CNIB dedicates “Dumas Rock” at Lake Joseph Centre.
Members of the DUMAS ROCKS! team, along with their support team, gather around the Dumas Rock at Lake Joe. Top row, from left: Shannon MacIver, Katrina Maheu, Patrick Despres, Nicholas Schwehr, Pino Spigarelli. Bottom row, from left: Paul Remillard, Terry Rickard, Natasha Lefebvre, Dennis Schwehr, Heather Demers.
Submitted photo
A “Dumas Rock” at CNIB’s Lake Joseph Centre has been dedicated to the DUMAS ROCKS! team, who competed on the second season of Global TV’s Canada Sings.
The group of employees from Dumas Contracting Ltd. sang and danced their way into the judges’ hearts, taking home the $25,000 grand prize for “Lake Joe,” a fully accessible lakefront facility located near MacTier, that provides a unique blend of recreation and vision rehabilitation in a safe, inclusive environment.
Dumas executives were so impressed by the team’s enthusiasm and commitment that the company also gifted an additional $10,000 to the cause, resulting in a total of $35,000 in support of CNIB! Dumas clients and suppliers, such as Xstrata and Miller Technology, were also quick to join in, sponsoring local events in support of CNIB and making additional donations. With less than 35 per cent of CNIB funding coming from government sources, the organization relies heavily on public donations like these to ensure they can be there for all those who need their services.
In recognition of the team’s support, CNIB has immortalized the group with the dedication of the “Dumas Rock” at Lake Joe. The unveiling of the rock coincided with the annual iFactor summer concert, which celebrates the talents and triumphs of musicians with vision loss.
“We are very grateful to Dumas for helping to spread awareness about the importance of vision health, as well as the vital work CNIB does to ensure Canadians who are blind or partially sighted have the confidence, skills and opportunities to fully participate in life,” said John Rafferty, President and CEO, CNIB. “We hope the Dumas team will be an inspiration to other Canadians, as they have been to us.”
Members of the DUMAS ROCKS! team were inspired by their captain, Terry Rickard, who suffered complete vision loss at age 21. Miraculously, 18 years later, Terry regained his vision. CNIB played an important role in Terry’s life during the years he was blind, providing rehabilitation support to help him overcome the challenges of vision loss and maintain his independence. CNIB continues to be a meaningful cause for Terry and his family, friends, colleagues and DUMAS ROCKS! team-mates.