[Music] it’s not you it’s me
it’s not you it’s me
it’s not you it’s me no wait a moment it’s it’s actually damn
no wait a moment it’s it’s actually damn
no wait a moment it’s it’s actually damn you’re fine
you’re fine
you’re fine I utter every word slowly with precision
I utter every word slowly with precision
I utter every word slowly with precision not in a manner of good by the way none
not in a manner of good by the way none
not in a manner of good by the way none lovers do up on breaking the others
lovers do up on breaking the others
lovers do up on breaking the others heart I speak slowly fragmenting each
heart I speak slowly fragmenting each
heart I speak slowly fragmenting each syllable so you know so I do too that
syllable so you know so I do too that
syllable so you know so I do too that it’s not you it’s them that you’re fine
it’s not you it’s them that you’re fine
it’s not you it’s them that you’re fine by smiling at me with no good reason by
by smiling at me with no good reason by
by smiling at me with no good reason by mixing up the hours of the day by making
mixing up the hours of the day by making
mixing up the hours of the day by making up 1,001 excuses for not counting
up 1,001 excuses for not counting
up 1,001 excuses for not counting backwards as they say and after all this
backwards as they say and after all this
backwards as they say and after all this testing they produce a number at first
testing they produce a number at first
testing they produce a number at first two digits then just one one digit to
two digits then just one one digit to
two digits then just one one digit to define the substance the content of a
define the substance the content of a
define the substance the content of a person that is gone but why is this a
person that is gone but why is this a
person that is gone but why is this a tragedy I asked with all sincerity that
tragedy I asked with all sincerity that
tragedy I asked with all sincerity that I can master as if they haven’t told me
I can master as if they haven’t told me
I can master as if they haven’t told me yet as if they haven’t asked will you
yet as if they haven’t asked will you
yet as if they haven’t asked will you get it too how do you watch Phil Alice
get it too how do you watch Phil Alice
get it too how do you watch Phil Alice you should probably run some genetic
you should probably run some genetic
you should probably run some genetic tests so you don’t have the illness to
tests so you don’t have the illness to
tests so you don’t have the illness to your kids my kids I don’t have kids I do
your kids my kids I don’t have kids I do
your kids my kids I don’t have kids I do still have my mom so what is so
still have my mom so what is so
still have my mom so what is so distressing about this illness I
distressing about this illness I
distressing about this illness I questioned their premise I challenge it
questioned their premise I challenge it
questioned their premise I challenge it at the core my social attire of
at the core my social attire of
at the core my social attire of rebellion would not accept the letting
rebellion would not accept the letting
rebellion would not accept the letting go I longed to redefine this definition
go I longed to redefine this definition
go I longed to redefine this definition of gloom and hopelessness and doom what
of gloom and hopelessness and doom what
of gloom and hopelessness and doom what do you mean what’s distressing
do you mean what’s distressing
do you mean what’s distressing they retort with authorial conviction no
they retort with authorial conviction no
they retort with authorial conviction no hesitation in their voice how can you
hesitation in their voice how can you
hesitation in their voice how can you see the trouble in your own situation
see the trouble in your own situation
see the trouble in your own situation your mother is fading away her brain is
your mother is fading away her brain is
your mother is fading away her brain is full of holes like Swiss cheese melting
full of holes like Swiss cheese melting
full of holes like Swiss cheese melting away every time and your empire still
away every time and your empire still
away every time and your empire still warm a flame soon enough she won’t
warm a flame soon enough she won’t
warm a flame soon enough she won’t recognize her husband or you nor herself
she’s not fading away doctor she’s very
she’s not fading away doctor she’s very much present she’s right here next to me
much present she’s right here next to me
much present she’s right here next to me in front of you look at her she is even
in front of you look at her she is even
in front of you look at her she is even gaining weight the entire 24 pounds and
gaining weight the entire 24 pounds and
gaining weight the entire 24 pounds and still you can’t see her or talk to her
still you can’t see her or talk to her
still you can’t see her or talk to her instead you talk about her you see right
instead you talk about her you see right
instead you talk about her you see right through her sweetie sweetie you’re so
through her sweetie sweetie you’re so
through her sweetie sweetie you’re so lucky your mother is dying my mother my
