Celebrating the life of a son, brother and friend
John Carkner had a life like no other and lived it to the fullest every day that he was here with us. From the time that John was born he beat the odds to bring to his friends and family a lifetime of memories and countless smiles. He had a gift for winning over the heart of everyone he met, and for that we will always remember him. John had a charisma about him that made you remember him - whether you knew him for 5 minutes or for a lifetime.
When John walked into a room, his presence was always known. If his matching clothes didn’t do it then you can be sure that his infectious laugh or flirting would make it known that he was there.
Now let’s spend a day in the shoes of a new staff at Hillside…You would open up the door to start your shift and you would hear two words, "Nobody’s home," followed with a giggle.
As a new staff member walking into the KINGS Castle you knew right from the start that John would keep you on your toes. John would greet you with a bum grab and you would then let him know that this was not appropriate. John would then look at you with those eyes and very innocently say, "I sorry." He would then hope that you didn’t know yet that he was diabetic so that he could get a treat out of you - especially if there were a bag of chips lying around! Once you had been there for all of 5 minutes he would again look at you very innocently and seriously and ask you that very important question - "Will you marry me?"
As everyone knows, John was a routine person and very particular on how things were to be done. He would watch the same shows on television and every night at exactly 7 p.m. he would ask the staff to please turn the TV to his favorite show, "Horse Berry." So being the kings staff you would go to the TV guide to see what channel his show was on. After going through it several times and, of course, not finding "Horse Berry" you would have to tell John that you couldn’t find it - knowing that he would give you that look that he had and simply say, " Awwww, come on!"
You would find out when the next staff came in that in fact, yes, his show was on and that you just needed to listen a little more closely to know that it was "Little House on the Prairie." Between 7 and 10 when his wrestling came on, you had time to get John his bath - which consisted of filling up the tub and letting him soak until he was wrinkled from the water. You would listen for that beller... "SHAMPOO!!!!!." So now you have his bath taken care of (or so you think) and then he nicely asks for the shower to be turned on.
After his bath and shower he would wait until you were doing something else and then he would quietly bring you his toothbrush and toothpaste and hand them to you so that you could apply his toothpaste and off he would go back to the bathroom to do his teeth. Then you would hear the next call... "GARGLE!" John was now ready to sit down and relax and watch his wrestling until the arrival of the midnight staff, who had their own unique challenges. You went into your shift knowing that at anytime after 1a.m. you could be awoken by John at the side of the bed, trying to get in and saying, "Scoot over." You would then have to use the washroom yourself and all you would hear from the living room would be, "Don’t fall in!"
Wherever John went he was Mr. Popularity and he was well known by everyone in the community. Whether it be at the flower shop, restaurant, hospital or shopping mall, someone from the community was always coming up to ask how he was. John would reply, " Oh, I okay!"
Although John was very close to his staff and they to him, he especially loved his family and looked forward to the first and third weekends of the month. He would get up on Saturday morning and pack his 5 or 6 bags like he was moving out for the night and then call to Bob and Lisa’s or to Cathy and Harvey’s to make sure that they knew that he was ready and that they were coming to pick him up. His favourite time to go home, of course, was for his favorite holiday, "MICKMAS."
Although his brother Bob had some strange ideas, John used Bob’s authority to overturn a lot of decisions. John would firmly let staff know what Bob wanted for John... "My brother Bob said no salad, vegetable are bad…my brother Bob said so." He also used Bob to get what he wanted... "My brother Bob said I get a new bed and new TV." According to John, Bob would let John do whatever he would like including eating chocolate cake and buying a new riding lawnmower.
So at the end of this tribute that I could go on with forever because I know that I cannot wrap up this man’s life in one speech… nor could I do it in a million.
Was John spoiled? Maybe just a little.
Was John popular, charismatic, charming and full of life? You bet.
Was John envied by all for hitting FREEDOM 43? Oh, yeah.
More importantly, though, more people loved John than he would ever know. At the end of the day, he had an impact on the lives of all those around him, always bringing a smile to their faces.
I am thankful for the time that we had to spend with John and for all of the memories that he has left with each of us. We can take these with us through our lives. We should all be blessed in knowing that we were chosen to be a part of John’s amazing life…I for one am thankful that I got to hug him one last time and tell him that he had made the world a better place for me.
So in closing I would like everyone to remember John as a little man who lived his life to the fullest every day. Through all of his challenges, he did this with a smile.
Are we sad that John has left us and went to a better place…by no means? We are sad that we won’t get to make any more memories with him. We should all smile and remember that John gave us the best times of his life and that now it is his time to share the rest of his days and life with the other ones he loved so much, with no more sickness and no more hurdles to jump.
Please hold your memories close to your heart and when you think of them, smile, knowing that John is remembering and smiling along with you.
JOHN BAPTIST GILBERT CARKNER
Son, Brother, Friend
July 11, 1962 – September 22, 2007
Community Living Kawartha Lakes the headlines again!
We have made the headlines again on the Community Living Leaders website again, this time thanks to Job Quest. The news story - Employment program receives innovation award from Province - chronicles the awarding of ORWC's (Ontario Rehabilitation, Work and Community) Innovation Award to Job Quest. Community Living Leaders is the news website hosted by Community Living Ontario and featuring news stories about community living from across the province and country.
To read more about the award and view photos from the ORWC conference, click here Awarding experience at ORWC.
For more information about Job Quest, visit their website.
Job Quest is a division of Community Living Kawartha Lakes.
