Deaf Tax
1. I have been communicating with my local member of parliament to object to what I call the Deaf Tax. Although there is no GST on hearing aids, wheelchairs, and all other assistive devices and related service, interpreting services are currently not exempted from GST. I objected to my MP after I got a bill from an ASL interpreter. Also, I communicated with the Canadian Association of the Deaf about it, too, and the CAD contacted a GST policy advisor in Ottawa about it. I call it the Deaf Tax because we require interpreters whenever we have meetings with non-signing hearing people, and the tax is imposed just because we are deaf! 🙂
2. I got an email message from my local member of parliament’s office this morning. See below:
Hi Wayne,
Thought you would be interested in knowing that ‘Removing the GST/HST on More Health Care Products and Services” was one of the Budget 2014 Highlights. Hopefully this would help you in the future.
Regards,
Pauline Stewart
RUSS HIEBERT, MP
South Surrey – White Rock – Cloverdale
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Wayne Sinclair
North Langley Community Church
North Langley Community Church invites you to join this Sunday Feb 16 at 10 30am till 12pm for the sevice. 10am interpeters from Douglas College will be there. I just got the msg From Douglas College Trainnig interpeters tonight to inform me. It is last min notice sorry about that. the address is 21015 96Ave Langley near 210 St.
I hope to see you there this Sunday. God Bless
DR
Seeing Voices
Link to the contest page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/startsomethingwithalesse
A.J. Brown February Art News
Hello,
January was quite busy for me.
I contributed an article to the Black Cat, White Dog
magazine: http://handsandpurrs.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=89be87bef4fb0669604cebff6&id=3b3c4e9f56&e=57d6c79beb
I had to close my studio at 195 Pemberton Avenue, for various reasons. Maybe one day, I will find a new studio from which to create. In the meantime, I will do my artwork from home.
I sold a painting: the Three Kittens.
I finally uploaded my documentary video, showing my
painting process for the painting I worked on last year. This was part of my grief process, and was difficult for me to get through. I really wanted to
finish it before my course at Emily Carr started. I hope you take the time to view it on my youtube channel: http://handsandpurrs.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=89be87bef4fb0669604cebff6&id=51e522de09&e=57d6c79beb
I am also taking a course at Emily Carr University, through their continuing ed program. This course is called the Business of Art Practise, and is required for the certificate I’m going for.
I am planning to take part in this year’s North Shore Art Crawl, on the third weekend of April.
Details to come.
Happy belated new year and happy early Valentines
Day.
Hugs to all. A.J.
Deaf medical resident on path to becoming ‘amazing physician’
Edmonton Journal
Dr. Jessica Dunkley uses American Sign Language to describe her aspirations and the challenges of being the first deaf Metis medical doctor in Canada, in an exclusive interview with The Edmonton Journal on Feb. 11, 2014.
CANADA DEAF WOMEN’S CONFERENCE
NOTICE TO ALL DEAF WOMEN!
CANADA DEAF WOMEN’S CONFERENCE in Montreal – July 16 to 19, 2014
Schedule and lectures are now available on our website!
http://www.cfsc2014cdwc.ca/conference-themes-en.html
-Speakers invited: BWB Group!
13 exciting conferences with incredible women waiting for you!
Register before February 28, 2014 for the combo at regular price!
Friendly Reminder: Make Contributions to RDSP (Registered Disability Savings Plan)
http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/disability/savings/index.shtml
Photo of Richmond officer and deaf dogs goes viral
You may have seen this picture on your Facebook page, it’s been shared more than 14,000 times.
The picture is of Richmond Police Major Crimes Detective, Mac Adams and his five dogs, all of which are deaf.
The photo of Adams was taken as part of a project called “RPD Loves Animals” intended to showcase some Richmond officers and how having different animals in their lives “makes them better people and subsequently better officers.”
Well, the reception Adams’ photo received was pawsitively amazing–record breaking news.
WIDHH Award of Merit
The WIDHH Award of Merit Committee is now accepting nominations for the Annual Award of Merit, to be presented at the upcoming Annual General Meeting in April 2014; exact date to be announced. The purpose of the award is to recognize outstanding individuals, groups or organizations that have made a difference in the lives of Deaf and/or Hard of Hearing individuals in British Columbia.
Please write a brief biographical account of the nominee and why you have nominated them.
To see this in ASL go to:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Western-Institute-for-the-Deaf-and-Hard-of-Hearing/92914429597?ref=hl
All completed nomination forms must be delivered either by mail, fax, e-mail, or dropped off in person no later than Wednesday, March 5th, 2014 at 5:00pm to:
Ava Hawkins and Wendy Bruce, Award of Merit Committee Co-Chairs
c/o Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
2125 West 7th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6K 1X9
Fax: 604-736-4381
info@widhh.com
UAlberta Rewrites The Status Quo to Accommodate new Resident
When Jessica Dunkley was 10 years old, her aunt gave her a life-altering gift: a plastic anatomy doll. She spent hours taking it apart and putting it back together, fascinated by the complexity of the human body. As she reassembled the doll, she decided that she would one day wear a white jacket, a dream that she called a “fantasy” for much of her life.
In 2010, fantasy met reality when Dunkley graduated medical school as one of University of Ottawa’s Extraordinary Women, which celebrates female trailblazers at that institution. The moment she accepted her degree, she became the first deaf Metis doctor in Canada. Only residency stood between her reality and the fantasy that inspired her as a child.
But the road to residency has been a long one.
