Leader Dog for the Blind

LEADER DOG REPRESENTATIVE ROD HANELINE Rod Haneline was promoted from Director of Student Services to Chief Operating Officer in October of 2005. Haneline will oversee the dog training, puppy and dog health, technology and student services division of the organization. Ron Haneline came to Leader Dog in 1970 with an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice and Narcotics Detector dog training. Haneline was instrumental in the development of the Leader Dog extended services program which includes Global Positioning Systems with speech and the use of assistive technology in the workplace for those with visual disabilities. Haneline is a graduate of Oakland University with a Bachelors Degree in Human Resource development, majoring in training and development. Haneline also has a Masters Degree from Western Michigan University in Blind Rehabilitation, majoring in Orientation and Mobility. He has authored, published and presented numerous articles and informative literature on the subjects of dog guide utilization, preparation of clients for dog guide use, training techniques and blindness. Haneline resides in Holly, Michigan with his wife and two children. LEADER DOG GRADUATE DIANE BERGERON AND MAX Diane is rehabilitation practitioner, business person, volunteer, community developer, student, mentor, friend, wife and mother. Dedicated to her community, she is a leader and visionary in her area. Diane currently working for the Government of Alberta as the co-ordinator for the Premier’s Council on the Status of Person with Disabilities. Although Diane’s passion is in the area of advocacy for inclusion of people with disabilities, she has also worked toward the enhancement of youth empowerment with Children’s Services Youth strategies Initiative. Diane Bergeron was declared legally blind by the age of ten and totally blind by the age of 30. She trained with her first Leader Dog in 1984, and is now partnered with a beautiful golden retriever named Maximo. What many would call a disadvantage, Diane has turned into an incredible strength. Through all Diane’s work and volunteer activities, she demonstrates a commitment to improving the quality of life and opportunities of all people. Diane has received many awards for her advocacy and volunteer work YMCA recipient of the 2006 Women of Distinction Award in the category of advocacy. Alberta Association of College and Technical Institutes, recipient of the 2006 Provincial Award Celebrating Excellence. Grant MacEwan College 2004 Distinguished Alumni Award Canadian National Institute for the Blind, nominated for the 2003 Euclid Herie Leadership Award University of Albert, 189 Gold Key Award for contribution and achievement.

Child Find Alberta

I am Lion Kim Simpson and have been a Lion in the Lions Club of Medicine Hat since October of 1997. As a Lion, I have been privileged to serve my Club and my community in a variety of positions including secretary and past President as well as serving as committee chair for a number of committees. One of my favorite activities in Lions is assisting in organizing our annual Lions Charity Golf Tournament for the CNIB in Medicine Hat. I have been involved in a number of non-profit organizations such as the Canadian Volunteer Income Tax Program, an animal rescue organization and as both a volunteer and staff member for Child Find Alberta. I started as a volunteer with Child Find Alberta in February of 2005. My role as a volunteer was to assist with fund-raising activities. I was hired on a full time basis in August of 2005 and am currently employed on a part time contract basis in a fund raising capacity. My responsibilities are mainly preparation of grant proposals. Missing children in Canada, the most common reasons children go missing - stranger abductions, parental abductions, runaways, etc. and what people can do to prevent a missing child as well as some of the stats of missing kids. The issue of missing kids in our country is heartbreaking because if a child goes missing, often recovery is difficult. The issue of teenage prostitution prevention is also a problem with runaways.

Tiana Knight

Tiana Knight is an active 14-year-old in grade nine. She has been a regular volunteer with the CNIB, and the United Way for over 3 years. Her athletic interests include competitive horse jumping, downhill skiing and swimming. As well she plays on the Provincial Junior Goal Ball team and even competed for the Provincial Women’s Paralympic Goal Ball team. She plays the flute, harp and has started to play the drums and guitar. Tiana is an avid writer and has won several national writing contests and maintains top marks in school including completing the entire grade 8-math curriculum by December 2005 with an overall 94% and completed the entire grade nine-math curriculum by June 2006 with an overall mark of 97%. Amazingly Tiana has realized these endeavors despite losing all of her sight nine years ago. Tiana says that although many people believe having a disability is a barrier to living life to the fullest; she prefers to believe it is a challenge that can be overcome. She believes strongly we all can break free from those limits placed on us by ourselves and by others – overcoming what might seem as overwhelming obstacles and realizing what is possible. Realizing your potential means following your passions, working hard and most of all really believing in yourself. She believes there is no such thing as people who are failures just people who never tried hard enough. Her positive approach to life and her accomplishments have made her a very popular public speaker. Tiana’s prime motivation in volunteering and public speaking is to inspire each individual to overcome the obstacles in his/her life and live life to the fullest.

Gordon Colledge

Gordon Colledge Presenter, Facilitator, Mediator Gordon Colledge is a Change Navigator in a world marked by rapid, relentless change. He guides community professionals in the process of becoming adaptive leaders in an unstable, stressful environment. This year marks the 17th anniversary of Gord's second career. He retired after 30-years in private business to begin a teaching career. He went back to university at age 50, and began the on going process of learning and credentialing. His new goal is a Ph.D. in Sociology in the same year he qualifies for a payment from the Canada Pension Plan. Gord is a contract instructor in Family Studies at Lethbridge Community College, and a guest presenter with the Family Firm Institute at universities in Connecticut, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, Texas and Arizona. When time permits, he serves Crossroads Counseling Centre in Lethbridge, Alberta as a family mediator and educator. Gord’s work has been recognized by, “The Premier's Council in Support of Alberta Families”, and he received the prestigious International Teaching Excellence Award from the Community College Leadership Program at the University of Texas.