Job Opportunity with CMHA Partnership (deadline Friday, November 23rd)
CMHA Kawartha Lakes Branch currently has an opening for the position of Project Planner & Partnership Development Coordinator. This opportunity is the result of a partnership between CMHA, Job Quest and the Mental Health Program of Ross Memorial Hospital. These organizations are working together to address the employment needs of people with serious mental illness.
POSITION TITLE: Project Planner & Partnership Development Coordinator (new)
PROGRAM: Consumer Initiated Economic Development Program
LOCATION OF WORK: City of Kawartha Lakes
RESPONSIBLE TO: Program Manager, CMHA Kawartha Lakes Branch
SALARY RANGE: Salary and applicable benefits to be determined upon hiring
HOURS OF WORK: 35 hours per week
RESPONSIBILITIES: The goal of the Consumer Initiated Economic Development Program is to create sustainable employment opportunities for people with serious mental illness through consumer and employer development. The Project Planner and Partnership Development Coordinator is responsible for transitioning the Consumer Initiated Economic Development Program from the developed theoretical program concept to a workable, sustainable and community supported model.
The ultimate goal of the Project Planner and Partnership Development Coordinator's responsibility is to ensure that the Consumer Initiated Economic Development Program can be implemented and sustained on a long-term basis in the City of Kawartha Lakes. This goal includes the following roles and responsibilities:
- Development of a detailed program plan for the Consumer Initiated Economic Development Program.
- Securing of resources to support the program (resources including financial, human, material, program related and others as identified).
- Working closely with partners across multiple sectors including business, government, community members and organizations and consumers of the mental health system.
- Coordination and documentation of partners and resources developed for the program.
- Identification, development and implementation of plans of action to address any challenges or barriers to implementation.
This position involves working closely with the Hiring Committee of the Consumer Initiated Economic Development Program comprised of a number of community stakeholders including support service agencies through which their collaborative initiative identified the need for this project. Position description is available. Position is made possible via a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
QUALIFICATIONS: The Project Planner & Partnership Development Coordinator will possess:
- A university degree or college diploma in program management, community development, human services, business/marketing or related area.
- Experience in Vocational Rehabilitation.
- Three to four years' experience of progressive responsibility in project planning/development/management.
- Three to four years of progressive experience working in collaboration with community organizations, particularly with businesses and employers.
- Knowledge of local community organizations, businesses and employers.
- Knowledge and understanding of and/or experience with local mental health issues and knowledge of employment resources would be an asset to this position.
- Proficiency with computer skills
- In addition, the following qualities and skills would be helpful to the position: effective communication including verbal, written, listening and technological skills, creative and innovative thinking and planning, ability to work both independently and collaboratively, the ability to function effectively on a multi-agency team, the ability to make effective decisions, and the ability to work in an organized manner meeting external deadlines.
- Must have valid drivers licence and vehicle.
Please forward letter of interest & résumé by Friday, November 23, 2007 to:
Canadian Mental Health Association, Kawartha Lakes Branch
Attention: Consumer Initiated Economic Development Program Hiring Committee
2 Kent Street West, 2nd Floor, Lindsay, Ontario K9V 2Y1
Telephone: 705-328-2704, Fax: 705-328-2456
cmhavcb@cmhakawarthalakes.ca
WHILE THE COMMITTEE THANKS ALL THOSE APPLICANTS WHO APPLY, ONLY THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR AN INTERVIEW WILL BE CONTACTED.
Job Quest is a division of Community Living Kawartha Lakes.
Update on the Registered Disability Savings Plan
LifeTRUST has shared with us this update regarding the Registered Disability Savings Plan.
The federal government has released draft legislation for the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP). According to the draft legislative proposals, the lifetime limit of an RDSP is $200,000. The plan is expected to become available in April 2008.
Under the new plan, individuals who qualify for the Disability Tax Credit, or their parents or legal guardians, will be able to establish an RDSP and will be eligible to receive Disability Savings Grants - and, for low income families, a Disability Savings bond.
However, people need to be aware of the definition of family income. If a disabled person is under age 18, the family income is defined as the parents' income. As soon as the person reaches age 18, then the disabled person's own income is used.
If that person and their family earn less than $74,000 per year they are eligible for the maximum federal matching grants - 300% on the first $500 and 200% on the next $1,000 of annual contributions. For an annual contribution of $1,500 an additional $3,500 is granted for a total of $5,000.
This matching grant is available for 20 years or at age 49 for the person with the disability - whichever comes first - for a lifetime limit of $70,000. For low income families making less than $21,000, the government will also offer a savings bond of $1,000 a year for 20 years or age 49 for the person with the disability, whichever comes first.
The major issue still to be determined is whether or not the RDSP assets and withdrawals will impact the Disability Benefits. The growth and the earnings are tax-deferred and the tax and the grants or bonds are income when the money is paid out to the beneficiary.
Anyone can contribute to the plan, and if a parent opens a plan, the whole community can contribute to the same plan.
To view the legislative proposals, or for more information, visit the Department of Finance Canada website.
Job Quest is looking for a web designer
Job Quest is in the process of redesigning our website, which is located at http://www.job-quest.ca.
We are looking for a web designer who can create for us a new look that reflects our mission, goals, priorities and energy. We are also updating and reorganizing the content on our website.
If you are interested in putting forward a proposal to design our new website, please read our RFP Announcement for further information.
Please note, detailed information about what we want for our new website is available upon request. The deadline for Request for Proposal submissions is December 3, 2007 and our goal for launching the new website is January 25, 2008.
Job Quest is an employment centre offering specialized supports and services in the City of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County. Job Quest helps people with employment barriers and / or who are on social assistance to find and maintain meaningful employment.
Job Quest is a division of Community Living Kawartha Lakes.
