Frances Westley is a Canadian treasure. Not enough people know that. I am biased because she is a friend and colleague. Sometimes we don't appreciate how special someone is until the world takes notice. I can't think of a more … Read More
Author Archives: aletmanski
Ten Innovations that have Shaped the World of Disability
In previous posts I have highlighted that social innovation is not an incremental change to the status quo but a substantive, disruptive one. Social innovations improve our ability (whether as individuals, families, networks, communities) to define and solve our challenges, … Read More
Happy Mother’s Day courtesy Shane Koyczan
Can we ever repay our Moms? Never, is the worn truth, every child eventually realizes. But Canadian poet and spoken word virtuoso, Shane Koyczan has an insight that might just satisfy the Moms of this world. Koyczan is an immensely … Read More
Disaster, Disability and Haiti
Two things are predictable concerning people with disabilities and natural disasters. One, they will be displaced making it even tougher to gain access to basic supports. Two, there will be even more people with disabilities as a result of the … Read More
Inspire, Innovate, Incite, Invent – Increasing the Resilience of Commuities
The re-named Canadian Centre for Community Renewal has a new e-journal (i4) about Inspiring, Innovating, Inciting, and Inventing ways of life and work that permit humanity and the planet to thrive in this century of unprecedented challenges. Both the Centre … Read More
Who Invented the Blue Box? Jack McGinnis did.
I was saddened to learn that Jack McGinnis, inventor of the ubiquitous curbside recycling, blue box, died earlier this year. Sad at the death of someone who touched all our lives in such a positive way. Sad because such an … Read More
Phil Allen – The One Most Likely to Succeed
When Phil Allen was 27 his friends helped him escape from the Saskatchewan Institution where they were kept against their will. They figured he was the one most likely to make it and come back to help them. They were … Read More
André Picard wins prestiguous Public Policy Forum award
André Picard knows something most journalists or historians don't. The majority of us live our lives taking care of each other, – our children, our spouses and partners, our parents, our friends, our neighbours, our co-workers, even strangers. In good … Read More
“Passionate Amateurs” a Primary Source of Social Innovation
Care is an expression of love – parental, familial, neighbourly. The primary source of care provided to our children, those with chronic disease, mental illness, or disability and those who are sick or ageing, comes from family, friends, neighbours, co-workers … Read More
Passionate Amateurs as Inspired Innovators in Family Caregiving
Join me live Tuesday April 26th, for an internet talk radio show, Family Caregivers Unite! with Dr. Gordon Atherley on my favourite topic – natural, everyday, loving care inspired by ties of kinship, neighbourliness and friendship. Our discussion will focus … Read More