian born and bred, is another award-winning designer whose work adorns the rich and famous – people such as Natalie Cole, Prince, Olivia Newton-John and Juliette Lewis can be seen wearing her creations. Every piece is designed and made in Canada as part of Olena’s mission to ensure that everything is produced locally with the highest regard for quality and detail.

A Sad Goodbye

Ottavio Missoni, whose global fashion empire was based on his signature zigzag and striped knitwear, died on May 9 at his home in Sumirago, Italy. He was 92. Missoni was the first fashion designer to combine different patterns in coordinated separates, teaming them together to create an entirely original look. In 1955, Missoni and his wife started working for the Milan boutique, Biki, and collaborated with Hidalgo to produce collections for La Rinascente department store. In 1962, they launched the famous zigzag look and in 1967 opened their first boutique in Milan – also making the front page of Elle Magazine. By 1967, the company was selling in Paris and it was only a step from there for them to emerge in the American market in 1968 with the help of Diana Vreeland. Missoni’s undoubted influence on high fashion will be missed by everyone in the business.

Take, for example, the Conservatives’ proposal to “connect” people to jobs in a budget that largely holds the line on austerity – including ensuring that the unemployed don’t get too comfortable receiving the reduced benefits to which they’re entitled. The plan is unlikely to produce anything remotely resembling the surge in employment that’s envisioned or needed. What’s needed is a real job creation strategy. What the budget offers are more weak gestures towards creating the right incentives for private sector employers to produce jobs? Ask any unemployed Canadian (especially the young) how that’s been working out for them and you’re likely to find growing disillusionment and resentment. Austerity doesn’t grow an economy. Just ask the International Monetary Fund, which last October broke with convention by acknowledging that austerity in Europe has led to higher unemployment, slower growth and lower government revenues. Turning Canada into the lowest corporate tax haven among G8 countries hasn’t produced credible growth in job numbers (much less government revenues), and the government’s latest dating service for jobs is unlikely to improve the situation.

Then there’s the government’s new Stop International Tax Evasion Program, announced with great fanfare in the budget, which is intended to recoup what the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) says is over $4.5 billion in accumulated unpaid taxes. As one private tax lawyer recently pointed out, it’s unlikely that this government will recover even a fraction of the expected amount. For one thing, CRA’s Voluntary Disclosure Program is already under-staffed and the agency is still absorbing over $300 million in cuts, $60 million of it announced in this budget. For another, the threshold for proving tax evasion is extremely high, which suggests the need for more, not fewer, professional staff capable of undertaking such investigations.

The problem with a government intent on controlling its message is that it ends up communicating very little, even to its own employees. Economic Action Plan 2013 follows a now- familiar pattern of big announcements with disturbingly little detail. In effect, Budget Day has become meaningless. In announcing this spring that a further $33 million will be cut from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), the government refused to deviate from its non-communications strategy. Instead, the party line was that the cuts won’t affect frontline services. The last time DFO was told that was just before this government closed the famed Experimental Lakes Area, the only large-scale outdoor research program of its kind and credited with providing the data that led to legislation reducing acid rain production. We also heard it when it was reported last year that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency was to absorb $19 million in as-yet- undisclosed cuts to its Food Safety program.

In fact, if there is any warning to take from this and previous Conservative budgets it is that public servants – and the public generally – will be kept uninformed about the real impacts of government austerity as long as possible. There seems always to be some previous funding commitment that is repackaged as this year’s investment in infrastructure, or some “operational efficiency” that disguises the death of another world-renowned Canadian program. Is it any wonder why public servants are more than a little sceptical about the government’s latest action plan to “ensure that the public service is affordable, modern and high- performing” by proposing “changes to the labour relations regime?”

In the final analysis, the enormous cuts in the wake of previous “Economic Action Plans” are taking their toll and far outweigh the few, small spending increases announced this year. The promise to get tough on international tax cheats is as ineffective as the commitment to reduce national unemployment numbers. As former Parliamentary Budget Officer Kevin Page forecast in his last year, the 2012 budget will actually slow economic growth in 2013 by nearly 1 per cent and result in 69,000 fewer jobs in the public and private sectors combined. This year’s budget does nothing to change that trend. But then the Conservatives no longer have to contend with Kevin Page, and it’s uncertain how long the Parliamentary Budget Office will remain a force for accountability. Truth, as far as this government goes, is an “operational efficiency.”

