April 2022
Photo by Deva Williamson on Unsplash
The Whole Dyslexic Society’s 20th Birthday, April 2022!
Sometimes you can be forgiven for looking back and allowing yourself the luxury of wallowing in your achievements, and our 20th birthday is just such an opportunity. For the month of April, we’ve decided to ‘bask’ in a glow that has taken 20 years of volunteer effort. Then it’s onward and upward as we enter a new, blessed phase, where we will benefit from the funding for our part-time administrator who has already been keeping us afloat over the past few years. I cannot thank all those involved enough for helping to create this magnificent list of achievements; we hope you enjoy!
HISTORY
Sue Hall founded the Society in 2002, having seen a need to bring some CLARITY into the world of so-called learning disabilities. She felt that parents who are introduced to the word 'dyslexia’ face many different options and much confusion. She realised that many families needed FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE for Davis programs. As the Society progressed it became clear that PREVENTING THE CHALLENGES from arising in the first place was essential, as well as having a strong sense of COMMUNITY for like-minded individuals. There’s our four objectives!
A group of parents met one evening, and Brenda Pulvermacher suggested Sue contact Milton Wong, who was well known in Vancouver as a philanthropist who celebrated diversity. Sue went to see him with a copy of The Gift of Dyslexia by Ron Davis, meaning it to be a gift. He insisted he give her $20 for it and she pinned it onto her noticeboard saying to herself that was just the start. Indeed it was; he donated $10,000 and his ‘charity person’ John McCulloch, who became our first Chair. Sue managed to persuade Ian Tostensen (now Chair of the BC Restaurant Association) and Helen Babalos, a restauranteur to become the first Directors alongside herself.
CLARITY
To start the ball rolling, Sue hosted Ron Davis, author of the Gift of Dyslexia, The Gift of Learning and founder of the Davis Dyslexia Association International, three times! Once at Robson Square Conference Centre in 2000, the SFU in 2003 and UBC in 2008. Sue Jutson, a Davis Facilitator hosted him in 2009 and 2011.
The Society has provided numerous free information sessions in public libraries, Indigo Chapters, PAC meetings, the Gifted Children’s Association, the Capilano Speaker’s Series, the BC Homeschooling Conference, the Edmonton Learning Disabilities Conference, the North Western Christian School Association, the Learning Assistance Teachers Association of Vancouver, Arts Umbrella, the Vancouver Waldorf School, the Island Discovery Learning Community, the Vancouver School Board, Maple Ridge Literacy Group, North Vancouver School District Pro D, North Vancouver SEAs Pro D, Decoda Conference, Cortes Folk U, Burnaby School District Pro D, Sacred Heart Catholic School, St Anthony’s Catholic School, University of Victoria, West Vancouver Secondary Schools SEAs, Bowen Island Community School, St Michaels Catholic School, White Rock Christian Academy, Hycroft, Nanaimo Library, IERG Conference UBC, Edutalks, Montessori Schools in Victoria, Institute for Challenging Organisation, Industry Trades Association, Child and Youthcare Action Conference, Spotlight on Dyslexia, Shift Your Thinking, the Pathfinder Society… and Sue’s pride and joy… Tedx BearCreekPark, March 2021.
The overwhelming reaction from the teachers attending these sessions has been “I had absolutely no idea that people thought like that.”
In the media, the WDS has featured on the Bill Good Show, Global TV, CKNW Telethon, CTV’s Morning Show and Have the Conversation and The Quiet Warrior podcasts. The WDS has had articles in the Vancouver Sun, the Globe and Mail, the North Shore News, Burnaby Now and The Times Colonist.
PREVENTION
She has hosted training sessions presented by DDAI, one Fundamentals Workshop, 6 Davis Learning Strategies Workshops, one Motivation and Responsibility Workshop.
Sue was overjoyed to receive $10,000 from 100 Women Who Care to be able to support schools and attendees using these strategies.
BURSARIES
Our fundraising efforts have included 3 major events:
A live auction at Simon Fraser University,
a red carpet event at Grouse Mountain with Ron Davis as the guest of honour and
a Caesar’s Palace Casino Night in West Vancouver.
We have had a Car Wash, collection cans at BC Liquor Stores, been part of the Husky Reward card, the Card Project and recently our Gifted with Dyslexia magnetic pins.
