Steve Noel

The sixth profile in our series features Steve Noel, Employment Counselor at Saint Mary’s University. I sat down with Steve in his office on Wednesday, August 24th.

Steve Noel was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1961. Naturally gifted with co-ordination and athleticism as a youth, pastimes included running and climbing trees, as well as sports like basketball, football and hockey. These skills were encouraged by Steve’s family, particularly his father’s side, which boasted a very strong athletic background.

The trajectory of Steve’s life would be altered at the age of 16, when he suffered a severe brain hemorrhage, leaving him with extensive paralysis of the left side of his body. What followed next was 10 months of intensive rehabilitation before he was able to resume his high school education, and a full three years before he learned to walk independently again. Asked what it was like attempting to adjust to such a life-altering event at such a crucial age, Noel offered an interesting perspective. “The injury was so massive that I couldn’t do anything on my own, even eating. The fact that I had nothing made it easier in a sense because you have to re-learn everything. I had a great number of friends who were supportive and remained so throughout the process. I also resigned myself to the reality that recovery was going to take a long time, similar to my education.”

Indeed, following this initial period of rehabilitation, Noel threw himself into his education with zeal. Inspired by a friend who was taking classes at Dal while in the 12th grade, Steve did the same, and finished high school in only two years. Following this, he embarked on a degree in psychology at Saint Mary’s University. While those around him were supportive-if apprehensive-as he began his post-secondary education, Steve never doubted himself for a second. “Everyone’s expectations were so low that I really couldn’t fail, but I knew I could do it.” And do it he did, graduating with his Bachelor of Arts in 1988 before returning to add his honours with a research project focused on childhood autism, completed in 1990. Next on his agenda was a master’s degree in Counseling, which he undertook between 1991 and 1993. I asked Steve what made him gravitate toward these fields, to which he responded, “I found psych really interesting, and it made a lot of sense to me. I gravitated to it more than other subjects.” While he initially trained his eye on becoming a sport psychologist, he eventually changed course. “They [athletes] are some of the most fortunate people in the world, and I decided I’d rather work with people who struggle.”

Following the completion of his education, Steve got a job working as a Clinical Therapist with Addictions Services in Amherst, Nova Scotia. While Steve thrived in the position and described it as “career heaven”, it came to an end after nine months, as the position was term only. This began an extended period of unemployment for Noel, who spent three years searching for work in Halifax before deciding to try his luck in Vancouver, British Columbia. A further year of job searching there, while enjoyable and informative, also proved fruitless in terms of securing employment. Following a bad fall in the middle of a busy street, he decided to return home to Halifax to attend to his health and have corrective surgery. The following year, Steve was hired in a part-time capacity in his present position as an Employment Counselor at Saint Mary’s. The job later grew to become full-time, and has lasted almost two decades thus far. Asked about his experiences in the position, Steve responded “my experiences have been that I’ve learned a tremendous amount…the position is challenging. It’s so specialized that I don’t think everyone can do it. I think it’s a knowledge piece that goes beyond common sense. It’s been challenging, but I’ve had some students who got really good jobs. It’s rewarding to hear them say things like, “I can start paying off my student loans.”

Given Steve’s extensive educational and professional experience, as well as his own practical experience as someone with a disability, I was interested to hear his thoughts on why persons with disabilities often lag behind their able-bodied counterparts in the areas of education and employment. I first asked him about attendance at post-secondary institutions, where statistically, the numbers of persons with disabilities is often well below average. I asked if this trend has begun to change to any degree: “I think it has improved, but it has only improved some. I did some research on this earlier in the year. I thought we had narrowed the disparity, but we’re far from on par.” He also added, “I think we’ve done a good job of completing undergraduate degrees, but we’ve had trouble accessing professional schools, like medical schools for example.” To illustrate this point, he cited the example of a student he knows who aspired to attend medical school, but whose disability prevented him from taking on the required full course load.

We then moved on to discuss some of the myths and obstacles that make it difficult for many with disabilities to find gainful employment. One thing that Steve noted was the hardships that one may face when their speech is impaired. “That is difficult to overcome. I’ve had some interviews that I’ve really aced, but I didn’t get the job. I don’t blame anyone though. I think the point also applies to persons with mobility impairments. I’ve known people who are geniuses but don’t move well, and have a really hard time getting jobs.  I think that’s the reason. It’s also interesting that in my time here some of the most accomplished students have had the hardest time getting jobs. However, they have gotten jobs, good ones, but it tended to take longer.”

