The Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-12-23, Page 7Communit News
Sue Bell gives Inca a hug. Bell is the second blind person in Goderich to receive a guide
dog from Canine Vision Canada. Inca is a one year, four month old Labrador Retriever.
(photo by Ted Spooner)
Blind woman learns
to work with dog
Sue Bell and Inca are just beginning the
long process of working as a team and get-
ting to know one another.
Bell is the second blind person in
Goderich to receive a . guide dog from
Canine Vision Canada (CVC) in Oakville.
Inca is a 16 -month-old Black Labrador
Retriever. Earlier this year, Valerie
Anderson received Josh, a Golden
Labrador from CVC.
Bell and Inca recently returned from,24
days of training at CVC, where the two
begin to learn to work together. Inca had
received about six months of training on
her own, before Bell arrived. The Lions
Club of Canada sponsored Bell's stay at
the school, where room and board and
training are provided. Funding for the
program comes from Walk-a-Dog-A-Thon
proceeds and corporate donations. The
total cost is about $6,000 per dog.
CVC places puppies, usually from pro-
fessional breeders, in foster homes for one
year. At the end of the course – graduation
– Bell had a chance to meet the breeders
and raisers.
"I felt like a young man trying to marry
their' daughter." said Bell, "because they
wanted to know everything about me".
The CVC tries to match the needs and
personality of the blind person to the dog,
and the raisers keep notes on the behavior
of the animal.
Bell said it is important that only the
owner praise and discipline the dog. It is
felt that if the blind person does everything
for the dog, the dog will do everything for
the owner, said Bell.
Since 1981, Bell has conducted lectures
and demonstrations for area public
schools and service and church groups
called "Blind is Another Kind of Normal."
Bell discusses blindness with the students
using posters and brochures from the
Canadian National Institute for the Blind
(CNIB) and has several glasses to
simulate different types of blindness.
"Most blind people are not complety
blind," said Bell.
She feels the demonstrations are a way
of overcoming the myths that still sur-
round blindness and how to help the blind.
When most people try to help the blind they
use the "hug and push" method, where
they grab the blind person and drag them
across the street. Bell said the best way to
help is to offer your assistance is to place
your hand on your stomach and they will
take your arm as you lead them.
She once asked the children what is bet-
ter a stick (white cane) or a dog. Most of
them said the dog, but one girl said the
cane because it is cheaper and you don't
have to take care of it.
That is all true, said Bell, but the dog can
think. She was out walking with Inca one
day, when the dog stopped. She felt for
obstacles and found a that someone had
piled snow from their driveway on the
sidewalk. Had Bell been using only her
stick, she would probably have tripped
over it.
UCW holds Christmas dinner
Nile UCW members and guests had a
delicious Christmas pot luck dinner in the
church basement. The seasonal table
decorations and favours were supplied by
Louise Brindley.
The special feature of the afternoon was a
demonstration by Jean Black on how to
make a lovely Christmas floral arrange-
ment from evergreen pieces, a spray of
white mums, red carnations and ribbon.
She also made up several attractive cor-
sages from bits and pieces of Christmas
decoration and ribbon. Those present also
learned how to make and shape a large bow
from wide ribbon.
Several Christmas carols were sung and
3 Years Monthly
,INV Esi ENTS
F
INSWIAN616 hdrNCV L'C
122 The Square, Goderich 524.2773
DENOMME
FLOWER SHOPPE
INC.
Phone
524-8132
DAY OR NIGHT
A
the roll call was answered by Christmas
verses and readings.
Tickets were sold on two boxes of
groceries and these were won by Alma
Black and Beth Rutledge with the proceeds
going to Huron County Family and
Children's Services.
Business included a letter from Family
and Children's Services, giving a summary
of their work and needs and a letter was
read concerning the requirements of a
refugee Laotian family the churches are
assisting.
The afternoon proceedings were closed by
repeating the Lord's Prayer in unison.
FISHER DARTS
would like to thank all
their customers for
their Patronage in 1987
and are looking forward
to serving them in 1988.
Wishing you a
MERRY CHRISTMAS
and a healthy
& prosperous
NEW YEAR
Ruth & Al
.41
Credit card
rate chart
issued by
Ministry
Federal Consumer and Corporate Affairs
Minister Harvie Andre announced recently
that his department has released an interest
rate chart and helpful tips to inform con-
sumers on the cost of using different credit
cards. The department will periodically up-
date and publish this information.
"The various terms and conditions of
payment for credit cards can often be more
important that the interest rate in determin-
ing how much interest the consumer will
ultimately pay," said Mr. Andre.
"Comparing interest rates alone will not
give a true indication of the cost of using
credit cards," the Minister said. "Con-
sumers need to understand the fine print
so they can decide which credit card to use
and how to use it."
The Minister explained that even though
bank cards have interest rates that are ap-
proximately 10 -percentage points lower
than other cards, the method of calculating
interest on a retail store card could make
that card cheaper to use. For example, for
$850 worth of Christmas purchases with a
January payment of $450, the interest
charges in mid-February would be $22.20 for
a bankcard and only $9.60 for the retail store
card.
Mr. Andre noted, however, that the best
way to keep down credit card costs is to pay
off the monthly balance. For the almost 50
percent of Canadians who carry monthly
balances, the costs will depend on how the
interest charges are calculated and when
the balance is paid.
The initiative to inform Canadians on the
wise use of credit cards is consistent with
the recommendations of the Standing Com-
mittee on Finance and Economic Affairs. In
addition, federal and provincial consumer
ministers have established a task force to
consider the need for greater uniformity in
interest calculation and disclosure of terms
and conditions. Mr. Andre said he and his
colleagues will be considering the issue fur-
ther at their meeting in Calgary in
February.
A number of newspapers and consumer
magazines have indicated they intend to
publish the charts and information. As well,
interested consumers can call their nearest
CCAC office to obtain a copy.
GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1987—PAGE 7
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