COURAGE CANADA BLOG

We are pleased to announce that our recent Partylicious 2010 fundraiser event at Jump Cafe on August 14th raised just over $10,000 for Courage Canada's Blind Youth and Adult Hockey Programs.

We would like to thank our sponsor First Canadian Financial Group www.fcfinancialgroup.com for their hard work and effort in organizing this event in Toronto. The benefit was a huge sucess as hundreds came out to support our wonderful cause while enjoying the wonderful selection of food from some of the cities finest restaurants as well as be entertained by Toronto Hip Hop artist Scott Jackson.

Thanks to all who came out to support! We greayly appreciate it:)

Cheers,
Mark

THIS SATURDAY IS PARTYLICIOS 2010!

Courage Canada Invites you to Partylicious 2010!
An Exclusive Food Tasting Party in Support of Charity
Join us for an evening with great people and incredible food to support an excellent cause. Guests have the pleasure of choosing from an astonishing range of delicious cuisine as they roam from station to station, enjoying the culinary creations of the city's elite chefs and restaurants.

The food, music and admission is free, however your minimum $60.00 donation will directly support www.couragecanada.ca (tax receipts issued).

Saturday August 14, 2010 - 7:30 PM
Jump Cafe and Bar
18 Wellington St., Toronto, ON M5L 1G4
Tickets available online only: www.fcfinancialgroup.com/tickets

Last year's event was sold out, so be sure to reserve your tickets early as we have a maximum capacity of 700 guests. See you there!


Cheers,
Mark

Tomorrow, June 27th 2010 is the one year anniversary for the departure of the Quest to the West. At this time last year Cam, Jason, PJ and I started our in-line skate journey across Canada from Toronto to Vancouver to raise funds and awarness for Courage Canada.

Please read tomorrow's blog for a special Reflection Blog aboutmy memories of the 1st Dayfrom my hometown Weston to Port Credit, Ontario.

Cheers,
Mark

On behalf of Courage Canada we would like to recognize our 2010 Scholarship recipient Brandon King.

Brandon is a recent graduate of the W. Ross MacDonald School where he served as the school's Student Council President and a member of the Junior National Goal Ball Program.

We are very proud of Brandon's hard work and accomplishments and wish him nothing but sucess with all of his future endeavours.

cheers,
Mark

This Wednesday June 23rd, 2010 will be the first time in history that the Courage Canada Scholarship will be awarded!

The scholarship is a $1,000 bursary awarded to a graduating secondary school visually-impaired student in Canada going on to College/university.

The recipiient of the award must have demonstrated excellence in academics, athletics, extra-cirriculars and community volunteer work while showing courage and leadership. The award is given to the school’s most well-rounded student who has contributed both hard work and decication to his or her school community.

The 2010 recipient of the Courage Canada Scholarship will be awarded to a graduating student at the W. Ross MacDonald School for the Blind in Brantford, Ontario.
Last summer 2009, I had the honour of skating through Brantford and visiting both the W. Ross MacDonald School and also celebrate Canada Day with Walter Gretzky and the team while opening up for the band Theory of a Dead Man. The city of Brantford wil be a stop on my journey I will always remember and so the awarding of the first scholarship to this particular school community plays a special significance to both my story and Courage Canada.

Stay tuned to find out who the 2010 recipient is and learn more about their story and accomplishments by reading our recipients profile which will be online at couragecanada.ca at the end of this week.

Cheers,
Mark

Hey,

Just thought I would let everyone know that I officially have launched my new motivational speaking website - www.markdemotnis.com. Special thanks to designer Dekker Slade from Eighty-Six Interactive. You did an amazing job! (www.eightysix.ca)

If your school or company is interested in having me speak at your next assembly, corporate function or conference be sure to get in contact with my manager Stephen Murdoch to set something up. I would love to be able to come share my story and motivate your group!



Again, don't forget to check out the site -www.markdemontis.com

cheers,
Mark

Hey,

Just thought I would let everyone know that the Courage Canada "Year in Review" Newsletter will be available online at www.couragecanada.ca on June 1st, 2010. This online newsletter will take a look back through the year with Courage Canada including news, past events, photos, videos and more. Aside from us emailing this newsletter, you can also find it on June 1st as one of the main links at the top of the homepage.

If you have not yet signed up on our mailing list for you to recieve the newsletter via email please do so by signing up at the bottom of our homepage.


Cheers,

Mark

Courage Canada is proud to support this upcoming weekends blind hockey demo in Montreal, Quebec at the 27th Annual Defi Sportif Internation Dsiabled Sports Tournament.

