With a mission of providing plenty of support to partially-sighted folks across the region, the Ponoka Whitecaners are welcoming a special guest speaker on Feb. 5.
Things get underway at 1:15 p.m. in the St. Mary's Anglican Church Hall. There is no need to register, and everyone is welcome to attend.
Alex Lucyk, an orientation and mobility specialist with the Vision Loss and Rehabilitation Canada (VLRC) program will be speaking, said Sue Boman, the group's facilitator.
"Alex will talk about white cane training, and how using a white cane is beneficial for someone who has low vision. It can be used particularly as a safety precaution when you are moving about in the community. There are also different types of white canes - and there are also different 'tips' to the canes, too," she explained.
"I have also asked her if she will give some information to sighted people on how they can assist those who are moving about with low vision - whether they are using a cane not," she said.
Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada is a not-for-profit national healthcare organization and the leading provider of rehabilitation therapy and healthcare services for individuals with vision loss, notes the organization's web site.
Meanwhile, the Ponoka Whitecaners, which has been running for three decades now, meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 1:15 p.m. except for July and August (unless a special occasion has been planned for the summer months).
Meetings run in the hall of St. Mary's Anglican Church. Members have various levels of vision loss, and others also attend as support people.
Boman started with the group right from the beginning when it was set up under the umbrella of CNIB. Florence Stretch led the group that first year, and then Boman took on the leadership role and has held the post ever since.
A typical meeting might feature a guest speaker such as an optometrist or a nutritionist, or a demonstration of equipment that could make a significant difference in the life of a partially-sighted person.
"We have discussions about vision loss, and how people can cope," she said. "I think when people come to the group, they hear from others who understand what they are going through, because they also have gone through it themselves. That is the biggest part.
"We call ourselves a support group, too. So along with getting information from various people and groups, I think the major part of our group is that we support each other."
Looking ahead, Boman said the Whitecaners are hoping to have the CNIB Mobile Hub come to Ponoka in May. According to the CNIB web site, the CNIB Mobile Hub is a program delivery model where staff visit communities to deliver in-person programming at no cost.
For more information about the Ponoka Whitecaners Support Group, call Sue Boman at 403-783-3194.