lucky your mother is dying my mother my
lucky your mother is dying my mother my my mom my mom is dying that’s the final
my mom my mom is dying that’s the final
my mom my mom is dying that’s the final diagnosis the bottom line based on what
diagnosis the bottom line based on what
diagnosis the bottom line based on what an unusual behavior problematic you say
an unusual behavior problematic you say
an unusual behavior problematic you say or trying to be more maybe less
or trying to be more maybe less
or trying to be more maybe less politically correct behavioral
politically correct behavioral
politically correct behavioral disturbance that must be managed as if
disturbance that must be managed as if
disturbance that must be managed as if you don’t suffer from moods and bad days
you don’t suffer from moods and bad days
you don’t suffer from moods and bad days besides aren’t we all dying from the
besides aren’t we all dying from the
besides aren’t we all dying from the moment that we’re born you didn’t even
moment that we’re born you didn’t even
moment that we’re born you didn’t even look inside her to see and if you did
look inside her to see and if you did
look inside her to see and if you did what would you see scar tissue burn
what would you see scar tissue burn
what would you see scar tissue burn bridges massacres hunger or would you
bridges massacres hunger or would you
bridges massacres hunger or would you see a cemetery of dying cells or nothing
see a cemetery of dying cells or nothing
see a cemetery of dying cells or nothing to go with a metaphorical empty shell a
to go with a metaphorical empty shell a
to go with a metaphorical empty shell a lost soul perhaps perhaps it’s us who
lost soul perhaps perhaps it’s us who
lost soul perhaps perhaps it’s us who lose our souls our humanity or the
lose our souls our humanity or the
lose our souls our humanity or the memory of what it means being human of
memory of what it means being human of
memory of what it means being human of acceptance and social accountability and
acceptance and social accountability and
acceptance and social accountability and other insignificant values for these are
other insignificant values for these are
other insignificant values for these are easily forgotten especially when one
easily forgotten especially when one
easily forgotten especially when one deals with those who can’t read the time
deals with those who can’t read the time
deals with those who can’t read the time or count backwards from 100 in sequences
or count backwards from 100 in sequences
or count backwards from 100 in sequences of seven how do you quantify emptiness
of seven how do you quantify emptiness
of seven how do you quantify emptiness or death or life how dead is dead and
or death or life how dead is dead and
or death or life how dead is dead and what technology does one use to measure
what technology does one use to measure
what technology does one use to measure suffering a thermostat a blood-pressure
suffering a thermostat a blood-pressure
suffering a thermostat a blood-pressure meter
meter
meter a ruler perhaps these without any drop
a ruler perhaps these without any drop
a ruler perhaps these without any drop of doubt are the important things in
of doubt are the important things in
of doubt are the important things in life numbers names and knowing who the
life numbers names and knowing who the
life numbers names and knowing who the president is and how they are these are
president is and how they are these are
president is and how they are these are the things the fragments that define and
the things the fragments that define and
the things the fragments that define and constitute my identity and so these will
constitute my identity and so these will
constitute my identity and so these will make me and her joyful correct doctor so
make me and her joyful correct doctor so
make me and her joyful correct doctor so sure sure it is a tragedy that my mom
sure sure it is a tragedy that my mom
sure sure it is a tragedy that my mom doesn’t remember my name from time to
doesn’t remember my name from time to
doesn’t remember my name from time to time and instead she calls me my child
time and instead she calls me my child
time and instead she calls me my child and always remembers to light up with a
and always remembers to light up with a
and always remembers to light up with a smile and a hug upon seeing me so doctor
smile and a hug upon seeing me so doctor
smile and a hug upon seeing me so doctor I wish everybody could rejoice upon
I wish everybody could rejoice upon
I wish everybody could rejoice upon seeing my face the way she does because
seeing my face the way she does because
seeing my face the way she does because mom it’s not you it’s then you’re fine
[Applause]
[Applause] thank you so my mom was diagnosed with
thank you so my mom was diagnosed with
thank you so my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at the age of 58 right after
Alzheimer’s at the age of 58 right after
Alzheimer’s at the age of 58 right after that we were told that we should forget
that we were told that we should forget
that we were told that we should forget about her and take care of ourselves no