We also discussed some of the myths that tend to follow disabled people around as they seek employment. The first “myth” Steve discussed was that of employment equity. “some people believe there is a strong element of employment equity [with regard to persons with disabilities] and that a person will get promoted simply because of equity. This is false, and a myth. There is also this myth that if you hire someone with a disability they’ll be sickly and miss time, and that if you hire someone with a disability and they aren’t doing the job, you can’t relieve them. This is false. There is a stereotype that unless you’re fully able-bodied you can’t do anything on your own. This, too, is a myth.”

Because Steve has spent the majority of his life as a resident of Halifax, I wanted to get his perspective on accessibility in the city, and how it compares to years past. “I see a lot of improvement in the last few years, particularly in this area of the city [the South End], improved curb cuts for example. The worst spot I’ve seen though, is Quinpool Road and Windsor. The curb there is so bad, and there are a lot of wheelchair users in that area. I also want to mention the difficulty in the set-up of some of the crosswalks… it’s often difficult to hit the button, go around and onto the street, and then across. You almost can’t do it. I’m particularly interested in this, as freedom of movement should be an inalienable right, similar to education. I don’t think it’s quite seen that way, but it should be.”

One question that has been frequently asked of our interview subjects throughout this series is whether they have any pet peeves. As might be expected, answers to this question have varied from person to person, but when put to Steve, he had a particularly interesting answer. “My pet peeve would be what the media does to us. It’s unfortunate that persons with disabilities aren’t out there all the time because I think people want to know us. The world has a strange set of values. The world wants to look at beautiful people. If you turn on the TV, everyone is graceful and beautiful. They don’t want to watch people struggle, because it reminds them of their own.”

Asked who he admired most, he answered that it was Jean Vanier, philosopher and founder of L’Arche movement, dedicated to helping persons with multiple disabilities grow and reach their potential while at the same time improving knowledge and perceptions of them throughout the world. When asked if he had any parting thoughts to share, Steve replied, “there is a huge loss to the world because people with disabilities are marginalized. The loss from not mobilizing persons with disabilities in the professional world is huge, not only economically but societally as well.”

Each of the interviews done so far throughout this series has offered unique perspectives on a number of different issues thus far. The opportunity to interview Steve and gain his insights, particularly with regard to issues pertaining to persons with disabilities and the worlds of post-secondary education and work, have I think, proven to be an invaluable addition to this project. Until next time,

-Jeremy MacDonald

Michael Coady

Our fifth profile in the series features a conversation with Michael Coady, Saint Mary’s University graduate and current Dalhousie law and MBA student. I spoke with Michael over the phone on Tuesday, August 2nd.

Upon speaking with Michael Coady, one gets the sense that he has always been a busy guy. This got confirmed when I asked him about what his life was like as a child. “Well,” he says, “I was the son of two very supportive, loving parents, and one thing that they always did was to ensure that I was always involved in a lot of activities, like going to the zoo or the water park, for example.” When he wasn’t doing that, he says a lot of time was spent exploring neighborhoods, and hanging out with friends. “I spent a lot of time out of the house growing up” he says with a chuckle.

The circumstances of Michael’s life changed eight years ago, when he suffered a spinal cord injury in the form of a C5 burst fracture, which made him an incomplete quadriplegic with impairment in all four limbs. Because the injury is incomplete, he still has the ability to stand and walk short distances with crutches but says that he uses his  wheelchair almost exclusively, as it aids in independence.

Despite this unexpected and challenging turn of events, Coady continued to forge a productive path in life, enrolling at Saint Mary’s University following his graduation from high school. To say that he took advantage of all that university life had to offer might be an understatement. In addition to obtaining his Bachelor of Science with a major in psychology in 2014, he also served as Chair of the Board of Directors, served on the Academic Senate, and on the university’s Board of Governors. Asked about this experience, he replied, “it was amazing. I got to meet a number of different types of professionals and to establish valuable contacts that I have to this day.” He also noted that the policy governance experience that he obtained while serving in these capacities helped him in other volunteer activities that would follow, namely in his current role as Board Co-chair for Independent Living Nova Scotia.

As an institution, Saint Mary’s has long prided itself on the emphasis it places on accessibility and other disability related issues. As such, I was curious to know what Coady’s experience was like there as a student with a disability. I loved Saint Mary’s. I found the school to be very accessible. The Atlantic Centre (now the Fred Smithers Centre of Support for Students with Disabilities) was great in terms of accommodations and funding opportunities. I also appreciated the tunnel system when the weather was poor.”

Following his time at SMU, Coady elected to pursue a joint law/MBA degree at Dalhousie University. Asked how that experience has been going, he commented, “its been great. I’ve really enjoyed all the people at the law school. Now, as I’ve begun the MBA, I’ve gotten to meet a whole new group of bright, energetic students.” According to Michael, the workload is not for the faint of heart. “The pace of both is very fast-right now, with the MBA, classes are pretty much 9 to 5, on top of assignments and everything else, but everything I learn is so applicable…it’s been a great experience so far.” Even so, it hasn’t been free of challenges, even outside of the classroom. Coady noted that parking can sometimes be a bit of an issue, not to mention the complications created by the elements in the winter months. In particular, he pointed to an example from last winter, where an ice storm made it necessary for a fellow student to push him to class. Even still, Coady is not the type to dwell on or be bothered by these types of things, seeing them as something that comes with the territory.