Although the theoretical use of plasma as a weapon system has been understood for decades and it is easy to create in a laboratory, the capability to launch plasma out of the device it was created in is still beyond our reach. The reason is that if plasma is not contained within an electromagnetic field, it disperses into the atmosphere, breaking up very rapidly. To create a plasma weapon that operates at range, it would be necessary to extend the electromagnetic field out of the projector and all the way to the target. The technology to achieve this feat does not exist, and even if it did, it would limit a plasma weapon’s rate of fire based on how many electromagnetic fields could be maintained at once. These limitations have long been understood, but a research team at the University of Missouri seems to have developed a technology that may pave the way for plasma weaponry in the future.

Randy Curry – the Logan Distinguished Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of Missouri – and his team have created a device that is capable of generating plasma, creating its own electromagnetic field and launching it into the air. This electromagnetic field is then used to contain the plasma, allowing it to exist in the atmosphere with no external force holding it together. The plasma is “self-stabilized and self-confined”, according to Curry, meaning that once it is launched, it needs no further energy to contain it. So far, the ring of plasma travels about two feet and lasts tens of milliseconds before it disperses, but the technology is still in its very basic stages. Curry’s team predicts that with more funding, a smaller device can be created that would be capable of handling more energy, producing a longer-lasting plasma.

The plasma created by this device is hotter than the surface of the sun but emits no harmful radiation and thus has no dangerous effects on nearby people… except for the possible exposure to its heat. The research funding for this project came from the United States Navy. This project has the potential to revolutionize energy technology. Plasma of this type could be very useful in initiating and sustaining a fusion reaction, and Curry also has hopes of using it to enhance energy storage. Curry proposes that by creating a plasma capacitor, the ability to store energy could be multiplied more than 10 times – an astounding increase and a necessary technology if fusion power becomes a reality. These peaceful uses could be world-changing, with the potential of allowing fusion power to become commonplace and replacing conventional energy sources entirely. The military applications are also obvious, with this technology offering the potential to create plasma weapons capable of defeating any kind of current armor. If this area of research continues to be studied, it has many possible positive and negative effects, and it is up to the people who develop and use this technology to determine if it will help or harm humanity.

Around 1,500 children with physical and mental disabilities and their caregivers enjoyed exclusive access to the midway grounds at Gloucester Fair on May 22, the day before the fair opens to the public.

The day was filled with live entertainment, games, midway rides, a petting zoo, and balloons – topped off with a barbeque lunch and ice cream dessert. Some of the unique aspects of the day included slowed-down rides, shorter line-ups, volunteer attendants, and special facilities for those who need them. A new feature for this year was a ride in the back of a monster truck.

Organizers say the Ferris wheel is always one of the most popular rides, and that feedback from teachers and caregivers from past years tells them this is one of the biggest highlights of the year for some children.

Each year, this event aims to raise awareness for special needs issues in Ottawa, and highlights that many children depend on the entire community’s ongoing support.

“This represents a day of fun for the children and their hardworking caregivers,” said Bryce Conrad, Hydro Ottawa’s president and chief executive officer. “By giving back to the community, Hydro Ottawa employees have an opportunity to bring smiles to so many delighted children while helping to inspire and foster a greater appreciation of the challenges for those who require extra care and attention.”

Around 30 Hydro Ottawa employees volunteer to ensure the safety and well-being of the children during this yearly event.

Hydro Ottawa has been the title sponsor of Special Needs Day since 2001. Thanks go out to the Gloucester Fair, Loblaws South Keys, Moncion’s Your Independent Grocer, Maple Leaf Foods, World’s Finest Midway, Rideau-Carleton Raceway and Chapman’s Ice Cream.

It’s time for some delicious Oatmeal cookies with apples and dates and more added wholesome goodness, such as flax, pumpkin and sunflower seeds. The combination of all these quality ingredients gives them a soft, fruity and chewy taste with a little crunch! These are great to enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea or a glass of milk, and they are also quite filling.

Here is what you will need:

2 cups of all-purpose flour

1 tsp of baking powder

½ tsp of baking soda

1 tbs of pure vanilla extract

1½ cups of brown sugar

1½ cups of softened butter

2 cups of dried oats

1 cup of chopped pitted dates

1 organic red apple (unpeeled, sliced long and thin)

¼ cup of flax seeds

¼ cup of unsalted pumpkin seeds

¼ cup of unsalted sunflower seeds

Preheat oven to 370º Fahrenheit.

