Bond Jewell (right) pictured here with Zukiwsky Group team members at a 2024 fundraiser for the food bank. (Scotia Wealth - The Zukiwsky Group)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

library hosting film screening tuesday

Red Deer investment advisor and others chime in on International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Dec 3, 2024 | 2:31 PM

This year, Dec. 3, which is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), is about amplifying the leadership of those with disabilities.

Many are talking about the occasion including Jason Nixon, Alberta’s Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services; as well as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“This day serves as a reminder of the importance of creating inclusive communities where everyone has access to opportunities and resources,” says Nixon, who adds that the provincial government is committed to listening to the voices of those with disabilities.

“We continue to implement initiatives such as the updated accessibility design guide to help make public buildings and private homes safer and more accessible.”

Trudeau, meanwhile, notes that one in four Canadians have a disability.

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“Canadians of working age with a disability are nearly twice as likely to be living on a low income. That is unacceptable,” he says, noting the Accessible Canada Act, passed five years ago, which aims to make Canada barrier-free by 2040.

In Red Deer, ask Scotia Wealth investment associate, Bond Jewell, and he’ll tell you Canada has a long way to go on catching up to other nations in terms of accessibility, particularly for those in wheelchairs.

Jewell was 16, in 1997, when he became a paraplegic after being involved in a car crash near Sylvan Lake.

“The leadership aspect of this day is important due to the perceptions that exist, where in reality if you have a disability, you can do anything and everything,” says Jewell. “The ultimate goal of this day should be to not have to have it, and to get to where we’d be in a world where we’re all considerate and the biases are put aside.”

Jewell also didn’t allow his injuries to derail life goals, later travelling to Australia and elsewhere, and taking up para-sports such as sit-skiing.

Australia, however, is where he really saw how far behind Canada is with accessibility, he shares.

In 2010, Jewell joined Scotia Wealth and has been a stalwart of the team since, while also formerly serving as a board member for Spinal Cord Injury Alberta, among other things.

Meantime, the Red Deer Public Library (RDPL) is once again helping with the cause.

Tonight, join library staff as they host the screening of a documentary called ‘Orchestrating Change.’

The documentary tells the story of the Massachusetts-based Me2/ Orchestra, the world’s only orchestra created by and for individuals with mental illness.

Me2/’s mission is to erase the stigma surrounding mental health, once concert at a time.

“By showcasing this film, we aim to highlight the importance of inclusion, understanding, and support for individuals with mental health challenges,” RDPL writes on its website.

“It aligns perfectly with the spirit of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which is dedicated to promoting the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society.”

The screening takes place from 6-8 p.m. in the Snell Auditorium, downstairs at RDPL’s downtown branch. It is free to attend.