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3869 Des Sources blvd, Suite 204,

Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Qc H9B 2A2

Tél: 514-676-1588 email: grpspbo@videotron.ca

Many thanks to all those who helped produce this newsletter. A special thanks to Christina who

edits this paper, to Vaughn who gives it that professional look and to Michele for the supreme

translation of the editorial from English to French.

There is a race going on and it is one that we with MS should pay great attention to.

The medical establishment is working diligently to find a cure for MS and also to combat the many

disabilities that this disease can cause. They have already introduced numerous drugs that can

reduce the effects of these disabilities and in some cases allow people to live a normal life even

though they have a diagnosis of MS.

There is another field that is racing headlong towards finding innovation that can further reduce the

debilitating properties of many diseases. I refer of course to technology.

Recently on Daily Planet. "Air's each weekday on Discovery Channel at 7 PM". Hosted by Ziya

Tong and Dan Ripken. We were introduced to a Robot that could leap boxes that were at least 4

feet high. It also managed to jump on top of a box and maintain its balance. It then did a 180

turn

and jumped backwards of the box maintaining its balance.

Already there are devices that can be used to operate a computer or other electronic devices using

infrared technology. With the band placed on your head you can direct a laser beam to a computer

and pick up the program you want. Just hesitate over the appropriate icon and the desired program

will open.

Take a look at what Shriners Hospital can do for children who have lost limbs. One specialist from

Montréal Shriners Hospital recently stated that an artificial arm that was being fitted to a child was

able to carry out every task that a regular arm could perform.

Who knows what the future will bring. There was once a show on television called the $6 million

man. A plane crash had left him completely incapacitated but science and fibre optics left him with

powers that were way superior to humans. Far-fetched, not really given modern technology.

In the next few years Montréal expects to have a fleet of driverless taxis. It is also believed that we

will soon see the advent of driverless Semis. Can you imagine a truck that could drive the length of

North America delivering goods and not needing to stop except perhaps for fuel and even then it will

probably require to be plugged into an electrical outlet as opposed to a gas pump. No more driver

fatigue, and at least at the moment they won't go on strike for more money.

The West Island Multiple Sclerosis Self Help -Group December 2017

Greetings from the Christmas newsletter for 2017

Lunch at Madeleine’s

On November 6th, 43 of our members

and volunteers had the pleasure of

enjoying a delicious 3-course lunch at

Madeleine's residence at Les Verrières

du Golf. We began with either a grilled

pepper cream soup or an artichoke

salad. Many of us had a hard time

choosing between the two delicious

main courses - veal chops with fig

caramel and balsamic or a delicious

seafood feuilleté. Even though most of

us were full, we had to keep some

room for the delicious strawberry

cake! Thank you very much Madeleine

for a wonderful afternoon filled with

joy and laughter.

The A & W day

to end MS took

place on

Thursday,

August 24th, and

was a great

success. In

total, $200, 000

was raised in

Quebec and $

1, 85 million was

raised from

coast to coast.

We even got the

opportunity to

meet Christine

Sinclair! Thank

you to everyone

who bought a

Teen Burger on

this special day.

KIRKLAND LADIES SLO-PITCH LEAGUE

Many thanks to our third-party fundraisers

Kirkland Ladies Slo-Pitch and

Jack Astor’s in DDO

for their thoughtful support.

All this technology can easily be used to further enhance the lives of the disabled. Some will say at what

price but many will embrace it and will live a fuller life because of it. "Author's point of view".

Once again happy holidays to all our readers and we will meet again soon.

Tom

This year, the Espoir Famille Conference took place from October 20 to 22 in Victoriaville. There were several

choices of workshops covering several themes: management of sleep disorders, stages of grief and

happiness, taxation and MS, different avenues of pain treatment, etc. Saturday night was the Fiesta musica

evening! We enjoyed listening to the orchestra and the students singing. On Sunday, Dr. Danick Plante, a

neurologist from Trois-Rivières, shared with us information on emerging treatments and ongoing research. The

audience enjoyed interacting with him because he was very positive about the progress they are making on

the disease. This conference is open to all, and we hope to see you there next year.

Espoir Famille Conference

So, we are going back to St-Alphonse de Rodriguez for camp this

year. It will be my third year going. I enjoy myself every year. There is

always something to do - going for a walk, swimming, (I did not swim

as it was not hot enough for me.) Anybody up for going for a boat ride

on the Athabasca? I enjoyed watching my friends paddling and singing

on the lake. So please consider coming to camp next summer. You

will not be sorry. It was a very enjoyable five days. We were all sad

when it came time to leave. Until we meet up again next summer.

CAMP ÉTINCELLE

Maureen

On October 30th, we celebrated Halloween

at Karnak. It was nice to see that most of

the members were dressed up for the

occasion. Among us, witches, clowns,

demons and even Geneviève Dumont's

dog was wearing a costume! While we

were eating lunch, we had the pleasure of

listening to Mario Ardea sing and play

guitar. He sang a range of different songs

that pleased everyone in the room. Once

people started dancing and singing, the

mood became electrifying! Some members

did not want to leave the dance floor! We

all had a great time celebrating Halloween

together.

A very special thank you goes out to Lynn Kozinski’s

family for helping with Oktoberfest. A total of $ 1000 was

raised for our group on October 13th, 2017. We would

also like to thank Robin Little for organizing such a

special event.

OKTOBERFEST

HALLOWEEN

AQUAFITNESS The aquafit sessions tailored to our needs, will

resume on January 11th, 2018 at the DDO

Aquatic Centre, 12001 de Salaberry. When:

Thursdays from 10:30- 11:15 a.m.