Stir all ingredients (except apple slices, dates and seeds) in large mixing bowl until mixture is softened.

Next, add the diced dates and seeds and stir until all ingredients are well mixed in.

Form a scoop of cookie dough into small balls and place on to greased baking pan.

Use one slice of apple to press and flatten into your cookie dough, leaving the apple slice sitting on the surface. Repeat for each cookie.

Bake cookies for 12 to 15 minutes.

Remove and cool for a few minutes and experience taste Nirvana!

“Ethics Commissioner has covered up twice already for Nigel Wright, Senate Ethics Officer is controlled by a Senate committee, Auditor General is failing to do audit, Elections Canada has secret, questionable enforcement record, and even the RCMP’s independence is questionable”

Today (May 22) in Ottawa, Democracy Watch set out the details of why biased, lapdog investigations mean that a cover-up of the Senate expenses scandal is the most likely outcome, and why a public inquiry will likely be needed to ensure a full investigation.

Nigel Wright and Mike Duffy should be found guilty of violating federal ethics rules, but the fact that the same secretive, Conservative-controlled Senate Committee of Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration that watered down the conclusions in its initial report is still controlling the review of expenses is just the tip of the iceberg of investigation problems.

“The Conservatives caused the Senate scandal, but they and the Liberals, NDP and Bloc Quebecois are all to blame for the weak, biased or ineffective lapdogs who are investigating the scandal because they all failed during recent minority governments to choose strong watchdogs, and to pass measures to close loopholes and strengthen enforcement powers and requirements,” said Tyler Sommers, Coordinator of Democracy Watch.  “As a result, no one should be surprised if all the investigations cover up the scandal, and if there is any evidence that this is happening, an independent public inquiry will clearly be needed.”

Ethics Commissioner

Federal Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson is investigating Nigel Wright’s role in the scandal, but she has had a very weak enforcement record since 2007, including letting dozens of Conservatives off the hook for very questionable actions, and making more than 80 secret rulings.  Commissioner Dawson has already covered up twice for Nigel Wright and could, as she has many times in the past, abandon her investigation secretly without issuing a public ruling.

Because of section 66 added to the new Act by the Conservatives in 2006, the Ethics Commissioner’s rulings cannot be challenged in court if she has factual or legal errors in her rulings. There are no mandatory penalties for violating the ethics rules in the Act. As well, if Prime Minister Harper approves it, Commissioner Dawson’s term in office can be renewed for another seven years in 2014 so she has an incentive to please him.

Overall, there is no reason to trust that Ethics Commissioner Dawson will do a full investigation or rule correctly, even though there is already enough clear, public evidence for her to find Nigel Wright guilty of violating at least one or more of sections 4, 5, 6(1), 8 of the Conflict of Interest Act because he used inside information to make the secret, clearly improper payment that furthered the interests of his (maybe) friend Mike Duffy during the audit of Senator Duffy’s expenses.

Senate Ethics Officer

The Senate Ethics Officer may investigate Senator Duffy’s role in the scandal, but the Ethics Officer is even more of a lapdog than the Ethics Commissioner because the Conflict of Interest Code for Senators puts the Officer under the control of a secretive, Conservative-controlled committee of senators who have the power to decide what the Code’s rules mean, how the rules will be applied, whether an investigation can even happen, and (along with the whole Senate) what the final ruling, and penalties, will be.

While the NDP has filed a complaint, in fact the Senate Ethics Officer can only investigate if the committee directs the Officer to investigate on its own or prompted by a complaint from a senator.

Overall, there is no reason to trust that the Senate committee will allow a full investigation, let alone a legally correct ruling, even though there is already enough clear public evidence to find Senator Duffy guilty of violating section 17.1 of the Code for taking the clearly prohibited gift of the payment of money from Nigel Wright.

The Ethics Officer does not have to issue a public ruling if the Officer’s conclusion is that no Code violations occurred.  Also, if Senator Duffy or any other senator resigns, any investigation is suspended forever unless the committee decides to continue it.

Auditor General

The Auditor General has full powers to audit Senate expenses under the Auditor General Act, should have exercised those powers already, and should begin an audit immediately of all senators’ expenses, and of all MPs’ expenses.