Several organisations have donated to us over the years, the Loyal Protestant Association, the North Shore Community Foundation, and way more applications have been made.
Several creative individuals have donated their talents to us: Ed Roman, Don McLeod, Amanda Green, Denny Wong and Nicholas Joe for our first websites, Marcell Warnes for our Card Project. Many more have donated their time and efforts into make our fundraisers huge successes, both financially, socially and improving our outreach. See our www.thewds.org/gratitude page.
Our Covid fundraising has been extremely successful with our Walk and Talk in 2020 raising $8,000 and our Step Up raising $13,000 in 2021 and this year we are beyond grateful to receive a significant donation from a private foundation towards our administration.
COMMUNITY
This is possibly Sue’s favourite objective – bringing like-minded parents and children together in fun activities. First of all there was a week long day camp in West Vancouver, then a house on Bowen Island was rented for a week long camp. After that we went to Camp Bow-Isle, we went to Camp Jubilee twice, Camp Elphinstone twice and Camp Latona. Various day activities have included: llama trekking, kayaking, snow showing and shelter building, claymation filming, high ropes, low ropes, rappelling, swimming, team building, archery, a drum circle, canoeing, sky diving (in a wind tunnel) at Flyzone, going to Giants games, wide games, zip lining, board games at Nognz, an Odyssey of the Mind challenge, a Salts experience, horseriding, campfires, a biodynamic farm and lots of Gaga ball ! The children decided to call themselves ‘The Fellowship of the Gift’.
DIRECTORS
Over the years we thank those who took the time to be Directors: Ian Tostensen, Helen Babalos, John McCulloch, Bruce Shore, Clinton Pazdzierski, Adrian Boston, Donna Doerksen, Sue Jutson, Carolyn Van Meenan, the late Carole Ford, Julie Brewer, Paddy Carson, Tristan MacDonald, Guy Murphy, Gisa Straith, Laura O’Neill, George Hall, Joe Wozny, Anne Haegert, Jenn Prowse, Natrisha Sagris, Rita Schmidt, Tyler Norton, Liz Vela, Denny Wong, Jay Fisher, Susan Manz, Nadine Matishak, Carole Taljeh, Judy Larocque, Cassidy Engleby, Jason Friesen.
I wonder where we’ll be in another 20 years? Our greatest hope for is the Davis Learning Strategies are widely used in our education system, to avoid the current labelling, segregation and loss of self-esteem for our wonderfully bright, creative, charming, wise little individuals… thank you for all your support and healing beams of energy!
If you are already impressed, you are welcome to start the ball rolling with our $20 (or multiples thereof) for 20 year donation campaign (www.thewds.org/donate); and we look forward to you joining us for a fun, creative, out of the box 2022 !
Sue, Laura, Paddy, Nadine, Sharon, Julie, Gisa, Tristan
Our Giving Guide:
Purchase our Gifted with Dyslexia Pins. Purchase our Pins Here
Plantables.ca Garden Ready Plants & Kits shipped to your door. Ontario & Quebec only. We receive 10% of every sale. Please follow the link to our Plantables information page.
Plantables Garden Ready Plants Here
TruEarth Eco-Friendly Laundry Soap and Products. 20% of all sales go to our Society. Please follow the link to our Tru-Earth product page to purchase. Tru-Earth Eco-Friendly Products Here
See how donations can result in tax credits by reading the article below. Read More…Tax Benefits of Charitable Donations
We have Note Cards for sale at The Card Project. Visit The Card Project Here
Partial proceeds go to The WDS from sales and rentals of Ed Roman’s highly acclaimed “Red Omen” video. For more information on renting or buying Red Omen click here
We gratefully accept donations through our Canada helps charity page. We have a variety of donor options. Thank you !
Canada Helps - General Fund
Canada Helps Tribute - Donate in honour of or in memory of a loved one.
Canada Helps Securities - A donation of securities or mutual funds is the most efficient way to give charitably. Since capital gains taxes don't apply, our charity receives the full fair market value when the security is sold, and you get a tax receipt which reflects your larger contribution. This allows you to give more and get more.
We are a registered charity with the PayPal Giving Fund. You can donate to our organization using your PayPal account with no fees. Thank you ! PayPal Giving Fund