Still, I was interested in his thoughts with regard to how life is different for those with a disability when compared to those without. “Primarily, there are two things I’ve found to be different as a person with a disability. The first one is an increased need for planning and organization. The other, which kind of ties in, is a reduced capacity for spontaneity. It’s harder to just go ahead and do things in the spur of the moment.” I also wanted to know his experiences as a resident of the city who was also a wheelchair user. “In Halifax, I’ve found it to be very welcoming, but not the most accessible. A lot of that has to do with the landscape but that can’t be avoided. Being in the downtown core often requires some assistance, but that isn’t hard to find. I’d also add that the city has a lot of great organizations working to increase accessibility, and make it a more welcoming space.”

I was also interested in some of Michael’s activities away from the classroom and the boardroom. He, along with his wife Chelsea, enjoy traveling, sampling the city’s many restaurants and patios, and playing host to parties. They also enjoy board games, such as Settlers of Catan.  He also has interest in futuristic art such as the work of Aldous Huxley and George Orwell, and the Netflix series Black Mirror.

When asked who he admires most in life, the impact of those closest to him in life comes through strongly. “I admire my mother’s passion to pursue her dreams, my father’s selflessness and commitment to family, and my wife’s ability to maintain a sense of wonder about the world.” To end the interview, I asked if Michael had any final thoughts. He responded with two. “First, there’s only two ways to be happy-to change your circumstances, or to change the way you view them. Second is that I believe one should never attribute malice to something that can easily be explained by ignorance or error. In any situation, there is a large degree of ambiguity. I would rather assume that someone is well-intentioned and be wrong than to assume that they are ill-intentioned and be wrong.”

As this project moves along, one of the things I’m encouraged by is the fact that a number of the interview subjects are young Haligonians doing great things in the professional, volunteer and academic arenas. Anyone who has paid any attention to discussions of the demographics of the Maritimes in the last number of years knows that there has been no shortage of hand-wringing and worry over the mass exodus of youth from our region to other parts of the country and beyond. While the sheer numbers cannot be debated, as we’ve seen so far in this project, people like Michael Coady, Emily Duffett and Kelly McKenna are young professionals who have remained in the community and are making a positive impact in numerous areas. The fact that they are all wheelchair users is just incidental.

-Jeremy MacDonald

Gerry Post

The subject of our fourth profile is local disability advocate and accomplished city planner Gerry Post. My conversation with Gerry took place in the Public Gardens on July 29th.

Gerry Post was born and raised in Delft, the Netherlands, described by Gerry as a medieval canal city best known for its pottery. Post remembers where he grew up as a special place. “I essentially grew up living/playing outside, and the neighborhood was like a village unto itself. It was a traditional Catholic neighborhood with the church and the school at its centre.”

As a teenager, Post relocated to Canada, eventually enrolling in Ryerson University in the Toronto area in the early 1970s. As Gerry explains, his first year was spent taking courses in business administration, as he followed a path that others had set out for him. “When I was growing up, the view of everyone around me was that I was going to go into business.” However, the social and political climate in the City of Toronto at the time would eventually push him in a different direction. “Around this time, there was a lot of debate around the issue of urban development in Toronto. In particular, there was a movement taking place known as the Reform Movement, which expressed concerns about the nature of the urban development that was happening. I volunteered for the election that took place around then, and as a result became interested in urban planning as a possible career. I made the switch, and haven’t regretted it at all. I later found myself with a summer position with the City of Ajax, and subsequently was offered the position as Director of Planning for Ajax, which at the time made me the youngest one in Canada.”

As Post’s career progressed, he would become involved in projects of various scales in different locations around the world, including Grenada in the West Indies, and in Amman, Jordan. Asked the benefits and drawbacks of having such a varied career, Post responded, “the biggest benefit you gain is the understanding of different cultures, and how things work. There is also the practical experience. I’ve worked on projects of various scales, from the town level all the way up to the level of a nation with over 150 million people There are different circumstances in different places, So I’ve learned a lot.” In terms of the drawbacks, Post identified the time spent away from family and friends as the biggest one, but that while away, he always tried to keep in mind an adage that his mother taught him, which was “the harder you work, the luckier you get.”