Elections Canada

The NDP has filed a complaint with the Commissioner of Canada Elections concerning the possibility that Senator Duffy’s claims of Senate expenses during the 2011 federal election may have covered costs that should have been covered by the Conservative Party, in violation of the Canada Elections Act.

The problem is that the Commissioner, in conjunction with the Director of Public Prosecutions, has a very secretive and questionable enforcement record, with more than 3,000 secret rulings since 1997, and many weak actions including a deal with the Conservative Party that let senators who participated in the Conservatives’ illegal in-and-out ad spending scheme during the 2006 federal election off the hook with no penalty.

RCMP

There are measures in the Parliament of Canada Act (s.16), and in the Criminal Code (s.119) that prohibit offering or giving any kind of benefit to a senator or other federal or provincial politician in return for any action or inaction by the politician.

There are media reports that allege that the payment by Nigel Wright to Senator Duffy was in return for cooperation by the senator, and the Senate committee reviewing Senator Duffy’s expenses, and the NDP has filed a request for investigation with the RCMP.

There are also media reports that the RCMP is looking into the Senate expenses violations generally to determine if any laws were broken.

The problem is that, in a widely criticized new policy, the RCMP Commissioner has aligned his office with the office of the Minister of Public Safety in all communications about the RCMP’s actions.  Many commentators have raised concerns about how this policy affects the ability of the RCMP to make independent law enforcement decisions.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Tyler Sommers, Coordinator of Democracy Watch, Tel: (613) 241-5179;
E: campaigns@democracywatch.ca

Ottawa-based Democracy Watch is a national non-profit, non-partisan organization, and Canada’s leading citizen group advocating democratic reform, government accountability and corporate responsibility.

Up to $4,500 in prizes will be available to the winning artists.

The Belleville Plein Air Festival is a three-day event where artists complete their works outdoors, capturing natural light, colour, texture and nuance in their paintings. “This is the first time this artistic event will hit the streets of Belleville and we intend to be around for years to come”, says Seppo Nousiainen, Plein Air Festival Chairman. Artists will have a chance to capture the beautiful images of historic downtown Belleville, the shores of the Bay of Quinte and the scenic Moira River.

This event is a juried and judged competition that is open to artists working in various mediums such as watercolor, acrylic, soft pastel and oil. The event will kick off with an artist’s reception on Friday May 31, at which time artists will receive a participant package and additional area information. There is a $30 registration fee for artists. The Belleville Plein Air Festival will be a large draw and the planning committee is expecting many artists to attend this one-of-a-kind event.

For more information, visit www.bellevillepleinairfestival.com or contact the Belleville Downtown Improvement Area (BDIA) office at 613.968.2242, or email executivedirector@downtownbelleville.ca

This Effective Area Repellent Keeps Getting Better, Now With Dark Bronze-Color Accent

ThermaCELL, manufacturer of the only portable, butane-operated, area insect repellent, has announced mainstream distribution of its newest lantern – which is attractive and affordable. Using the same patented technology that is embedded in all ThermaCELL products, the new lantern is effective at warding off mosquitoes and other flying insects, and is a wonderful addition to any deck or patio.

“Our newest ThermaCELL Lantern is unobtrusive, decorative and effective, allowing people to enjoy the outdoors free from flying insects without applying sprays and lotions,” said Allegra Lowitt, vice-president of marketing. “ThermaCELL creates a 15 x 15 foot area of repellency that provides protection compared to other options that can be noisy and smelly, such as zappers and citronella.”

The ThermaCELL Lantern is the newest addition to the product line. This slightly smaller lantern of dark bronze color has a cylinder-shaped globe and three LED lights that provide the same protection as the Patio and Outdoor lanterns. With appealing aesthetics, it complements any outdoor setting and can be used as a lantern year-round. MRSP price for the new ThermaCELL Lantern is $22.99.

ThermaCELL products are silent, odor-free and are not applied to the skin. It’s the perfect option for outdoor entertaining and enjoying the backyard. Now there is no need to disrupt outdoor fun at dusk. Last year, many were struck with diseases such as Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) or West Nile Virus so it is important for consumers to protect themselves.

