On August 17th close to 100 athletes, coaches, volunteers, family and friends from around Pictou County attended the Special Olympics Awards Banquet at Summer Street. Pictured are just some of our immensely talented clients and friends. In this photo left to right: Derek Saunders, Blanche Bonvie and Stacey Saunders. Derek plays on the floor hockey team in the winter and softball in the summer. Blanche participates in track and shot put. Stacey plays floor hockey and softball.
Terry Richardson (left), Vice-Coordinator of the Pictou County Special Olympics Committee with bowler Joey Aucoin.
Chris Atkinson (left) is a Special Olympic curler and golfer. Joe Dort is a powerlifter.
Shelly MacLean and Henry Green are both on the bowling team.
Roxanne MacDonald coaches track and field, her daughter Shey is a snowshoe racer and track athlete.
Craig Boyd plays softball and floor hockey.
Fred Campbell (left) and Huey Smith. Fred is one of the many swimmers Huey has coached over the years. Huey was given special recognition this evening as he retires after 25 years of coaching the swim team. Huey's son Aaron who has been helping coach for the past 15 years will carry on the family tradition.
Terry MacLeod shows off his "Biggest Flirt" award. Terry is a bowler and member of the curling team.
Sherri Lynn Wolfenden (left) is on the swim team and Sherry Sanders is a bowler.
"Most Energetic Softball Player" Justin Barnett.
Loretta LeVange (left) is a figure skater and member of the track team. Loretta is joined by Fleur Mainville .
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Former Pictou County resident Wade MacDonald, left, and Trenton resident Archie Kontuk dip into a bag of pop tabs MacDonald delivered last week from his church in Dartmouth. (Goodwin photo)
Congratulations Archie and thank you to Wade MacDonald and St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Dartmouth. Wade recently visited Summer Street to present Archie with a landmark 1 million pop tabs collected by the church and friends across the continent.
Read the recent Advocate article: Pop Tabs Program Gets Big Boost
From left: Barry Hamilton, Bob Bennett, Ray Wagg and Chris Morrison welcome you to a day to remember.
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Please note that we’ve also moved the gallery of individual team photos to the top of the blog under 2011 Scramble Gallery.
Sobeys Engineering Team, this year's top fundraisers at $41,305 take a wine and cheese break on Hole 15. From left are Keith Ross, Jason Eastman, Greg MacNeil, Brian Hughes and John Wills (not pictured is Joe Fiander, this years top individual fundraiser at $26,378
I arrived at Abercrombie Country Club at 7:00 and things were already well underway. The driveway leading to the clubhouse was lined with sponsor signs, a shiny new Nissan was parked on the 8th waiting for a hole-in-one, the clubhouse was adorned with banners and the parking lot was filling up fast. Kim was everywhere making sure people had what they needed and no detail was missed. Bob was almost unrecognizable in thick rimmed designer glasses, black beret and well oiled and curled moustache. Although dressed as the proverbial Frenchman to help serve wine on Hole 15, his real work was already done. Although the morning was chilly, despite weeks (months!) of cloud and rain, the day of the Summer Street Golf Scramble would be a sunny one! Ensuring sunshine has been Bob’s unfailing mission for the past 17 years.
Jack Langlois, Stellarton's Town Cryer and Golf Committee member welcomes everyone to the 17th Annual Summer Street Scramble
By 8:00 a.m. Madelyn had played the bagpipes as Jack the town crier welcomed and bestowed best wishes on the golfers, the shotgun was fired and play began. Summer Street clients and Special Olympians Mike, Rodney and Scott were helping teams putt out on 18th green and throughout the course there were contests, give-aways and prizes to be won. My job was to drive around with Barry Hamilton, a former Society board member, current member of the Golf Committee and Director of Real Estate and Development for Lawtons. We were handing out $50 Lawtons gift certificates and refreshments to every golfer. Needless to say, we were quite popular. While golfers won for longest drives, longest putts, closest to the hole, longest marshmallow drive and a number of other contests ~ the real winners of the day were the Summer Street clients.
34 teams of golfers helped to raise $185,910, bringing the Summer Street Scramble’s all time total to $1,542,381!!
Howie Anderson has been the Scramble's top fundraiser for 15 of 17 years.