about her and take care of ourselves no
about her and take care of ourselves no one told us how one forgets about a
one told us how one forgets about a
one told us how one forgets about a mother and no one told us how we should
mother and no one told us how we should
mother and no one told us how we should take care of ourselves for me as a 28
take care of ourselves for me as a 28
take care of ourselves for me as a 28 young young person I was not willing to
young young person I was not willing to
young young person I was not willing to accept this so I decided to look into
accept this so I decided to look into
accept this so I decided to look into what I could actually do to to find ways
what I could actually do to to find ways
what I could actually do to to find ways to engage in a meaningful way with my
to engage in a meaningful way with my
to engage in a meaningful way with my mom I wanted to have fun because
mom I wanted to have fun because
mom I wanted to have fun because everything I I saw when I went online
everything I I saw when I went online
everything I I saw when I went online was the prognosis the tragedy and
was the prognosis the tragedy and
was the prognosis the tragedy and essentially hopelessness I wanted
essentially hopelessness I wanted
essentially hopelessness I wanted something else I wanted I just wanted to
something else I wanted I just wanted to
something else I wanted I just wanted to have fun with my mom I wanted a way to
have fun with my mom I wanted a way to
have fun with my mom I wanted a way to connect so I did what an academic knows
connect so I did what an academic knows
connect so I did what an academic knows how to do best I registered into a ph.d
how to do best I registered into a ph.d
how to do best I registered into a ph.d program and so coming from the
program and so coming from the
program and so coming from the humanities and the arts I registered
humanities and the arts I registered
humanities and the arts I registered into a program in comparative literature
into a program in comparative literature
into a program in comparative literature here at the University of Toronto and I
here at the University of Toronto and I
here at the University of Toronto and I decided that I would like to explore the
decided that I would like to explore the
decided that I would like to explore the ways we talk about memory loss in our
ways we talk about memory loss in our
ways we talk about memory loss in our cultural imagination so as I was as I
cultural imagination so as I was as I
cultural imagination so as I was as I was researching the topic I I realized
was researching the topic I I realized
was researching the topic I I realized that a lot of language that we use in
that a lot of language that we use in
that a lot of language that we use in fiction in poetry actually migrates into
fiction in poetry actually migrates into
fiction in poetry actually migrates into clinical language into medical discourse
clinical language into medical discourse
clinical language into medical discourse into policy papers policy papers that
into policy papers policy papers that
into policy papers policy papers that impact and effect directly people’s
impact and effect directly people’s
impact and effect directly people’s lives policy papers that impact people’s
lives policy papers that impact people’s
lives policy papers that impact people’s language the same language and then
language the same language and then
language the same language and then people use to narrate their stories
people use to narrate their stories
people use to narrate their stories stories of despair of hopelessness of
stories of despair of hopelessness of
stories of despair of hopelessness of memory loss memory loss that qualifies
memory loss memory loss that qualifies
memory loss memory loss that qualifies everyone who seem to lose mem
everyone who seem to lose mem
everyone who seem to lose mem as losers it labels them as the losers
as losers it labels them as the losers
as losers it labels them as the losers who lost the lottery of health lost the
who lost the lottery of health lost the
who lost the lottery of health lost the lottery of remembering so I decided that
lottery of remembering so I decided that
lottery of remembering so I decided that they wanted to change it and I started
they wanted to change it and I started
they wanted to change it and I started researching into things that I knew and
researching into things that I knew and
researching into things that I knew and simultaneously started trying to engage
simultaneously started trying to engage
simultaneously started trying to engage with my mom through the world that I
with my mom through the world that I
with my mom through the world that I knew best
knew best
knew best so as an art historian who focused on
so as an art historian who focused on
so as an art historian who focused on photography I decided that I will show
photography I decided that I will show
photography I decided that I will show my mom photographs I will show her
my mom photographs I will show her
my mom photographs I will show her photographs it will trigger her memory