How the Lantern Works

The ThermaCELL Lantern operates on a single butane cartridge, which heats a repellent mat releasing allethrin, a synthetic copy of a natural insecticide found in chrysanthemum flowers, into the air creating a 15 x 15 ft comfort zone.  Each repellent mat provides up to four hours of protection and each butane cartridge provides up to 12 hours of operation. The repellent option operates on a single butane cartridge and includes three mats. The light of the new ThermaCELL Lantern functions on three AAA batteries (not included) and can be used with or without the mosquito repellent.

For more information on ThermaCELL’s complete line of products including hand-held appliances and lanterns, as well as testimonials or store locations, visit www.thermacell.com  or call 1-8-NO-SKEETERS (866-753-3837).

Life isn’t easy for people living with spinal cord injuries. One of the main issues has been and remains to be their mobility. Several things in today’s society make it harder for someone who uses a wheelchair. Think about the state of our sidewalks after a snowstorm, or the way facilities are built, with staircases, doorways and the height of certain things, such as cupboards and coat racks. Thanks to Spinal Cord Injury Canada, the leading community-based service provider to persons living with spinal cord injuries in Canada, and awareness events like the Chair-Leaders campaign, more and more people are opening their eyes to these realities. Progress has been made but more needs to be done.

Myrtle Jenkins-Smith, President of Spinal Cord Injury Canada, with Justin Trudeau and Peter Stoffer

Chair-Leaders is meant to do just that. It’s an annual event where Canadians come together and spend a day in a wheelchair. The event, along with the fundraising campaign that goes with it is meant to raise money and awareness for Spinal Cord Injury Canada and the 86,000 people living with spinal cord injury nationwide.

“The Chair-Leaders event is extremely important to get exposure for people in a chair,” said Myrtle Jenkins-Smith, president of Spinal Cord Injury Canada. “We want people to see the obstacles they face and that they are ordinary people like the rest of us.”

It all started 68 years ago when approximately 250 veterans returned from World War II with spinal cord injuries. Placed in Veterans Affairs hospitals, they were anxious to return to the life they once knew. Unfortunately, they couldn’t access the services they needed.

Improved medical and rehabilitation services were required. This is why John Gibbons Counsell, a Lieutenant wounded in Dieppe in 1942, founded the Canadian Paraplegic Association. It provided services for veterans, and eventually civilians, living with spinal cord injuries.

It was called the Canadian Paraplegic Association because, at the time, the survival rate for Quadriplegia was basically nil. But the times have changed. There are now approximately 86,000 Canadians living with spinal cord injuries, including over 37,000 cases of Quadriplegia.

Today, Spinal Cord Injury Canada and its affiliated provinces continue to assist persons with spinal cord injuries achieve independence, self-reliance and full community participation.

In 2005, Ron Swan, Board Member of the Canadian Paraplegic Association (Nova-Scotia) and President of Home Safe Living, came up with an idea. The concept was simple – get people to spend the day in a wheelchair and see first-hand what accessibility really means.

This is how the Chair-Leaders event was born. Today, it’s a nationwide campaign with events taking place on Parliament Hill and in many other cities across Canada.

In 2006, Michael Savage, who was the Member of Parliament for Dartmouth and now is the Mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality, was invited to participate in the event. He wasn’t available because he had to be on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, so they arranged to send him a wheelchair and he participated by himself on the Hill.

Other MPs noticed Savage and wanted to get involved. This is how the expansion started. A committee was formed and a national event was born. Ever since, parliamentarians from all different political parties have been coming together every year to participate in the event.

“Awareness is huge for this organization,” said Jenkins-Smith. “We need to continue to show that people in chairs can live successful lives.”

Peter Stoffer and Laurie Hawn racing in front of Parliament Hill

This year, the national committee, comprised of MP Laurie Hawn, MP Peter Stoffer, MP Sean Casey and Senator Jim Munson, is hoping to recruit parliamentarians to participate in the event scheduled for Wednesday, May 22 on Parliament Hill. Meanwhile, affiliated provinces are organizing their own Chair-Leaders events across the country.

People around the country are able to register as Virtual Chair-Leaders and raise money and awareness for Spinal Cord Injury Canada or the affiliated province of their choice. At the end of May a seven day cruise to Alaska will be awarded to one lucky Virtual Chair-Leader, so don’t forget to register.

“Fundraising is very important because we will never get enough money to advance the cause otherwise,” said Jenkins-Smith.

Be sure to tune in at www.thechairreaction.ca or www.facebook.com/TheChairReaction