Deaf Journaling: Deaf Journaling

Deaf Journaling: Deaf Journaling: Deaf Journaling by Kathern G. Lawrence Deaf journaling is a very important form of writing about the lives of Deaf people, Deaf clubs, ...

Deaf Journaling: Ice Skating in the Public

Deaf Journaling: Ice Skating in the Public: Ice Skating in the Public by Kathern G. Lawrence On the first day of January, 2011, some activity-loving people chose to skate at Kay C...

Deaf Journaling: MAD Club in Cold January

Deaf Journaling: MAD Club in Cold January: President Irv Mac Donald, Secretary Kathern Lawrence, Vice-President Joe Babineau, Treasruer Albert Budd MAD Club during Cold Januar...

Deaf Journaling: God's Unique Gift Granted

Deaf Journaling: God's Unique Gift Granted: God's Unique Gift Granted by Kathern G. Lawrence Irv Mac Donald, Kathern Lawrence, Chuck Baird at Deaf Way 11, 2002 in Washingto...

God's Unique Gift Granted

God's Unique Gift Granted

by Kathern G. Lawrence

Irv Mac Donald, Kathern Lawrence, Chuck Baird
at Deaf Way 11, 2002 in Washington, D.C.

The Deaf Community in every continent has recognized the art works of Chuck Baird who chose to express thoughts spiritually rather than working for commerical business from which he would make a lot of money. However, he remained to be contented with what he enjoyed doing even through difficult times. As a result, he has been receiving numerous blessings. We, including the hearing, admire his art works as displayed in galleries and at Gallaudet University.  

With my heart pounding for the love of Chuck's works, I bought a framed print of tiger sign from him. Since then, I have left that one hung in a living room, appreciating his genuine creativity. I also hang a framed set of four cards of his artistic signs in the basement bathroom and shelf the book "35 Plates" on the Deaf section. The book tells his mini biography and his works; it was published almost 20 years ago. From then, I am sure there are many more stories to tell about him through internet.

In fact, I am a big collector of  Deaf artists, Deaf craftmen's products, and Deaf books; particularly, any set of deaf-related, brilliantly-creative art works is always my favorite collection.

His art works can be viewed online to appreciate. Thanks to God for giving him such a beautiful gift that he can delight us through his art works. The Chuck Baird Foundation   (CBF) opens an inspiring opportunity to fund young, Deaf people who wish to be trained in art works, and to develop skills for their artistic career or amateur.

Thanks to you, CB, for always sharing your glorious works with us, and we continually love every piece of your works.  I believe that He predestined you to be one of the greatest Deaf artists ever living on earth. May God bless you on your journey with strength and faith. We love you!

Isaiah 64:8 - "We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand" 

MAD Club in Cold January

President Irv Mac Donald, Secretary Kathern Lawrence,

Vice-President Joe Babineau, Treasruer Albert Budd

MAD Club during Cold January
January 14, 2012
by Kathern G. Lawrence

Deaf people usually gather at Lions' Hall at Pleasant Street in the Saturday afternoon every month for a meeting of Moncton Association of the Deaf  (MAD) or a social function. The MAD Club has been in existence since 1948 or 1949. The club started at home with a small number of Deaf people. A married couple took turns hosting the club until 1970's. Since then, we have been renting a place someplace for a few hours. It is one indication of our social needs for survival, as a part of our Deaf Culture, that we maintain social contact with another one as, of course, we rely on information through sign language for communication purposes. We tell stories, share news, or discuss issues or views like hearing people. We are visually stimulated and mentally healthy.

Bill Hall & Sheldon Wood

Albert Budd signed "Me"

Margaret Babineau signed "Can..."

Chris Mott signing "2"

Irv MacDonald showing his Nokia
hand-set as Bill Fillmore scrutinized
its features.

From L to R - Roland & Connie

Legge, Anne Mac Donald

All smiles for the photo:

Front - Armand & Eileen Babineau

2nd row - Cora & Reggie Babineau

Back row - Anne MacDonald

The cold weather in January did not keep us at home, even those people travelling from Sussex, N.B.; Sackville, N.B., River Hebert, N.S., and Amherst, N.S. up to about an hour of drive.

