Family Day Fun!

Hello Penelope and Mikaela!

How are you today?

We sure had fun on Family Day, didn't we?

Thank you so much for coming to Edmonton! (Mom and Dad too!)


First when visiting Grandpa Paul...

He sure liked it when you guys played piano for him!

Later we went to Auntie Shawna's...

That is sure  a sweet picture of Auntie Shawna, Mikaela!

And I was sure glad when I saw Penelope and you do this...

You let your sister wear your hat Penelope.

I know sharing can seem hard to do sometimes.

Sometimes I didn't share all my toys with your mom when we were little and she would ask.

I am glad that she loves me anyway! I sure love her!

But I'm sure glad you shared your hat Penelope, even if it was just for a few minutes.

Because sharing is important

Grandpa Paul sure taught your mom and me that when we were little!

If you both keep sharing your things with each other, then you will always be there for each other.

And sharing will help you get along with many people as you grow up.

I love you so much Penelope!

I love you so much Mikaela!

Uncle Mike

Penelope, Mikaela and Grandpa Paul

Hello Penelope and Mikaela!

How are you guys today?

The weather in Calgary and Edmonton sure is warmer, isn't it?

I went to see Grandpa Paul a few days ago!

And do you know what he told me?

He said that when you two went to see him with your mom and dad, it really cheered him up!

And you know what else?

When you guys come to see me, it cheers me up too!

So thank you very much!

I love you Penelope and Mikaela!

I love you  Grandpa Paul!

Uncle Mike

Early Calgary Winter Fun With Penelope And Mikaela!

Merry Christmas girls!

Of course that is a very bad Uncle Mike joke.

Because it is only the end of September.

But at least you look like you're having fun in your yard in Calgary!

Your mom just sent me a message that yes you had to go to school! :)

School is sure fun when you can count how old you are on your fingers, isn't it?

And because I know that you are both very bright girls, I have a feeling that you both are going to do very good as you go through school.

And I bet that you will have lots of fun too!

Your mom and I sure did!

But I will say goodnight for now, my favorite nieces.

Because there was one thing that I remember about going to school, when your mom and I could count how old we were on our fingers.

Grandma Annie and Pepere Paul made sure we were in bed by about 7:30.

And it's a little past 8:00 now...oops!

Love you Penelope!

Love you Mikaela!

Auntie Shawna and I send you hugs!


Uncle Mike

DATS Hope

Heard some interesting things about DATS lately.

There are a number of new drivers being trained to be ready for fall.

And there is a focus on not only driving excellence...

...but also on outstanding people skills as well.

That is all.

Your Partner In Life

Alberta Bound!

Hi Penelope and Mikaela!

Happy summer!

You look like you were ready for another big adventure as you stood outside your Toronto house a few  hours before you started your big trip.

And you are!

You're coming home to Alberta!

Calgary, to be exact.

Now Calgary is about 3 hours from Edmonton.

That's still pretty far.

But it's still a heck of a lot closer than Ontario!

We are so excited to have you back in Alberta!

And we know you are excited to be coming back too!

But we know that you will miss Toronto, and all the friends and fun you had there.

Like your Karate, Penelope.

And your ballet, Mikaela.

And that's OK.

Because Canada is a very big country.

And it's a very connected country too.

So all your friends will be able to connect with you!

No matter where they are!

With Facebook and FaceTime!

And I know that Auntie Shawna and I are very excited to see you in a couple of weeks!

We want to hear all about the adventures on your trip!

Like the neat pool in Regina your mom told me about

The weather in Alberta is a little cool right now to be honest.

But you girls are definitely our rays of sunshine!

We love you Penelope and Mikaela!

See you soon!



Uncle Mike

DATS Food For Thought

OK fellow DATS users;

I have been doing some deep thinking.

And soul searching.

Wondering how we, as the disabled community, can effect change in the DATS system...

...which is so negatively affecting our work, leisure, and appointment-heavy lives.

Now, I know that the idea of change, or of protesting something, can be scary.

When most of us think of protest, we think of things like antiwar protests...

...like these in Vietnam.

Cops, guns, and arrests.

They are scary images for sure.

I know that for a few mostly sleepless nights...

I was wondering if this type of action was what it would take...

...to overhaul our DATS system.

Then a few nights ago I found the above clips...

...concerning a group of 100 Americans who fought for changes...

...to their Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

This act guaranteed freedom from discrimination for the disabled in the US.

As well as access to education and transportation.

For whatever reason, the government was slow to ratify or enforce these changes.

Four years later, the American disabled population had had enough of stalling and inaction.

So in April of 1977, 100 disabled people gathered in a San Francisco federal building.

They protested calmly but forcefully for 26 days.

Risking physical, mental, and medical hardship

Until the changes were signed into law.

And they succeeded!

It got me thinking.

Could we, as the disabled community in Edmonton, achieve similar success?

Even for a day or two, in a public location?

Calmly but forcefully hammering home the point...

...that public transportation is a right for disabled and able-bodied Edmontonians alike?

This should be a basic, common sense precept enshrined into law!

But as always, in order to make a difference we need numbers!

Both in terms of statistics and in numbers!

City Hall likely won't listen to us otherwise!

Again we should have no quarrel with DATS drivers or booking agents.

They are working their asses off to serve us.

Even with a very broken system.

But otherwise, as far as time and resource management...

DATS needs change!

So can we unite, fellow DATS users?

Under a common theme and purpose?

I think we can!

But it's up to you, me, and everyone!



Your Partner in DATS Life

DATS Survey Says!

OK fellow DATS users. I know a lot of us have spent a large part of our lives being told what to do. Or what to think. I would never do that with this survey, because I hate it when people do that to me. But this could bring about change with stats. https://t.co/lZbQfwrvaH I want to thank each and every one of the 47 people who took the time to read my DATS Gotta Change! post. And to the 11 people who have taken the survey so far, I appreciate you as well! Advances in technology such as the Internet, instant messaging etc. have made it much, much easier to connect over issues that affect us all. And with the breakneck pace that daily life now operates at, it can be easy to get lost in the shuffle. I noticed at the council meeting I attended in the fall that many people lobby for the City Council's attention, time, and purse strings. Requests for rec centre funding or construction and concessions for the hotel industry and small businesses were all a part of the session I attended. And the one thing that everyone had to bolster their presentations? Stats and numbers. Now you may think that answering questions about how many years you have been taking DATS, or what age range you fall into, or even the time you spend on hold, may not matter much. But the truth is, it really does matter. A whole lot. Because the numbers make it easier to convince the city, Mayor Don Iveson, or someone in his office, that we have a legitimate issue. Thousands of able-bodied people get around on ETS every day, with nary a glitch. Why not the disabled on DATS, which is a specialized para-transit service? DATS did get funding in December. Where did it go? These are questions that deserve to be answered. But we need numbers and stats. So that our concerns and issues can be heard. Your Partner In Life