photographs it will trigger her memory
photographs it will trigger her memory this will be great huge disappointment
this will be great huge disappointment
this will be great huge disappointment no memory was triggered what was
no memory was triggered what was
no memory was triggered what was triggered however was imagination all of
triggered however was imagination all of
triggered however was imagination all of a sudden she was telling me stories her
a sudden she was telling me stories her
a sudden she was telling me stories her world opened up to me because all of a
world opened up to me because all of a
world opened up to me because all of a sudden I could see these characters
sudden I could see these characters
sudden I could see these characters coming to life from inside the images
coming to life from inside the images
coming to life from inside the images now at this moment we were not an
now at this moment we were not an
now at this moment we were not an Alzheimer’s patient and a caregiver at
Alzheimer’s patient and a caregiver at
Alzheimer’s patient and a caregiver at this moment we were two humans two
this moment we were two humans two
this moment we were two humans two people connecting through storytelling
people connecting through storytelling
people connecting through storytelling we were human the other thing that I
we were human the other thing that I
we were human the other thing that I tried with my mom except for photography
tried with my mom except for photography
tried with my mom except for photography was just listening so the art of
was just listening so the art of
was just listening so the art of improvisational theatre tells us that we
improvisational theatre tells us that we
improvisational theatre tells us that we should be in the moment and we should
should be in the moment and we should
should be in the moment and we should yes and everything the person says we
yes and everything the person says we
yes and everything the person says we should affirm and reaffirm what the
should affirm and reaffirm what the
should affirm and reaffirm what the person says and bring something new so I
person says and bring something new so I
person says and bring something new so I was trying to do that but sometimes it
was trying to do that but sometimes it
was trying to do that but sometimes it was really hard really challenging that
was really hard really challenging that
was really hard really challenging that is one time my mom and I was were in the
is one time my mom and I was were in the
is one time my mom and I was were in the car I was driving from one doctor to
car I was driving from one doctor to
car I was driving from one doctor to another
another
another it was the series of doctor’s
it was the series of doctor’s
it was the series of doctor’s appointments and so we stopped at the
appointments and so we stopped at the
appointments and so we stopped at the light and my mom who seems completely
light and my mom who seems completely
light and my mom who seems completely apathetic all of a sudden looks up and
apathetic all of a sudden looks up and
apathetic all of a sudden looks up and says a bird
says a bird
says a bird how do you respond to that I had an idea
how do you respond to that I had an idea
how do you respond to that I had an idea how to but I decided to do the only
how to but I decided to do the only
how to but I decided to do the only thing I knew or my body produced a sound
thing I knew or my body produced a sound
thing I knew or my body produced a sound basically I said mm-hmm I had no idea
basically I said mm-hmm I had no idea
basically I said mm-hmm I had no idea what’s going to come but all of a sudden
what’s going to come but all of a sudden
what’s going to come but all of a sudden it triggered something new now I will
it triggered something new now I will
it triggered something new now I will tell you what triggered right after I’ll
tell you what triggered right after I’ll
tell you what triggered right after I’ll tell you something about about this
tell you something about about this
tell you something about about this sound so the new is a response it’s
sound so the new is a response it’s
sound so the new is a response it’s something that we do often times when we
something that we do often times when we
something that we do often times when we have a conversation and this is how the
have a conversation and this is how the
have a conversation and this is how the person in conversation with us knows
person in conversation with us knows
person in conversation with us knows that we are listening that we are
that we are listening that we are
that we are listening that we are affirming them now right now for
affirming them now right now for
affirming them now right now for instance me standing on the stage alone
instance me standing on the stage alone
instance me standing on the stage alone in the quiet auditorium not hearing any
in the quiet auditorium not hearing any
in the quiet auditorium not hearing any moon sound makes me feel that maybe I’m
moon sound makes me feel that maybe I’m
moon sound makes me feel that maybe I’m wasting your time maybe my story is not
