WIAIH evening of entertainment coming up

BY ELYSE AMEND

elyse.amend@transcontinental.ca

The West Island Association for the Intellectually Handicapped (WIAIH) is getting ready to live in the past – at least for one night.

As part of their 50th anniversary celebrations, WIAIH will hold a fashion and variety show entitled Through the Years next Wednesday at the Dollard des Ormeaux Civic Centre that will celebrate the accomplishments the organization has achieved since being founded in 1958.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to put our participants forward. They never get to do anything like this and they’re all thrilled,” said WIAIH executive director Natalie Chapman. “They do such a good job. It shows how capable they really are.”

This year’s evening of entertainment and fashion has been organized in partnership with West Island College in Dollard des Ormeaux. Since January, students part of the school’s outreach program, like stage producer Vanessa Elkaim, have been working with WIAIH members teaching them the choreography for the night.

“At first we didn’t know what to expect,” the 15-year-old Grade 10 student said about working with intellectually handicapped people. “But at the end of the day, you feel so good about yourself, because you’re making a difference. It’s amazing. I love it. There’s absolutely nothing bad to say about it.”

Chapman believes the partnership benefits both the WIAIH members and the students.

“It’s brought this dimension into the school that they don’t normally have,” she said.

Former Lac St. Louis MP and spokesperson for WIAIH’s 50th anniversary, Clifford Lincoln, said he is looking forward to a fun evening that also aims to raise awareness about the intellectually handicapped in the community.

“What we’re looking for, really, is to sensitize the community to the importance of WIAIH,” he said. Lincoln’s 41-year-old son has Down syndrome and he said he and his family would not have received the support they needed without the help of the association.

“WIAIH is an exceptionally valuable resource we must keep into the future,” Lincoln said. “It will be a fun night that will hopefully get that message across.”

WIAIH’s evening of entertainment and fashion will take place at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the Dollard Civic Centre, 12001 de Salaberry Blvd. Tickets are $20 for general admission, $15 for students, and $50 for the anniversary special, which includes reserved seating, a glass of wine, and a $30 tax receipt. Tickets are available at WIAIH, 111 Donegani Blvd. in Pointe Claire. For more information, call 514-694-7090.