Post was able to parlay his hard work into a number of important awards throughout his career. Asked to name the one that sticks out above the others, he named the World Leadership Award for Town Planning, which he garnered in 2007 for his work in Amman, Jordan, where, according to his C.V., he “led many land use planning and real estate development initiatives in the Arab region…this included leading large scale real estate development projects through the full cycle of land use planning, design, and business/financial planning and negotiation with private sector partners.”

Approximately three and a half years ago, Post’s life changed dramatically when he became afflicted by a condition known as an aortic dissection. This is when the aorta, the main artery in the body, develops a tear and begins to leak. Often a fatal condition, Post was rushed to surgery, where he survived the operation but became paralyzed from the waist down. Despite this, he says he awoke feeling blessed. He does point out that the new reality was, unsurprisingly, an adjustment, as he had previously led a very active lifestyle that had included playing a number of sports.

One of the results of Gerry’s changed circumstances was a new commitment to volunteer work and community engagement. Says Post, “I made a decision in the first week after the surgery to help my community.” And that he did. In his first week out of the rehab, he met with the Mayor, and declared his interest in helping. He was quickly invited to a Healthy Communities session, where council adopted a Healthy Communities initiative with three priorities, one of which was accessibility. In fact, Post began to make an impact even before his stay in rehab came to an end. This happened when he was sharing a room with three other patients, and one of them noticed him using his iPad, and wondering what it was. It was at that point that it occurred to Gerry that there was nothing in the rehab’s programming that focused on adaptive information technologies for the disabled.  With this in mind, he began to team up with others at the rehab on a project entitled, “Independent Access to Technology.” The program works to develop bundles of technology, each of which is geared specifically toward persons of a certain level of injury or disability. They then teach the person how to use it.

Indeed, Post’s volunteer activity is extensive. He is also working on reforms to transportation for those with disabilities in the city, hoping to augment the existing Access-A-Bus service with the use of accessible taxis, which will greatly increase access to transportation for the city’s disabled population. As Post points out, the average cost of an Access-A-Bus trip is approximately $37 one way, with the average length of trip being less than eight kilometres. Conversely, the same trip in an accessible taxi is less than half of that, at roughly $17. So, not only would this change increase access to transportation, but it would do so without raising costs. Post calls the idea “a market driven approach.”

His favourite project, however, is one he calls the Healing Garden at the Common Roots Urban Farm. The idea for the project goes back to when Post was still in rehab. While there he wandered into a farmer’s market outside the facility and bumped into the Common Roots proponents and asked about accessible garden plots. They built two raised beds, which Gerry is now using.  The project continues to grow with funding in place to expand it and include garden plots for the blind. Common Roots is a social enterprise located on the old QEII High School site across the Halifax Commons and next to the QE!! Emergency Department. It operates on donations, with much of the produce given to the Parker Street Food Bank. Post describes it as one of the most inclusive projects in the city, with users ranging from children to university professors and Syrian refugees.

Our conversation then turned to life with a disability. When I asked Gerry how his life differs from that of a non-disabled person, he answered, “I think we live in a different timezone, in that things take longer…It requires planning-how do we get around? What’s the topography like?” Asked his experience living in Halifax with a disability, he responded, “I’d say we’re not doing bad as a city when compared to the rest of the world. I’d probably rate it a 6.5 out of 10 for accessibility. As a comparison, I just returned from Montreal, and I’d give it about a 5 out of 10,” adding, “there is still a lot of work to be done, but the City Council recognizes this, and is endeavouring to make this one of the most accessible cities in North America.” That notwithstanding, he did express some frustration with the sometimes lackadaisical pace of the city’s bureaucracy, saying that despite good support at the political level, “things get lost in translation when they get to the bureaucracy, they take too long to take action on political directives, even when there are considerable savings to be had.”

I wrapped up our conversation by asking Gerry if he had any parting thoughts. He responded to this question by quoting Winston Churchill, saying, “we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Following my interview with him, it is apparent to me that Gerry Post has indeed made a decision to live by this maxim, particularly since becoming disabled. He has certainly lived up to the vow he made following his surgery to help the community, and the city of Halifax is all the better for it.

-Jeremy MacDonald

Emily Duffett

This is the third in our series of interviews of Haligonians with disabilities. This conversation took place with Emily Duffett on Wednesday, July 27th at the Halifax Central Library on Spring Garden Road.

26 year-old Emily Duffett was born in Kentville, Nova Scotia in the province’s Annapolis Valley. Born with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, doctors told her parents that she would never walk, never have any function below the waist, and would have below average brain function. However, with the combination of supportive parents, a close-knit community, and her own fierce determination, she would soon tackle each of these predictions in turn, even walking unassisted until the age of nine, when further surgery to correct her spine necessitated the use of a wheelchair.