wasting your time maybe my story is not
wasting your time maybe my story is not valuable so if if only someone could
valuable so if if only someone could
valuable so if if only someone could make a sound that would be great thank
make a sound that would be great thank
make a sound that would be great thank you so much
you so much
you so much so so this hmm produced another leap of
so so this hmm produced another leap of
so so this hmm produced another leap of imagination from my mom and so she said
imagination from my mom and so she said
imagination from my mom and so she said it’s the keeper the bird was the keeper
it’s the keeper the bird was the keeper
it’s the keeper the bird was the keeper now I had no idea where this was going
now I had no idea where this was going
now I had no idea where this was going but I was curious at this stage and so I
but I was curious at this stage and so I
but I was curious at this stage and so I asked her keeper of what she paused for
asked her keeper of what she paused for
asked her keeper of what she paused for a moment and said the clouds of course
keeper of the clouds my mom was a poet
keeper of the clouds my mom was a poet who knew I’ll tell you more about keeper
who knew I’ll tell you more about keeper
who knew I’ll tell you more about keeper of the clouds right after this so this
of the clouds right after this so this
of the clouds right after this so this is me trying to research more into into
is me trying to research more into into
is me trying to research more into into art realizing that I am really happy
art realizing that I am really happy
art realizing that I am really happy finding all this information because
finding all this information because
finding all this information because it’s out there you can find so much
it’s out there you can find so much
it’s out there you can find so much information about arts arts
information about arts arts
information about arts arts interventions in dementia care and it’s
interventions in dementia care and it’s
interventions in dementia care and it’s beautiful and it’s it’s wonderful and
beautiful and it’s it’s wonderful and
beautiful and it’s it’s wonderful and there is so much done in music and
there is so much done in music and
there is so much done in music and healthcare in social clownin and health
healthcare in social clownin and health
healthcare in social clownin and health care the only problem is that this
care the only problem is that this
care the only problem is that this information about all these
information about all these
information about all these interventions all these amazing research
interventions all these amazing research
interventions all these amazing research that is being done not is not translated
that is being done not is not translated
that is being done not is not translated to the popular culture and so we are
to the popular culture and so we are
to the popular culture and so we are still using the same language to talk
still using the same language to talk
still using the same language to talk about dementia the stigma persists its
about dementia the stigma persists its
about dementia the stigma persists its perpetuated at all times we’re still
perpetuated at all times we’re still
perpetuated at all times we’re still talking about memory loss as memory loss
talking about memory loss as memory loss
talking about memory loss as memory loss we’re still talking about people with
we’re still talking about people with
we’re still talking about people with dementia as sufferers my mum doesn’t
dementia as sufferers my mum doesn’t
dementia as sufferers my mum doesn’t suffer so I decided that we need to do
suffer so I decided that we need to do
suffer so I decided that we need to do something about that
something about that
something about that how shall we change it I needed to find
how shall we change it I needed to find
how shall we change it I needed to find out how do I actually interrupt and
out how do I actually interrupt and
out how do I actually interrupt and disrupt the stigma so arts seemed to
disrupt the stigma so arts seemed to
disrupt the stigma so arts seemed to work for me and my mom and so I
work for me and my mom and so I
work for me and my mom and so I continued looking for more more options
continued looking for more more options
continued looking for more more options to actually interrupt this stigma and
to actually interrupt this stigma and
to actually interrupt this stigma and disrupt it and this is when I ended up
disrupt it and this is when I ended up
disrupt it and this is when I ended up actually writing keeper of the clouds
actually writing keeper of the clouds
actually writing keeper of the clouds and turning it into a graphic memoir a
and turning it into a graphic memoir a
and turning it into a graphic memoir a very short one illustrated by the
very short one illustrated by the
very short one illustrated by the amazing AV templed
amazing AV templed
amazing AV templed who at the time was 17 today she’s 18 so
who at the time was 17 today she’s 18 so
who at the time was 17 today she’s 18 so this was a collaborative project and
this was a collaborative project and