Come and register! We are waiting for you!

Annual General Meeting The 36th Annual General Meeting for the West

Island MS self-help group will be held on

Monday, March 19th, 2018 at the Karnak Centre,

3350 Sources Blvd, Dollard-des-Ormeaux at

11:30 a.m. Everyone is welcome.

CAREGIVERS MEETING Caregivers meet amongst themselves every 8 to

10 weeks. Please register! Nicole or Christina at

514-676-1588 or at grpspbo@videotron.ca

Christmas Holidays

The office will be closed from December 22nd

until January 8th, 2018.

Did you know that it is possible to

rent an adapted van?

You can find all the information at

the following link: https://www.discountquebec.com/locati

on-camion/vehicules-adaptes

On October 9th, 23 of us set off to Jude

Pomme for a day of apple picking. We

were warmly greeted by Jude himself as

he made us all feel very welcome. Our

day began with apple and pear tasting.

All the varieties were so delicious! We all

enjoyed a nice lunch on the picnic tables

followed by a tractor ride around the

grounds. We really lucked in to have had

such a beautiful warm day in October. Agostino

Apple picking

Multiple Sclerosis West Island

You can

find us

at:

The annual barbecue event was held on

July 9th, at the Surrey Center in Dorval. We

were 74 in total. I think it was the first year

since I started where it was not raining! The

weather was on our side! We all enjoyed

feasting on a juicy piece of steak along with

a Greek salad, baked potatoes and some

tasty wine. On this beautiful afternoon, we

even highlighted our volunteer of the year

Mario Barjon!

Many thanks to Pharmaprix, place de la triade

and Pharmaprix Des Sources for their generous

support to our cause.

THANK YOU

A big thank you goes out to Jerry Fiddler for

donating a car through donatecar.ca. All the

profits from the sale of the car go towards the

services we offer our group. Thanks a lot Jerry!

We truly appreciate it!

Canada leads the world with the highest rate of multiple sclerosis (MS). Canadian

researchers are world leaders in MS research. Now, we want Canada's government

to lead the world in improving #LifewithMS.

You can help make this happen.

Send a message to your Member of Parliament!

Ask your MP to support these critical steps:

Make Work...Work by making employment supports and programs more flexible and

inclusive - to allow people with MS and other episodic disabilities to remain in the

workforce.

Make Ends Meet by improving income and disability supports for people with MS

who are unable to work or can only work on an intermittent basis.

Make Access a Reality by implementing federal accessibility legislation, increasing

access to treatments, and investing in comprehensive home care.

Send your message now!

MS impacts families in all Canadian communities. Take a moment to tell your

Member of Parliament that improving #LifewithMS is important in your community!

THANK YOU

On September 11th, we had our annual corn roast

at Karnak. Several members joined us to help peel

the corn. We could not have asked for a better

day! The weather was nice and warm and

everyone was in a good mood! What good times

we all had together!

CORN ROAST

OUR OFFICE IS MOVING

As of April 1st, 2018, we will be

located at :

#105 1255 Trans Canada Highway

BBQ

I invite you to look at this link:

Harry Potter and MS http://www.purebreak.com/news/harry-potter-

j-k-rowling-revele-la-tragedie-personnelle-qui-

a-inspire-un-personnage/139234

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP WITH THE HORIZON

Tom Ramsey, Vaughn Bolduc,

Christina Karavolas, Nicole Duchastel ,

Michèle Paré, Maureen Wills & Agostino Di Ciaccio

December 3 Christmas Party ( 4:30-8 pm)

December 4 No Monday meeting

December 7 Aquafit

December 11 Monday Meeting

December 14 Aquafit

December 18 Monday meeting

December 21 Aquafit ( last one)

December 25 Merry Christmas Year ( No Monday meeting

January 1 Happy New Year ( No Monday meeting)

January 8 Monday Meeting

January 11 Aquafit (starts)

January 15 Potluck ( Karnak)

January 18 Aquafit

January 22 Monday Meeting

January 25 Aquafit

January 29 Monday Meeting

February 1 Aquafit

February 5 Monday Meeting

February 8 Aquafit

February 11 Wine & Cheese ( Karnak 2-5 pm)

February 12 No Monday Meeting

February 15 Aquafit

February 19 Monday Meeting

February 22 Aquafit

February 26 Monday Meeting

March 1 Aquafit

March 5 Monday Meeting

March 8 Aquafit

March 12 Monday Meeting

March 15 Aquafit

March 19 Annual General Meeting

The Tourist and Leisure Companion Sticker

(TLCS) gives free access to the companions of

people aged 12 and older with a permanent

disability. A permanent disability includes, but is

not limited to, physical, intellectual, developmental

and sensory disabilities, as well as mental illness.

"Any person with a disability who is significantly

and persistently incapacitated and who is prone to

encounter obstacles in the performance of

everyday activities".

Select the themes displayed in the menu "The

Sticker" to familiarize yourself with the workings of

the Tourist and Leisure

Companion Sticker (TLCS) Program.

Here is the link: http://www.vatl.org/

Get the companion sticker

We would like to welcome new members

and volunteers that have joined our group in

2017. Welcome Marie, Odette L, Martha,

Romy, Sev and Hana.

NEW MEMBERS

There is a multitude of medical treatments and

wellness approaches that can be difficult to

navigate. Fortunately, you have resources. The

MS Society of Canada offers a range of

programs and services to help people living with

MS cope with and manage this disease. Contact

an MS Info Officer by calling 1-844-859-6789 or

by emailing agentinfosp@mssociety.ca.

For more information on the MS Society of

Canada's Wellness Toolbox, visit mssociety.ca.

MS-Info agents can help you