New service dog training company to help ‘tremendous backlog in Alberta’
Plus $20,000 raised in 30 seconds at black-tie fundraiser will aid Kids Kottage
Maureen MacKay, after fostering two service dogs with partner and Edmonton Eskimos president and CEO Len Rhodes, has launched a service dog training company.
“There is a tremendous backlog in Alberta of people looking for properly trained guide dogs,” said MacKay, who also runs an advertising company.
“For instance, autistic children can wait up to four years for a dog. The Alberta government is working to make life better for Albertans with disabilities by increasing the number of service dog schools.”
The idea behind her Aspen Service Dogs Inc. had its beginnings four years ago when MacKay excused herself from a community dinner at Northland’s Expo Centre and didn’t return for 20 minutes.
“Maureen had met a service dog trainer named Maria Illes and excitedly took me out to meet her and the two black Labrador dogs with her,” said Rhodes.
After an engaging conversation, MacKay and Rhodes ended up fostering one dog, Oakley. For one year, when the dog was not at day training, they took her to socialize wherever they went.
“When Oakley graduated and was placed with someone with disabilities, I remember literally crying in my car on the way home from work,” said Rhodes.
The couple later fostered a second service dog, a golden Labrador named Fletcher, a courtroom therapy dog now working for the Zebra Centre.
“He’s Mr. Cool and his expertise is in making children more comfortable when they must relay tough experiences,” said Rhodes. “He’s like a furry blanket.”
MacKay’s partner in Aspen is Illes, a certified guide and service mobility instructor from Slovakia with 20 years of experience.
Aspen has just taken delivery of two dogs from Slovakia, Atrej, a yellow male Labrador, and Zafi, a female Labrador.
“Marie will complete their government certification training,” said MacKay. “This will allow them to do such things as travel on a plane and enter restaurants.
“Trained dogs can perform tasks such as pushing the handicapped button to open a door, help take off clothes, such as gloves, open a fridge door and pick a credit card from the floor undamaged.”
ABUSED KIDS HELPED
Flaman’s Rocky Amson raised $20,000 in 30 seconds Friday night to help Kids Kottage raise about $100,000 at a black-tie fundraiser at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald.
When auctioneer Rob Christie announced the fitness equipment company’s director had promised to match gifts of $1,000 up to $10,000, hands shot up.
“We are very grateful for the support,” said the Kottage’s executive director Janine Fraser. “We need $600,000 annually to keep our doors open.”
The Kottage every year helps some 600 families in which there is a threat of abuse and a risk of the family falling apart.
“We have Edmonton’s only 24-hour crisis nursery and a 24-hour crisis hotline,” said Fraser. “We help children understand how to cope with their lives and become successful and productive.
“We also teach parents how to cook and shop for food on a limited budget and we follow up later with visits to home or office.”
The most popular item at the live auction was a luxury sevennight trip to Tuscany and Venice. It included a hot-air balloon ride, dinner in a 1696 villa, a Venetian gondola trip and a climb to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It sold for $11,000.
COLOURFUL HIGH JUMPS
Edmonton’s Ukrainian Shumka Dancers last week staged the world premier gala of Mosquito’s Wedding, an old Ukrainian folk tale.
They now plan to take the show to Ukraine and across Canada as part of Shumka’s upcoming 60th anniversary celebrations.
“Anna Ipatieva, one of the hottest costume designers in Ukraine right now, created the 75 costumes in the show, with no two exactly alike,” said the company’s Darka Tarnawsky.
The two lead dancers, Arlyssa McArthur and Michael Sulyma Jr., who played a couple who marry, led the cast at a performance for alumni, family, friends and sponsors.
They then led the cast from the stage to dance in the lobby for what must have been one of Edmonton’s most colourful wedding celebrations.
Trained dogs can perform tasks such as pushing the handicapped button to open a door …
Alyson Connolly was in a hospital emergency room with chest pains and hooked to a monitor when she scrolled her emails to find one that read: “Allow me to introduce myself.”
“When you read an email that begins like that you often just hit the purge button,” said the voice and public speaking coach.
But she didn’t and discovered it was a woman from the Wiley publishing corporation who wanted to know if she’d thought of writing a book entitled “Public Speaking Skills for Dummies.”
After 10 hours of hospital tests, it was concluded Connolly had an esophageal spasm brought on by a sandwich sticking in her throat. She returned home and, busy with clients, began writing for two hours every morning starting at 5:30 a.m.
Last week, with husband and CBC radio morning host Mark Connolly by her side, she launched her book surrounded by friends. The 163-page book is full of great tips. But there is no mention of chewing your food well before speaking.