this was a collaborative project and this collaborative project has become
this collaborative project has become
this collaborative project has become parked a huge part actually of our
parked a huge part actually of our
parked a huge part actually of our family’s Alzheimer’s experience this
family’s Alzheimer’s experience this
family’s Alzheimer’s experience this artistic collaboration has become part
artistic collaboration has become part
artistic collaboration has become part of what people assume to be
of what people assume to be
of what people assume to be a disaster a suffering experience so we
a disaster a suffering experience so we
a disaster a suffering experience so we what we did was to draw from our
what we did was to draw from our
what we did was to draw from our challenging experiences they are
challenging experiences they are
challenging experiences they are challenging experiences because it is a
challenging experiences because it is a
challenging experiences because it is a life altered condition but these
life altered condition but these
life altered condition but these challenging experiences were used by us
challenging experiences were used by us
challenging experiences were used by us as raw materials for creative production
as raw materials for creative production
as raw materials for creative production realizing that this is possible was a
realizing that this is possible was a
realizing that this is possible was a huge affirmation for me that what I was
huge affirmation for me that what I was
huge affirmation for me that what I was on the road to create was the right
on the road to create was the right
on the road to create was the right thing last week John he’s 46 he lives in
thing last week John he’s 46 he lives in
thing last week John he’s 46 he lives in Michigan and he’s an artist living with
Michigan and he’s an artist living with
Michigan and he’s an artist living with dementia
dementia
dementia he read keeper of the clouds to his
he read keeper of the clouds to his
he read keeper of the clouds to his six-year-old son and wrote me their
six-year-old son and wrote me their
six-year-old son and wrote me their impressions together he said that my
impressions together he said that my
impressions together he said that my story inspired him to tell his story now
story inspired him to tell his story now
story inspired him to tell his story now this is something to me that it’s so
this is something to me that it’s so
this is something to me that it’s so important and so fulfilling to hear that
important and so fulfilling to hear that
important and so fulfilling to hear that because it means that there are going to
because it means that there are going to
because it means that there are going to be more stories more voices that are not
be more stories more voices that are not
be more stories more voices that are not infiltrated by the stigma that are not
infiltrated by the stigma that are not
infiltrated by the stigma that are not contaminated by the loss there will be
contaminated by the loss there will be
contaminated by the loss there will be still loss but the loss might change the
still loss but the loss might change the
still loss but the loss might change the meaning of the loss might change and
meaning of the loss might change and
meaning of the loss might change and this is what counts the more voices
this is what counts the more voices
this is what counts the more voices we’ll have the more diversity in the
we’ll have the more diversity in the
we’ll have the more diversity in the narrative structure we will have so
narrative structure we will have so
narrative structure we will have so seeing that I have I’ve created arts for
seeing that I have I’ve created arts for
seeing that I have I’ve created arts for dementia and arts for dementia it’s a
dementia and arts for dementia it’s a
dementia and arts for dementia it’s a portal a social portal that aggregates
portal a social portal that aggregates
portal a social portal that aggregates and maps all the projects and creative
and maps all the projects and creative
and maps all the projects and creative endeavors around the world we’re
endeavors around the world we’re
endeavors around the world we’re actually using the internet the way it
actually using the internet the way it
actually using the internet the way it should be used because oftentimes you
should be used because oftentimes you
should be used because oftentimes you see that there is a amazing project in
see that there is a amazing project in
see that there is a amazing project in England and then you try to reach out
England and then you try to reach out
England and then you try to reach out for to them for funding and they tell
for to them for funding and they tell
for to them for funding and they tell you oh no but you’re in Canada so the
you oh no but you’re in Canada so the
you oh no but you’re in Canada so the idea is for all the projects around the
idea is for all the projects around the
idea is for all the projects around the world to be under the same
world to be under the same
world to be under the same umbrella of arts for dementia so it will
umbrella of arts for dementia so it will