Indeed, when asked to elaborate on what it was like growing up in Kentville the closeness of the community is the thing that Duffett stressed most. “When I first entered the chair at 9, we debated moving to a more accessible home, but the street we lived on was like a community unto itself. It had a number of older couples who were almost like grandparents to me, so we knew we’d always have someone to rely on.” There was also a real sense of camaraderie among the area’s youth, as Duffett attended school with the same group of kids until the eighth grade, when they moved to a larger, amalgamated school. To illustrate this point, Emily told a story that has stuck with her for many years. “One of my best friends is a guy I’ve known since grade primary. I remember in the sixth grade we were driving him home, and he couldn’t figure out why my mom was taking so long to get in the car. He then remembered she had to pack up my chair, which he’d forgotten all about! That told me that he saw me for me, instead of the chair, which is very important to me.”

The age of nine would prove to be something of a turning point in Emily’s life. Not only did it mark the beginning of her time as a wheelchair user, but it also led to a series of events that would ignite a passion for education that continues to this day. It began when she underwent some testing that indicated that her learning was about three grade levels below where it should have been at the time. Those who conducted the testing assured Emily’s parents that this was fine, and that they ought not worry. Dissatisfied with this response, her parents had her further tested, before surgeries made necessary a nearly two-year period of home schooling, overseen chiefly by her mother. By the time that she returned to the school system, she was testing at or above grade level in a number of subjects. It was this, she says, that instilled in her “a passion for learning and helping others to succeed.

I was curious to know if Emily thought that her physical disability had a role to play in the lack of concern shown by the school officials who had tested her at nine. She responded that, “this is a question I’ve asked myself many times. I took a disability studies class during my master’s degree, which eventually led me to the conclusion that yes, the disability was part of it, but I’ve also come to the realization that it was likely also due to the fact that the school had so many students who required assistance, which left them with many to help on limited resources. For example, in my fifth grade class, of 28 students, I believe 13 were identified as needing extra assistance with their studies.”

Following the completion of high school, Emily took her passion for learning to Acadia University, where she first pursued an honours degree in sociology with a double major is psychology, followed by a master’s degree in sociology. Duffett’s work biography states that in doing so, she became “the first student in a manual wheelchair without a full-time assistant to graduate from the campus in the 172 years that it had been open.” Perhaps almost as important as her achievements in the classroom, however, was the work that she was able to do in partnership with the university to make the campus more accessible not only for her, but for those that would come after. Asked how this was accomplished, she explained, “I worked very closely with the Disability Services Office, the Registrar’s Office, and Facilities to ensure that changes were made not only for myself, but for future students as well. One of the best aspects of the relationship was that their attitude was, “what can we do for you?” as opposed to “here’s what we have, take it or leave it.”

Following the completion of her master’s degree, Duffett had some difficulty in securing full-time work, so she decided to throw herself headlong into volunteer work. Among her many ventures in this regard included serving as chair of the National Education Association of Disabled Students, serving as chair of the Nova Scotia League for Equal opportunities, as a past board member of the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Nova Scotia, and as a member of various government committees. Some of the many projects she was involved in as a member of these organizations included helping to complete a first-of-its-kind study looking at the experience of graduate students with a disability across Canada, and helping to spearhead the Abilities Now Youth Summit in May of last year.

Emily was able to find full-time employment this past May when she was hired as the Program Manager/Inclusion Navigator with ADDvocacy ADHAD and Life Skills Coaching. The position was created under the Access Ability Wage Subsidy Program, which is funded by the Federal Government’s Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities. She officially assumed the position on May 2nd of this year. Asked to elaborate on her position, she commented that, “in my role, I’m overseeing the content development of the StrADDegies for Success program, which is a transition program designed to help students living with ADD and diverse abilities to transition into post-secondary, career exploration, skilled trades or entrepreneurship. It helps develop skills like time management, organization, and understanding the learning barriers. I’m also overseeing and creating workshops on topics such universal design, mental health, employer myths and misconceptions and self-advocacy, among others.”

When asked how her routine might differ from those with no disability, Emily responded with answers common to many in the disabled community. “I think I definitely have to add more time. For example, with my morning routine, I like to be fully awake before attempting things like transfers…in the community, where I have to rely on public transportation, I really have to scout out accessible bus routes, and ensure that the places I’m going are accessible.” This was not the first time that transportation came up in our conversation. Duffett had noted earlier that the lack of easily accessible transportation in Kentville had been one of the few drawbacks of growing up there. Asked her views on living in Halifax as a person with a disability, she noted that, “I think that there is still more work that needs to be done, but we’re moving in the right direction. For an old city, and one with a lot of hills, I think change is happening slowly. I think you can also see a gradual shift in people’s attitudes.”