Thanks to the Lord who kept the travellers safe as the weather was pleasant enough for their travel. After half an hour of friendly chat in a Pidgon combination of ASL (American Sign Language) and MSL (Maritime Sign Language), the monthly meeting proceeded with President Irv Mac Donald and 26 Deaf people present. The new motion was animously passed; we do not bring our dish of food for our snack as the social function started at 1 PM and closed at 5 PM in the future. We usually eat lunch and supper meals between the meeting so there is no need to overeat ourselves during the gathering. However, we would bring our own drinks: water, pop, or juice to quench our thirst.

After the meeting, we made two choices of playing games: Hedbanz Jr. and Skip-Bo. Meanwhile, the others chose to chat.

Margaret Babineau was listening to
the description of an object as shown

Marion Wood & Claudet Goguen

Doreen Mott & Jude Mills



Patti Hall placed a card that she could not look at.

Ruby Taylor of Newfoundland explained the
SkipBo game to Bill Fillmore as Cora was listening.

Connie Legge and Gerry Buchanan were
 amused by a story told.

ASL Introduction to the Student and Senior Mentors

Ice Skating in the Public

Ice Skating in the Public
by Kathern G. Lawrence




On the first day of January, 2011, some activity-loving people chose to skate at Kay Centre rather than watching TV programs or surfing at their computers. Public skating was open as a free gift from the city. They were from all walks of life, but no way I could tell which profession they took as they dressed casually in warm clothing. The people, ranging in ages between preschool age and 70 plus, skated around the oval board while they were listening to beats of musical play. The graceful old skater, possibly called grandpa, giggled watching his little boy in a helmet tightened below his chin, swagging with his arms held upward for control and balance as he aggressively skated short steps. The tall father skated backward, coaching his little son to skate forward properly.  The little ones skated clumsily and slowly while others were speeding around past them.They were focusing on skating pleasure, skating workout, skating development and coordination. They stopped at the board occassionally to catch some breath, watching each person passing by.




 My friends (Irv Mac Donald, Jude Mills, Andrew and Christine Brown, Son Daniel) and I joined the crowd for fun. Daniel Brown, six-year-old and hearing, had just learned to skate. He wobbled and fell without getting hurt as he skated along. He stayed closely along the board or with his parents for support. This was Irv's and my second skating trip; we had skated at Moncton Colesium where the parents snapped their little children standing in their skates boldly or shyly beside Santa.




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Keep on skating -
Irv Mac Donald

In the eyes of the public, we were invisible as Deaf persons; they would never have guessed that we were Deaf. Once we chatted with fluttering hands, we became visible to them. We sign, and this is our visual language we use to communicate among our Deaf friends. One or two persons would probably have looked at us with their own thoughts, "Oh, they are deaf, and they cannot speak. We would never know that if they had not signed." Among the hearing people, we enjoyed the workout in our silent world as much as they did with the music on.


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The Brown family's skating fun -
Daniel, Andrew, Christine

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Jude Mills borrowing his son's skates

Deaf Journaling

Deaf Journaling by Kathern G. Lawrence

Deaf journaling is a very important form of writing about the lives of Deaf people, Deaf clubs, or deaf-related topics for historical purposes. Eventually researchers may find pertaining information online about us. Such written documents need to be kept permamently online to share with readers, both Deaf and hearing. I am going to write journals and include photos re: experiences that I have been having at the Deaf Community in the regions of Atlantic Provinces, Canada, and other nations. Hopefully, it will give better understanding and great insight to the public about the lives of Deaf people and our culture.

Even though I have been a part of the hearing community, I consider myself culturally Deaf because the Deaf and I share something in common: visual language, including sign language; manners; social values; and mutual feelings originating from past experiences in our lives. I was educated at schools - Halifax School for the Deaf; Interprovincial School for the Deaf, Amherst; Edith Cavel School, Moncton; Moncton High School; and colleges - Gallaudet University, Washington, D.C.; Western Maryland College, Maryland; and University of Alberta, Edmonton.  

I have always been interested in writing about the history of Deaf people, Deaf community, and our culture. Through research online, there appears to be the lack of enough stories about Deaf people in Canada. For that reason, I want to contribute my time to writing for the Deaf  people. From time to time, I am going to write about today's events and past experiences about ourselves in the Deaf Community.

K.G. Lawrence's Deaf Journaling  is based on her reflections of Deaf people's lives and hearing people involved in the Deaf Community. Thus, this journaling is endorsed as the ownership of Kathern Geldart Lawrence.