The Toronto Ice Owls and Montreal Hi Boux Hockey Teams will be playing three games throughout the weekend at St Michael Arena. Courage Canada was pleased to help fund and support the teams transportation costs to commute to Montreal under our 'Funding for Rrecreation' Program. Best of luck to the 2 teams. I will be participating in the showcase demo and will be glad to post pictures from the event once its over. Be sure to also follow me on twitter throughout the weekend and stay posted on all the latest news and events from Defi Sportif!

The following link is recent coverage on this upcoming tournament - http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/marketwire/article.jsp?content=20100427_121509_11_ccn_ccn

cheers,
Mark

Surrey North Delta Leader
Finding courage on ice

When he stepped onto the ice, the sensation under his feet was entirely unfamiliar, as if he was standing on “some kind of slippery floorboard,” said Jeremy Ferrer.

But after less than an hour, the Grade 11 student at North Surrey Secondary, who is blind, went from standing in one spot and scraping his blades on the icy surface to making his way around the arena at the Surrey Sport and Leisure Complex.

It was his very first time skating and while scary at first, Ferrer admits, with a little instruction and an aid to lean on, he quickly gained confidence.

“I felt I was gliding really good,” said the 16-year-old. “It was fun.”

Jeremy was part of a group of about a dozen visually impaired Surrey students who took to the rink Tuesday afternoon following a workshop with Mark DeMontis from Courage Canada on overcoming challenges.

While some students were figuring out how to simply stay upright and others stepped carefully around the ice, ninth grader Anthony Ciulla was whipping past everyone. He’s legally blind but has played hockey since he was four and skates circles, literally, around most of the adult helpers.

“I love it,” said a red-cheeked Anthony before taking off again.

DeMontis lost his sight at age 17 as a result of a rare optic condition and was forced to give up his dream of playing professional hockey. He founded the non-profit organization Courage Canada to develop learn-to-skate programs for blind youth across the country. Last year, he inline skated 5,000 kilometres from Toronto to Vancouver to raise awareness and donations for his organization.

“I’m so proud,” said DeMontis as he watched the Grade 7-12 students skate. “It’s an opportunity for them to do something different and find that courage to try something new.”

It was an experience vision teacher and event organizer Joanna Angelidis said was initially nerve racking.

“There was a moment there when these kids were freaked out – and so was I,” said Angelidis. “There was definitely some tension.”

Later, seeing the students on the ice, she marvelled at their confidence.

“I do this (work with the visually impaired) for a living, but wow!”

Charity Nugent, in Grade 8 at Kwantlen Park Secondary, figures she had skated once or twice before, maybe.

“It’s lots of fun. I love having this opportunity,” said the enthusiastic, bespectacled 14-year-old, who describes herself as “half-blind.”

Though it appears skating is easy for her, she insists that isn’t the case.

“It’s not,” she says. “Half of the blind skaters of better than me!”

Enver Creek Secondary student Matthew Alvernaz downhill skis and though he had a good time skating, still prefers the snow to the ice.

“It would be fun if it wasn’t so easy to fall,” he jokes.

DeMontis, who lives in Toronto, has done similar sessions with kids across Canada and says he’s continually energized by what he sees.

“I get inspired by every kid out there – by what they say and what they achieve. They inspire me more than I inspire them.”

Hey hockey fans,

I hope everyone is enjoying the NHL playoffs thus far...because I sure know I am! Recently Courage Canada had the opportunity to host a Learn to Skate Day in Surrey, British Columbia with 15 visually-impaired middle and secondary school students from the Surrey District School Board.

The event was a huge sucess. All the students had a wonderful opportunity to participate in a leisure skate with members of Courage Canada, Surrey's District Vision Teachers, Canadian Blind Sports, BC Blind Sports and players from the Vancouver Eclipse Blind Hockey Team.

There was no doubt all the students had fun:) For many of the students this was their first time ever on skates and so the feeling of being able to try something new took a lot of courage, but every student gave it a chance and tried their best. Courage Canada and I are so proud of every student for their hard work in both the off-ice workshop and on-ice skate!

Special Thanks to Surrey Vision Teacher Joanna Angelidis for all her hard work in helping put on the workshop and skating event with us:) Also, thank you to the Ghillchrist Lions Club for Sponsoring the event, we appreciate your support.

The event had such an impact on the community it was event covered by a local BC newspaper. Check out the article by clicking the link below!

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bclocalnews.com%2Fsurrey_area%2Fsurreyleader%2Fcommunity%2F90961939.html&h=800c4

Courage Canada is already looking forward to next year;s skating events in Surrey and surrounding areas. Remember, if you know someonee in your local school districtss Vision Program who would be interested in having Courage Canada host a workshop and skating event with visuallyimpaired students of all ages - make sure to get in contact with us at info@couragecanada.ca

Stay tuned for an upcoming event Courage Canada is sponsoring in Montreal, Quebec at the end of this month. Check in on my blog this week for details!

Cheers,

Mark