umbrella of arts for dementia so it will be accessible and easily found such that
be accessible and easily found such that
be accessible and easily found such that clinicians could actually refer their
clinicians could actually refer their
clinicians could actually refer their patients to arts for dementia we have a
patients to arts for dementia we have a
patients to arts for dementia we have a network a global network of people who
network a global network of people who
network a global network of people who are creating and realizing that even
are creating and realizing that even
are creating and realizing that even when they’re in the most challenging
when they’re in the most challenging
when they’re in the most challenging situation in their life they can still
situation in their life they can still
situation in their life they can still do something we should be able to live
do something we should be able to live
do something we should be able to live with dementia rather than just die from
with dementia rather than just die from
with dementia rather than just die from it
it
it and this is why improving quality of
and this is why improving quality of
and this is why improving quality of life with dementia is so important it’s
life with dementia is so important it’s
life with dementia is so important it’s so crucial
so crucial
so crucial so apart from providing a space to
so apart from providing a space to
so apart from providing a space to actually collaborate on projects and
actually collaborate on projects and
actually collaborate on projects and create our own projects around the world
create our own projects around the world
create our own projects around the world we’re also creating educational programs
we’re also creating educational programs
we’re also creating educational programs and collaborations between between
and collaborations between between
and collaborations between between artists and and the most recent
artists and and the most recent
artists and and the most recent collaboration we are creating with the
collaboration we are creating with the
collaboration we are creating with the second veni vidi multiplex and who are
second veni vidi multiplex and who are
second veni vidi multiplex and who are actually there working is it exhibited
actually there working is it exhibited
actually there working is it exhibited at the distillery district right now in
at the distillery district right now in
at the distillery district right now in Toronto at the light fest and their trio
Toronto at the light fest and their trio
Toronto at the light fest and their trio from the Netherlands and they’re
from the Netherlands and they’re
from the Netherlands and they’re interested to to create a public art
interested to to create a public art
interested to to create a public art installation to help to help connect
installation to help to help connect
installation to help to help connect with people with dementia so this is my
with people with dementia so this is my
with people with dementia so this is my mom
mom
mom today and this is my dad today my mom is
today and this is my dad today my mom is
today and this is my dad today my mom is no longer walking she’s bedridden and
no longer walking she’s bedridden and
no longer walking she’s bedridden and she’s no longer talking and yet whenever
she’s no longer talking and yet whenever
she’s no longer talking and yet whenever she sees my dad my brother or myself
she sees my dad my brother or myself
she sees my dad my brother or myself she always lights up with a smile and
she always lights up with a smile and
she always lights up with a smile and this tells something to us it tells us
this tells something to us it tells us
this tells something to us it tells us that it means that our positive our
that it means that our positive our
that it means that our positive our engagement with her through arts creates
engagement with her through arts creates
engagement with her through arts creates something creates this positive
something creates this positive
something creates this positive connection that allows her to still
connection that allows her to still
connection that allows her to still rejoice upon seeing us so the note that
rejoice upon seeing us so the note that
rejoice upon seeing us so the note that I want to end this talk is actually that
I want to end this talk is actually that
I want to end this talk is actually that if we work together because arts for
if we work together because arts for
if we work together because arts for dementia is a beginning
dementia is a beginning
dementia is a beginning it’s just a start and if we work
it’s just a start and if we work
it’s just a start and if we work together we can actually spread the word
together we can actually spread the word
together we can actually spread the word that there are ways to live well and
that there are ways to live well and
that there are ways to live well and have fun with dementia the dementia is
have fun with dementia the dementia is
have fun with dementia the dementia is not the end thank you
not the end thank you
not the end thank you [Applause]
”
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