As I often do in these interviews, I asked Emily who she admired most in life. While not naming anyone specific, she pointed to “people who really devote their lives to making change, where you can see their passion and dedication on a daily basis, despite the struggles.” While she may not say so herself, upon speaking with her, I can say that I would put Emily Duffett squarely in this group of people, particularly as it pertains to the issue of education. Historically, there has been a marked discrepancy in access to education between those with disabilities and those without. The work that Duffett is doing and has done, both in the volunteer and professional arenas, has served to actively combat this discrepancy. It’s work that I, for one, feel should not go unnoticed.

-Jeremy MacDonald

Note: Additional information taken from http://addvocacycoach.com/emily-m-duffett/

Kelly McKenna

Welcome to the second in our series of profiles on Haligonians with disabilities. This time I sat down with 24-year-old Kelly McKenna.

Last Wednesday (July 20th) was like many days we’ve been having of late, hot and humid. I arrived at our designated meeting place, the Starbucks in the Halifax Professional Building, about twenty minutes ahead of our scheduled 5:30 interview. I decided to go against my usual instincts and get an iced coffee. I was sitting there mentally preparing for the interview (I think to interview effectively is most definitely an acquired skill) and pondering the nature and origin of iced coffee when the subject of the interview arrived.

The first thing that strikes you upon meeting 24-year-old Kelly McKenna is her overtly sunny disposition and charismatic nature. I mention that because, in contrast to many of us (myself included), who seem to require a requisite number of hours of sleep or cups of coffee just to face the world on a daily basis, it is obvious that Kelly genuinely enjoys being out and about interacting with people on a daily basis. Once our initial introductions were out of the way, we got into the interview.

Kelly McKenna was born in Hamilton, Bermuda, where her father has worked as an accountant for over thirty years. Asked about what it was like growing up there, Kelly had nothing but good to say. In particular, she highlighted the quality of education she received. She also noted that she was fortunate in that she and her family had frequent opportunities to travel in her youth. In keeping with her upbeat nature, she added that her childhood had left her “with nothing to complain about.”

Kelly was born with a condition known as arthrogryposis, which left her muscles lacking the strength to weight-bear or lift anything. The condition made necessary a number of surgeries as Kelly grew, but one aspect of her condition that Kelly highlighted as a positive is that “it won’t get any worse, so I’m lucky in that way.” Kelly’s mobility is aided through the use of a power wheelchair.

Asked about her educational background, McKenna explained that she graduated from Citadel High School here in Halifax as a member of its 2010 class, before moving to the nation’s capital to attend university at Carleton. She graduated from Carleton in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree, majoring in anthropology and minoring in music. One of the things that Kelly mentioned as a strength of Carleton with regard to accessibility and services for students with disabilities was its attendant care program, which employs students of the university to assist students with a disability who require assistance in any number of areas, 24-hours a day, seven days a week.” and In Kelly’s case, the program not only provided her with the assistance she required, but also a friend who over the years has become one of her closest. So much so, in fact, that when her friend graduated from university this past spring, she made the move east to Halifax, where she and Kelly now share an apartment and maintain the same arrangement they had as students. Kelly is quick to stress, however, that their relationship goes beyond that of the standard client-attendant dynamic, and that the two rarely think of their situation in those terms.

Following the completion of her degree two years ago, McKenna very quickly found employment as the media coordinator for the law firm of Stewart McKelvey. Asked to summarize what the job entails, McKenna explains, “I manage and maintain the external website, which includes updating biographical information, as well as drafting and publishing firm news pieces.”

When asked about her activities and interests outside of the world of work, the self-professed “social butterfly” humorously admitted to what she called a “slight shopping addiction”, an affliction that she was quick to point out is common to many young women her age. Aside from this, she also mentioned a love for both television and the movies. Asked if she had any favourites in those areas, she replied, “in terms of movies, anything with Will Ferrell in it is a favourite…Mean Girls is really good but I feel like that’s a bit of a cliché. As far as TV, I’m a big fan of reality competition shows. I have a big group of friends that come over to watch The Bachelor…I love Big Brother and American Ninja Warrior. I used to watch more TV, but then life happens.”

Given that McKenna does lead such a full life in both the professional and personal spheres, I wanted to get her thoughts on accessibility in the city, and whether she rated it as a welcoming space for persons with a disability. “I definitely feel like it’s a welcoming space…I find it somewhat accessible. I’ve been to places where accessibility is better, but I’ve been places where its worse.. In my experience, people are very open to finding a solution that works for both parties…even if it doesn’t happen as fast as it could. Again, I find Halifax to be a very welcoming city.” The issue of accessibility arose again when I asked Kelly about how her daily life differed from that of an able-bodied person. She further remarked that, “if a place is not accessible, obviously I won’t go and I can’t go, but I’m lucky enough to have friends who, if they find out that a place isn’t accessible, will change it to somewhere else.”

