Art & Community   •   Contribution & Community  •  Ethics & Community  
Social Services & Community   •  Time & Community

Themes: Contribution & Community - Story List

Happiness

This poem was written by Trevor, a young man with cerebral palsy who can't speak and doesn't walk well, who began at 12 years old to visit the local baker. Trevor watched and the baker let him use the rounding machine. Trevor began showing up at 5 a.m. every Saturday. In the summer, Trevor came in every morning and eventually brought his parents in to show them what he could do. Trevor's teacher wrote out his poem for him so he could give it to the baker. "You know, at the time I never thought anything about having Trevor in the store. But when I read the poem, I realized that he is the highlight of all the years I have been here. He is the most important thing that has ever happened to me."

Return of the 'Imperfect' Son

by Paula Brook
Angus MacKinnon, who is blind and suffers a number of debilitating (for most people) neurological conditions, has triumphed over all that to define his place in the world.

David Means Beloved

by Sandra Shields.  Photos by David Campion
One side of David's brain never developed. It just isn't there. But explaining her brothers in terms of what he can't do misses too much, writes SANDRA SHIELDS. You can forget what is there: motion, sound and life.

A Higher Calling

By Doug Ward.  Photos by Ian Smith
Ben is a fearless scuba diver, marathon swimmer and photographer. Most days Ben can be found climbing a towering 50 metre Douglas Fir to feed the eagles on Hornby Island.  Doug Ward captures Ben Kramer's fierce and wondrous energy.

Beyond Reason

By Al Etmanski
Al Etmanski writes about his daughter Liz "…She understands her limitations and adjusts with patience and eagerness. She negotiates the complexities and inequities of her world with more ingenuity, courage, and equanimity than she should have to. She offers, for all those willing to listen, a course in perfecting a life…"

Back to Contribution & Community

Back to Themes