Bionic Eye

22
| OAC News |
By Mary Field
SPECIAL FEATURES
The weekend will start with the
official opening of the exhibit hall on
Friday night. A feature of the evening
Trade Show will be the OAC cocktail
reception. This relaxed setting will allow
you plenty of time to get some of your
product ordering done as well as meet
and greet your colleagues from across
the country. And since Vision Canada
gatherings always have a high component
of fun, you’ll want to take the challenge
of “Are You as Smart as a First Year
Eyeglass Student?” Yes, we swiped the
idea from the television program that
features embarrassed adults who have to
rely on fifth graders to win money. With
the Vision Canada version you will pit
yourself against areas of knowledge that
are expected of someone enrolled in the
first year of the NAIT/OAC Eyeglass I
course. Visit the Trade Show booths to
pick up your challenge question. If you
get a passing grade you’ll win an extra
entry form for the “Win a Trip to the 2010
Olympics in Whistler” contest.
MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKERS
Vision Canada program will keep
you pretty busy throughout the day. On
Sunday we are pleased to have keynote
speakers Viviane Forest from Edmonton
and Arnaud Rajchenbach from Montreal.
They are an exceptional team; Viviane is
a world-class athlete who took first place
in the Super G and Giant Slalom at the
2007 NorAm games and first place in the
Slalom at the 2008 NorAm games.
Arnaud, who works for Essilor in
Montreal, is her guide. Why does she
need a guide? Viviane is blind but you
will find she is certainly not handicapped.
In his capacity as a guide, Arnaud directs
Viviane through the course via voice
signals or radio communication. This
inspiring story will surely give you new
insight (pun intended) into the strength
of character and motivation it takes to
take on challenges that would daunt
even those with 20/20 vision.
Vision Canada Sets its Sights on Halifax
| The Vision Canada team is getting excited about this year’s event in Halifax. November 7 – 9, 2008 marks the big weekend
taking place at the beautiful Marriott Halifax Harbourfront. What more can you ask for? The sounds, the sights and the tastes
of one of Canada’s most historic cities and two days of engaging continuing education are served up on a Maritime platter.
LUNCH AND LEARN
Also on Sunday you’ll be able to
“Lunch and Learn”. This is a new feature
at Vision Canada where you’ll be given a
bag lunch and be invited to participate
in a Leadership Workshop. It’s informative,
it’s interactive, it’s worth credits and don’t
worry, the bag lunch won’t be your
ordinary baloney sandwich. This will give
you a chance to get to know yourself and
your colleagues a little better through
discussing and taking on challenges
focused on leadership.
BUT I STILL CAN’T SEE!
To start off the day on Saturday
you’ll be treated to “But I Still Can’t See!:
Troubleshooting the Visually Uncomfortable
Client”. How many of those people have
you dealt with in your career? How often
have you walked away from someone
shaking your head because you’ve tried
everything you can think of and yet
you still have a cranky, complaining
customer? Well, Ed DeGennaro has some
answers for you. Ed was formerly a
professor and program head of the
Opticianry Program, and the Dean of the
School of Health Sciences at J. Sargeant
Reynolds Community College in Richmond
and has lectured on many themes related
to the optical sciences, most recently at
Vision Expo East. Ed’s presentation is
sponsored by OAC Corporate Fellow
Member Transitions Optical.
WELL-ROUNDED LECTURE SERIES
A further sampling of the lecture
series will give you: The Germinator –
Infection Control in the Modern Dispensary;
Low Vision Challenges – High Level
Solutions; Take This Frame and Sell It! –
Communicating Value Differences in
Frames; Introduction to Refraction – The
Importance of Client Assessment; Contact
Lens Grand Rounds and Case Reports;
Correcting High Powered Prescriptions
with Progressive Lenses and the Professional
Challenges of Dispensing in the
21st Century. Whew!
Naturally all the lectures will be fully
accredited. Although credit information is
VISION | jul_aug | 2008 | The Opticians Association of Canada |
not available at the time of this editorial
deadline, by the time you receive your
copy of Vision Magazine you should be
able to go to the Vision Canada website
and view the credits awarded by your
provincial regulatory body.
VIRTUAL VISION CANADA
This year Virtual Vision Canada will
not be available in real time but, never
fear, the lectures will be recorded and
Virtual Vision Canada will be up and
running for three months after the event
is over. That means you can register for
Virtual Vision Canada and take in the
lectures at your leisure. A great value for
a great packaged price and if you’re a
boss looking to give your employees a
really nice Christmas present, why not
give them a registration to Virtual Vision
Canada?
WIN A TRIP TO THE 2010 OLYMPICS
In 2007 Vision Canada and Lanctôt
started a three-event opportunity for
registrants to win a trip to the 2010
Olympics in Whistler, B.C. At each of
Vision Canada’s events in 2007, 2008,
and 2009 one registrant will be drawn
from amongst those who submit entries.
The winner at each Vision Canada event
will receive a ski package including either
cross-country or downhill skis, plus each
winner at the three events will then be
entered into the final draw for the free
trip to Whistler. As well as receiving an
entry form with your registration package
you will have other opportunities
throughout the Trade Show to pick up
extra entry forms. Your chances are good!
The Opticians Association of Canada
will be holding its Annual General
Meeting at Vision Canada 2008. This will
be the first time that the AGM has been
held in the Maritimes. OAC members will
receive separate notice of this meeting
but mark your calendars now for
Thursday, November 6th at 7:00.
Visit the Vision Canada website at
www.vision-canada.ca and look for the
registration form included in the pages of
this issue. ISI