Aside from her gregarious nature, the thing that struck me most in my conversation with Kelly was just how much she valued the relationships that she had with friends and family. Nowhere did this come through more than when I asked her who she admired most in the world: “I would say my mom, my dad, and my brother. I have the most amazing support system. There are so many things that I admire about each of them. They are the ones who have taught me to have such a positive outlook. Family was so instrumental in shaping my outlook, so I’d definitely say the three of them.”

Even though this project is still in its early stages, I am quickly learning that I have been fortunate to have been put in the position I have, to be able to interview people from a variety of backgrounds and get their varying perspectives and world views. I think it’s safe to say that I will learn and take something away from each person I profile. In the case of Paul, I think I was reminded of the importance of giving back to the community you live in and the people around you for no other reason than because it’s the right thing to do. I was also reminded of the importance and power of art, both individually and on the collective. Reflecting back on my interaction with Kelly, I think I was reminded of the importance of perspective, and I was genuinely struck by the sense of gratitude she carries with her daily. I don’t think any single word appeared as often in our conversation as ‘lucky’, which Kelly invoked to describe everything from the quality of life she has, to her professional opportunities, and especially her relationships with friends and family. All too often, it is very easy to focus on the negative in a given situation or the struggles we all encounter on a daily basis. My conversation with Kelly reminded me to take a moment and focus on the other side of the coin when given the opportunity.

Until next time,

-Jeremy MacDonald

Paul Vienneau

We are surrounded with extraordinary people.  I've gotten to know a good number of wheelchair users in Halifax, and the more I get to know them, the more profound they become.  Most people are reluctant to ask too many questions for fear of getting too personal, and most wheelchair users don't volunteer much.  We want to be judged on our merits, but it's hard to get beyond the wheelchair, the elephant in the room.

Still, there are things people should be able to ask:  What happened?  When?  Don't you want to get better?  Where do you live?  Do you pay taxes?  What's your passion?  Just how do you pee?  

Jeremy MacDonald wheelchair user and SMU grad student, will be bringing us eight profiles this summer, starting with Paul Vienneau.

Hello All,

This is the first in a series of profiles of Haligonians with disabilities. With any luck, they will accomplish what we (my co-conspirator Warren “Gus” Reed and I) set out to do with them, which is to give readers an intimate glimpse into life with a disability in HRM. What they will not do, however, will be to dwell on the disabilities themselves, reducing each subject to little more than a body and its mobility aid. Instead, they will be portrayed simply as they are…professionals, engaged community members--citizens who navigate the city and do all that they do despite a difficult curb cut, an uncleared sidewalk, or the odd hill here and there. Now that that’s out of the way, on to our first profile…

When I was first tasked with the project of interviewing and profiling a series of Halifax residents with disabilities, naturally, my first job (along with Mr. Reed) was to compile a list of names of persons we thought would make interesting and suitable subjects. One of the first people who came to my mind was Paul Vienneau, a man whom you might know better as the “Asshole with a Shovel”, who has endeavored over the past couple of winters to make his neighborhood more accessible to everyone-not just the elderly or persons with disabilities. As you might also know, he does this not only through his words but with action, often spending hours a day in the winter clearing snow or chipping ice from the sidewalks of Spring Garden Road.

I’ve known Paul for about a decade now, dating back to when we were both residents of Prince Edward Island, playing wheelchair basketball for the PEI Mustangs of the Maritime Wheelchair Basketball Association. I also knew that Paul would be the perfect person to kick start this series, giving thoughtful and insightful answers to any question I might ask. And I suppose it’s only fitting, given Paul’s deep connection with his neighborhood of Spring Garden Road, that the interview took place at a table at the McDonald’s there, but not before Paul was kind enough to feed me a lovely meal of steak and pasta.

Except for intervals spent living in Toronto and Charlottetown, Paul has been a resident of Halifax and its surrounding areas for most of his life. Growing up in Humber Park in Westfall, next to Lake Loon, he engaged in activities familiar to many an Atlantic Canadian child. Says Vienneau, “we played baseball in the summer, hockey in the winter, and skated on the lake”. His life was also steeped in music from an early age. As a baby, he would sit in the middle of the rehearsal room as his father’s country band prepared for gigs. By seven, he had his first drum kit, and by twelve he was playing bass. He would eventually take his love of the bass to Saint Francis Xavier University to study music, before moving to Toronto to further his education. It was also there where his life changed course after he was hit by a truck while cycling.

