Wheelchair Dance Program has a New Name and Location!

It's been three months since our wheelchair dance pilot and what a ride it has been (no pun intended)! We've selected a new name and have a new location! We still have a long way to go in developing the program and growing our membership but the impact on each participant, volunteer and instructor to date has been transformational. Here is a blurb from one of our members Alexis:

"When I first started the Wheelchair Dance Program I must admit I was a little nervous. I didn’t really know what to expect. However, my fears were put to rest very quickly.

Everyone in the group is very friendly and inviting. Since I’ve started, I have never felt out of place. Our dance instructor Olena is very knowledgeable and is great at teaching us. She is very patient. She never seems to mind going over things again if we don’t understand something.

We all understand that we learn at different paces and that is okay. That is what makes this group successful. We all understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses and we all know we learn different ways. I hope this program goes on for a very long time!"

New Name

Our new name as created and selected by our members is:

Equal Grounds Emerging Performance Arts Collective

The thinking behind this name is because not only are the members interested in the dancing, they are also interested in the social aspects and other forms of arts where we have integrated improv and theatrical activities and meditation.

New Location

Our new location is:

341 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario (also known as the Senator D. Croll Apartments)

Dates and Time

Our program dates and time for July and August is:

Friday, July 4

Friday, July 11

Friday, July 18

Friday, July 25
Friday, August 1
Friday, August 8
Friday, August 15
Friday, August 22
Friday, August 29

The classes will run from 8:30 to 10:00PM.

Check Out the Action!

Post by Equal Grounds.

Accessible Road Trip to the USA: Torrance's Reflections

It has been a month since we went on our amazing vacation, going through 12 cities, 11 states, & 2 countries. I had a lot of fun travelling with my family.

Even with all the long hours of driving & hectic travel from one city to the next in just two weeks. I am just very thankful to my brother Terrence for wanting to take me on this trip & helping me cross off going on a road trip and cruise on my bucket list. I did my best to keep him awake during the drive and it was a great experience to be able to sit in the front passenger side of the MV1 that we rented.

I am also thankful to have my mom & her boyfriend on this trip, even though it was hard on them because I had trouble sleeping waking up 3 to 5 times a night on this trip. Maybe next time we need to bring a attendant with us.

Going on this trip I discovered that I still have good stamina and my bottom did not get sore even with all the long hours of sitting. I also may have discovered my fear of heights when we were on Mount Washington looking out at Pittsburgh.

Before the trip I was worried about the hoyer lift that we rented from shoppers home health would not be able to go under the hotel beds.

But it was reassuring to know that most of the wheelchair accessible rooms that we went to were able to accommodate the lift. As for the hotel rooms that were least accommodating, we were able to find a way to tip the lift towards the bed. I was safely lowered into the bed with one person holding the lift and another person making sure I get on the bed properly. Not recommended if only one person helping you.

I truly enjoyed experiencing new places, food, and going on a cruise for the first time. It will be an experience that I will never forget.

Read our previous entries:

Day 0

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6 - 8 - On Disney Magic

Day 7 & 8 - In the Bahamas
Day 9 & 10
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14
Terrence's Reflections

Rick Mercer, World Cup, and Power Wheelchair Soccer

Now that the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil is in full swing. Did you know that Power Wheelchair Soccer or Football has their own World Cup? Watch this hilarious Rick Mercer segment with team Canada, who finished 6th at the 2011 World Cup held in Paris, France.

You can read more about the sport Power Wheelchair Soccer from my friend Don Barrie's earlier post: http://www.sportsenables.me/2013/10/power-wheelchair-soccer-most-prominent.html

Accessible Road Trip to the USA: Terrence's Reflections

It's now been two weeks since our family returned home to Toronto. For what has been over 10 years since we've travelled together as a family this was a long time coming.

Help support the Toronto Lake Raiders as they compete at the 2014 Power Hockey Cup!

UPDATE: You can watch the tournament through live streaming here and check the full schedule here.

Please donate (Click here) and help Support the Toronto Lake Raiders at the 2014 Power Hockey Cup hosted by Minnesota starting July 21st to 24th against talented teams from Canada and USA.

The Toronto team is an All-Star team representing the Toronto power wheelchair hockey league! You can like Them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter, & to learn more about the league go to tpwhl.com!

You can read more about what the power hockey cup is all about here.

Go Lake Raiders Go!

Calgary Power Hockey League Documentary

Check out this PowerHockey documentary from the Calgary Powerhockey League made by one of their own players, Ben Thorne. The documentary does a great job describing the sport of PowerHockey.

For more information about the Calgary powerhockey league (CPHL) go to their website. Also like them on Facebook and follow them on twitter.