We cannot thank the golfers, businesses and community enough for their generosity and unwavering commitment. The Scramble has enjoyed the support of returning golfers and sponsors year after year including Sobeys, Eastern Sign Print, The News and Williams MacDonald Chartered Accountants as well as the majority of our hole sponsors. This year we were very pleased to welcome First Mutual Properties along with Lawtons, our returning Presenting Sponsor.
David Wallace, plays a mean squeeze box and has been the Golf Committee Chair since 1995.
Among individuals to be thanked, a few come immediately to mind. For seventeen years David Wallace has chaired the Golf Committee and his vision and determination have been the driving force. Howie Anderson has been the number one fundraiser fifteen of seventeen years. Howie and his CIBC Wood Gundy team has consistently raised the bar, this year bringing in $29,294 in pledges!
Last year Joe Fiander and the Sobeys Engineering Team entered the Scramble for the first time and raised almost $36,000! This year Joe was the number one individual fundraiser with $26,378 and the team raised the most funds with a total of $41,305!
Speaking of commitment, Craig Fraser who has been one of the Scramble’s top fundraisers, wasn’t able to make it this year ~ nevertheless he pledged $15,000!
Summer Street’s mission is to create a better life for people with intellectual disability and every golfer and business involved in the Scramble shares our success. As I had opportunity to meet each golfer, their enthusiasm and interest in Summer Street were amazing and inspiring.
As the final putts were sunk, golfers headed to Summer Street for a barbecued dinner. Everyone had an opportunity to relax and exchange stories, prizes were awarded and the eagerly anticipated “total funds raised” was announced. The day ended with a rousing standing ovation and feelings of intense pride, satisfaction and gratitude.
One more big thank you to all of the golfers and sponsors; to the Summer Street staff and to Kim who is instrumental in pulling it all together year after year.
Be sure to watch for the 17th Annual Summer Street Scramble photo gallery to be posted soon!
THIS YEARS STATS
Most funds raised: Sobeys Engineering Team (Jason Eastman, Joe Fiander, John Wills, Greg MacNeil, Keith Ross and Brian Hughs) – $41,305
Second most funds raised: CIBC Wood Gundy (Howie Anderson, David Whittemore, Marc Comeau, Chris MacDonald, Frank DeMont – $29,294
Golfer with most funds raised: Joe Fiander (Sobeys Engineering Team) – $26,378
Lowest score: NSCC Team 1 (Jim MacKenna, Tony Rose, Frank Proudfoot, Andrew Heighton, Dale Bigney) – 59
Total Funds raised to date: $1,542,381!!
Download our PowerPoint for all of our winners: 2011 Golf Scramble Presentation final
Shawn Chaisson, President of First Mutual Properties presents a $10,000 cheque to Barry Hamilton from the Summer Street Scramble Golf Committee and Summer Street's Executive Director, Bob Bennett. Left to Right: Shawn Chaisson, Barry Hamilton and Bob Bennett.
With the 17th Annual Golf Scramble only days away, Summer Street Executive Director, Bob Bennett was in Dartmouth meeting with the event’s newest major sponsor. First Mutual Properties has committed $50,000 to the Summer Street Scramble over the next 5 years!
Shawn Chaisson, President of First Mutual Properties said, “As a development company, we pride ourselves on being community minded. We saw the positive impact that Summer Street has, knew it was an organization we wanted to be involved with, and saw the Scramble as a perfect opportunity.”
First Mutual Properties has been involved in several projects in New Glasgow. Currently they are working on an enriched and independent living community on East River Road, the first of their “Sunnybrae Communities”.
“We were thrilled when Shawn and First Mutual Properties approached us,” said Bob, “the money raised at the Scramble helps in creating better lives for people with intellectual disability and donations like this make a big difference.”
Since the first Scramble in 1995, Summer Street has raised $1,356,344. Thirty six teams are entered in the 17th Annual Summer Street Golf Scramble scheduled for Friday, June 24th at Abercrombie Country Club in New Glasgow. First Mutual Properties and Lawtons Drugs are the Presenting Sponsors.
