Adaptive Snowsports Programs AreSeeking Volunteers!

Adaptive Snowsports Programs AreSeeking Volunteers! - theHumm February 2019

Mount Pakenham Adaptive Ski Program

Serving the west end of Ottawa and Lanark County, the Adaptive Ski Program at Mount Pakenham provides the opportunity for children, youth and adults with disabilities and special needs (both physical and intellectual) to learn to ski through lessons taught by trained volunteers and certified instructors. We are grateful for the generosity of Mount Pakenham owners and management, as well as the dedicated volunteers, all of whom make this program possible.

We are seeking volunteers to provide assistance to our program participants. If you are at least an intermediate skier, and have your own equipment/ transportation, we will train you in techniques to assist disabled skiers. We will provide you with free lift tickets when you ski with the program and support from certified instructors, including group ski improvement sessions. Volunteer for as little as one lesson per week, daytime or evening. Those with CSIA certification are especially needed, even if it’s not current.

Not a skier? Not a problem! We could still use your help with tasks such as newsletter preparation, special events (Skill-A-Thon and year-end party), and fundraising.

For details, contact Program Coordinator Dave Hoffman at director@cads.pakenham.org .

CADS at Calabogie

Welcome to CADS at Calabogie, where we are excited about adaptive skiing and snowboarding and look forward to meeting you. CADS stands for Canadian Association of Disabled Skiing, but we like to think of ourselves as an Adaptive Ski Centre of Excellence.

Our mission is to be safe, to have fun on the snow, and to provide an excellent learning experience. We run a seven-week teaching session on Sundays from the Centre of Excellence at Calabogie Peaks. We pair our students/athletes with instructors, and they have an outstanding time together exploring how to develop their skills out on the hill.

Each year we provide two days of training for new and returning instructors. We work on supporting our instructors so that they are comfortable working with their students. We also pair instructors so that they have the benefit of an experienced teacher with them to gain insight on how to handle adaptive skiing experiences.

We offer a tethering program for both stand-up and sit-ski instructors, and bring in additional instructors from surrounding areas and programs. We have had excellent results partnering with the 3-Track programs from Southern Ontario.

CADS offers specific training that fits the needs of the program and certification levels, all of which provides expertise in teaching techniques and strengthens skill levels and confidence. This training is linked to the CSIA methodology and is a blend of teaching skills. We also support the obtainment of CSIA levels of teaching and encourage our instructors to obtain certification in either or both methods.

So do you think you want to have fun this winter? Email Deb Blimkie at director@calabogiecads.ca to find out more!

And the Award Goes to… Don Wiles! - theHumm February 2019

By Sally Hansen

Art… and Soul

theHumm is celebrating this awards season by commending Almonte’s beloved and esteemed Don Wiles for his interest in his community and the contributions he continues to make that enrich its cultural and intellectual life.

Journalists should never miss a chance to invite a nonagenarian to share their most treasured piece of advice. Soon to be 94, Dr. Wiles was momentarily surprised at my invitation, and then counseled, “Be interested.” He is a persuasive example of the wis......

Adaptive Snowsports Programs AreSeeking Volunteers! - theHumm February 2019