“It happened when I was 22. I have an incomplete spinal cord injury in and around my sacral plexus. I have a left hip disarticulation, which led to the removal of my entire left leg, left hip, the majority of my glutes, my ischium bone, and other pieces of my pelvis. A lot of my back muscle, up to about mid-back, has been removed. There were 35 to 40 surgeries and at least that many dressing changes under general anesthesia. I spent one full year in acute care, and 11 months at a spinal cord rehab centre.” Following this grueling process, Paul eventually found his way back to both Halifax and the bass, working professionally here and in PEI.

When asked how life as a working musician was different with a disability, Vienneau commented that, “my tolerance for being lifted on and off stage in front of the audience left me several years ago. I used to play in bars pretty much exclusively. I got tired of drunken patrons at the end of the night asking if I was born like this, or treating me as if I was mentally disabled as well. Couple that with an actual decrease in pay for musicians over the last fifteen years, and I just don’t wasn’t to go through the effort to play in front of people anymore.”

This decision led Paul to pursue his passion for photography (which dates back to the mid-1990s) more exclusively. He began to do this while on a hiatus from playing the bass in 2012. Since then, his work has appeared in a number of group shows, and a solo show entitled “Death is no Parenthesis”, which appeared in both the ViewPoint Gallery here in Halifax, and at The Guild in Charlottetown. Unlike the world of professional music, Paul sees his disability as having a potentially positive influence on his work as a photographer. “As a portrait photographer, my disability may actually be a plus. For some people, a wheelchair breaks down some walls. Maybe I’m perceived as more empathetic or sincere. In my studio, I haven’t found any drawbacks for my photography due to the disability.” Whether talking about music, photography, or any other form of art, Vienneau’s genuine passion comes through, as do his eclectic tastes. When asked about his inspirations, he listed everyone from Rembrandt and Vermeer to Miles Davis and Slipknot.

Eventually, our conversation shifted toward life with a disability, and living with one in the city of Halifax. Despite the fact that Paul is seemingly always on the move, this does not come without some effort. “I have an intimate relationship with all of my bodily fluids. To simply go out and meet someone for coffee requires two hours of preparation. The theme of my life is logistics.” One thing I was curious to know was how Paul’s views on disability had changed since his injury. He noted that he’d had dealings with persons with disabilities while working at a restaurant in Toronto, but that he’d never felt pity for them, or viewed disability as an inherently negative thing. This view was likely shaped by his father, a point Paul made through the telling of a story.

“When I was young, our family owned a speed boat. One day when we were putting it away in the driveway, an elderly man-possibly a leg amputee- asked my father for money. Instead, he gave him some sandwiches and cigarettes. Dad didn’t treat the guy with pity or disdain, but made sure that he had something that he needed. I think that lesson has influenced a lot of what I do today, and how I look at vulnerable people.” When asked his thoughts on whether there was a sense of isolation felt by persons in the disabled community he commented rather poignantly that “we’re born alone, and we die alone, and we’re constantly looking for things that distract us from that. Suffering by its very nature is self-centered and isolating. For those of us who endure the ongoing trauma of our injury or condition, it can be very isolating. Plus, we’re unique, even within our own group.”

Given that Paul has been such an active, engaged and visible citizen of the city of Halifax in recent years, I was quite interested in his thoughts on living in the HRM, particularly as someone with a disability. When asked about this, Paul expressed the view that, “Halifax is slow to change. We drag our feet on the most basic of things, seemingly on principle. It’s like there is a bureaucratic inertia, where moving forward feels like this impossible goal. Once in a while, things start moving and change happens in Halifax. My struggle in the last year and a half has been to find ways to help things move a little bit. It feels like being one of a large group of people pushing a giant boulder up a hill.” I then asked whether he thought of the city as a welcoming space for persons with disabilities, to which he replied, “I find the people of the city to be welcoming, but the part of the city that I live in is literally the side of a hill. People’s good nature will only take me so far. The trick is to translate their friendliness into action and forward momentum to create to create a more accessible city.”

Asked if he had any parting thoughts, Paul answered,” The next time it snows, go out and shovel the walk in front of your house and see if the neighbours need theirs done. If they are elderly or alone, let them know that they are not alone. See if they need anything. One person isn’t going to fix the world, but if a lot of us do small, good things, we can make a big difference.” One thing is certain: Whether you are talking to Paul Vienneau the man, the artist, or the “Asshole with a Shovel”, the conversation is compelling. Don’t take my word for it though. You should do yourself a favour sometime, and find out for yourself.

-Jeremy MacDonald

Note: This profile was written with additional information taken from http://www.paulvienneau.com/about, and Elissa Barnard’s Chronicle Herald article, “At the Galleries: Paul Vienneau’s shutter in the face of death” published August 9th, 2014. http://thechronicleherald.ca/thenovascotian/1227930-at-the-galleries-paul-vienneau%E2%80%99s-shutter-in-the-face-of-death