Moving Forward with Holly

04/01/2025

02/02/2025

Hi friends!

Sharing this because the province of Nova Scotia is looking for those with lived experience with disabilities to give input on different projects that involve accessibility! This is a fantastic opportunity to have our voices heard.

01/22/2025

Nova Scotia has grants available for organizations and businesses to help with accessibility! Application deadlines close mid February! Find out more information here: https://humanrights.novascotia.ca/news-events/news/2025/grants-support-accessibility

PS feel free to encourage local businesses to get on board with becoming accessible!

Applications for several provincial Community Infrastructure, Active Transportation, and Access-Ability grants for the fiscal year 2025-26 are open until February 14, 2025.

01/14/2025

Buckle up! Long personal post incoming. Hard topics but it's a part of life.

Nobody ever explains to you the grief you will go through when you are disabled or chronically ill. You expect grief when you lose a loved one, and technically you are grieving the loss of a loved one.

Because you are grieving the loss of yourself.

Your life that you know and love.
Your hopes.
Your dreams you've been chasing.
Your plans for the future.
Who you were and who you wanted to be.

Everything. All forever changed.

Disability/chronic illness will break your heart over and over and over again because you will hope that things will change and you'll get back to normal.

It's like you are on the outside looking in on a life that is no more. Haunted by your old self, your old life, your healthy body, and everything you've lost because of your disability/chronic illness.

That grief pulled me under like a tidal wave when I first heard the results of my first MRI. It took a very long time to work through that new found grief, and I really thought that once I worked through it, I'd be okay.

But what about when your disability/chronic illness changes? Giddy up because that grief comes creeping in during the quiet hours of the night.

That's right. A valuable lesson I am learning this week is even when you think you've dealt with grief, doesn't mean it won't return during a different stage.

I've found myself in this predicament this season of my life. The catalyst was not realizing my leg was numb and taking another step. I have a hairline fracture in my knee. I feel like I've gone down another few notches and boy, it is frustrating.

No cast for me but I am not supposed to bare weight on it unsupported, which brings a whole new appreciation for the mobility that I do have and a whole new frustration on an inaccessible world when all you wanted was to sit at a coffee shop and journal today.

Have you dealt with any kind of grief that was not a loved one dying? Did it surprise you?

01/13/2025

Let’s help out this great group of people! Know of any locations?

**ALERT: The Phantom’s FreakShow is STILL LOOKING FOR A NEW HOME** Please Share!!!

As we officially wrap up our 13th season, it's time for us to share a big change that’s been looming on the horizon. While we would love nothing more than to stay rooted in our current location here in Kentville, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment. Over the years, we’ve worked closely with our community, collaborating to make this event a source of pride and connection for everyone. Now, as we look toward the future, we’re turning to our network to help us find the perfect solution.

We’re not entirely sure what this next chapter will look like, but we’re open to different options: long term leasing, purchasing, or any creative solution that will allow us to continue evolving in the Annapolis Valley. Here’s what we’re ideally looking for in a new space:

- AMPLE SPACE: option 1: Enough room for our full haunt setup minimum of 5500+ square feet, parking, and room for growth (field or open space). Option 2: Enough room for MULTIPLE BUSINESSES to move together (1 pop up event and 1 full time business and 1 private studio location), minimums of 8,200+ square feet.

- ACCESSIBILITY TO 101: Must reachable for our local audience, with potential for visitors from across the region (we have a lot of people travel in from Halifax). Ideal area would be centralized Annapolis Valley. We have staff that travel from Windsor to Kingston and we can’t risk losing our team no matter how desirable the location. Family comes first!

- COMMUNITY FRIENDLY: A location that aligns with our values and our goal to remain an active part of the community. We might seem like a bunch of off beat misfits, but our team give back big time. No matter what the season, we are always willing to offer enhancement and creative solutions that are fun for everyone.

- ZONING FLEXIBLE: Space that supports our event requirements, possibly a commercial or industrial zone, though we're open to unique alternatives. We are not opposed to agricultural property, we love the idea of outbuilding and a space to really think big, but we don’t have a green thumb and we can’t be responsible for the life and maintenance of plants.

We’re creatives at heart, so “thinking outside the box” is exactly what we do best. If you or anyone you know has an idea, a location in mind, or even a lead on an unconventional spot that might be a perfect fit, we’d love to hear from you!

Due date to find a new home: May 2025

11/26/2024

Friends! I need to gush a little tiny bit! Treat yourself to a movie and go see Wicked!!!

Not only is the movie excellent!

This is the FIRST big blockbuster to actually hire disabled people to play a disabled part! Not just one wheelchair user, but THREE!

How awesome is that? Representation matters, and I wish that I could see a person in a wheelchair on the big screen growing up. I am so happy to see this and I hope to see it more in the future.

11/07/2024

Let’s chat about this.

Wheelhouse has a big step to get into it. How can those of us who use mobility aids attend this public event? Do the voices and opinions of disabled people not need to be heard?

I do know that myself and others who are disabled as well that would LOVE to have this opportunity in a relaxed environment to chat about our concerns when it comes to being pedestrians, to how dangerous our crosswalks are, the harassment some of us face because we have invisible disabilities.

“But Holly, there are no accessible cafes in Kentville” you are correct, however, there are cafes that are semi accessible such as TAN, and even Half Acre. Or why not buy the coffee and hold it at the Kentville Fire Hall (that is one of the most accessible places in Kentville)

Just something to think about. Disabled people’s questions and concerns matter as well.

Coffee with a Cop
The Kentville Police Service invites you to drop in to the Wheelhouse Coffee Co on November 25th from 10-11:30am and have a coffee with Staff from KPS and members from the Board of Police Commission.

10/27/2024

Teachable moment.

Today I biked a total of 43.3km.

I took part in Devour: Le Tour de l’Acadie (20km ride to and from Wolfville, 23km actual ride.)

I also fell off my bike for the first time today, which stretched my arm that has the problems at the moment.

Does doing this ride mean I’m not disabled?
Does it make me anymore less disabled?

No.

Often times (like today) it’s a trade off. I knew that this ride was going to be painful. I took two Advil before the ride to combat the pain, and used higher assist levels on my bike.

I am definitely paying for it tonight but I am okay with that because riding bikes is my happy place.

Today was a great ride, the weather was nice, the route was great, the food was good and the people were amazing! It’s another Devour ride in the books for me, I look forward to this event every year.

📸: Support for Culture
Alt text: group of people posing for a picture, there are bicycles leaning against a fence, the people are wearing bright colours and helmets.