The Scramble Committee recently got together at Abercrombie Country Club to work out final preparations for this year's event. From left to right: Jack Langlois, Chris Morrison, Barry Hamilton, Russ Oehmen, David Wallace and Kim MacKinnon (not shown are committee members Ray Wagg, Bob Bennett, Anthony Conway, Stewart Mahoney, Bob Kyle and Bob White).
Preparations for the 17th Annual Summer Street Scramble are well underway! 36 teams are signed up, the vast majority of our sponsors have returned along with some new ones and on-line pledges are flowing in through our website.
We are thrilled to welcome First Mutual Properties who will be joining Lawton’s as Presenting Sponsors. First Mutual has come on board with a 5 year commitment and $50,000 donation!
Among our returning sponsors are Sobeys as Food Sponsor, The News as Print Media Sponsor and Eastern Sign-Print as Hat Sponsor. Other major sponsors include: Molson, CIBC Wood Gundy, Grant Thornton, East Coast FM, Advocate and Michelin. Once again the accounting firm of Williams & MacDonald Inc. will be donating their staff and services to conduct registration.
Did you know?
• Since 1995 the Summer Street Scramble has raised over $1,356,344!
• Howie Anderson, Dave Whittemore and the CIBC Wood Gundy Team have been our top fundraisers for 15 of the past 16 years!
To make a pledge to your favourite golfer or team, just click here: CanadaHelps (be sure to mention who you are sponsoring in the information box)
“Back to the Vaults” is a two hour performance of some of the best loved songs of the 60′s and 70′s (with a couple of tunes from the 50′s thrown in for good measure). The performance features the talents of Rhonda Brown, Spyder and Marj Macdonald, Ron and Greg MacDonald and Sandy Mackay. The group is well known for its numerous performances of “A Sentimental Journey” over the past number of years. Featuring tight vocals and terrific harmonies the group is backed by a band featuring Brice Weatherbee, Bradley McPherson, and Angela Cameron. A great evening of entertainment for all.
Show time is 7 pm Saturday, June 11 at Summer Street Industries. Tickets are $15 per person.
On Wednesday, May 11 at 7:00 p.m. a free seminar on Estate Planning will be hosted at Summer Street on 72 Park Street. Harry Munro QC, leader of the Wills, Estates and Trust Group at Mac, Mac & Mac Law Offices and David Whittemore, Investment Advisor for CIBC Wood Gundy will be speaking and taking questions.
The term estate is often and easily misunderstood and associated only with financial wealth when in fact estates come in all shapes and sizes. This educational seminar will help you understand your estate, how you can plan for the future and how easy it is to leave a legacy.
The seminar is being hosted by the following local charities:
- Aberdeen Health Foundation
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pictou County
- Highland Community Residential Services
- Family Services of Eastern Nova Scotia
- Pictou County Roots for Youth Society
- Pictou County Women’s Centre
- Summer Street Industries
- United Way of Pictou County
- VON
- YMCA of Pictou County
At Summer Street you hear the term personal outcomes, Personal Outcome Measures® or just POM’s a lot. We refer to it as our primary influencing philosophy when making decisions. In our Strategic Plan it’s one of the ways we measure our success as an organization. But what does it actually mean?
Personal Outcomes are the standards by which we measure the quality of our life. Personal Outcome Measures® is a tool that is used to help us learn more about what is most meaningful to someone. It helps individuals (and those closest to them) explore many aspects of their life and focus on items and issues that matter most. An outcome can be defined as the achievement of a goal or choice determined by the person.
Dorothy Doyle, Director of Programs says, ”Personal outcomes are important for Summer Street because they put listening to and learning from the person, at the centre of our organization’s life.”
Often when someone has an intellectual disability they lose the right or opportunity to make many of the decisions that shape their lives. From things as simple as what’s for dinner or where to spend free time, to bigger issues like where to live or work, or what activities to be involved in. Focus on personal outcomes gives people the opportunity to play a more active role in the direction of their lives.
The process itself involves interviews, discussion and observation as well as exposure to options. Often when someone loses the right to make key decisions they also lose awareness of the options available. Once we have an understanding of choices and direction, staff assist in a variety of ways to help achieve desired goals – or personal outcomes. Whenever someone achieves an outcome they’ve chosen for themselves, they experience the simple joy of accomplishment. And we become a better organization.
