NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TUESDAY, July 19, 2011

Kilometres for Communication Arrives in Nova Scotia

SHANS welcomes Kilometres for Communication to Nova Scotia; Cross-Canada Cycling Trek in Support of Assistive Communication Users Reaches the East Coast
HALIFAX, July 19 , 2011 The Speech and Hearing Association of Nova Scotia (SHANS) will host a
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welcoming party for a determined young man and devoted brother who, along with his family, will be rolling into Nova Scotia this week as part of their cross-country cycle trek. This campaign is in support of an estimated 375,000 Canadians who benefit from the use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) tools. Exactly two months ago, on May 19th, 2011, Skye Wattie dipped his bike tire into the Pacific Ocean at Port Renfrew, BC to officially launch the Kilometres for Communication project. Skye, along with his mother, Gail Fisher-Taylor, will reach Halifax on July 22nd on one of their final legs of a tour designed to raise awareness and resources for the many Canadians who rely on AAC tools to effectively communicate. We are proud and delighted to play a small role in helping Skye and the Kilometres for Communication team, spread awareness about the challenges facing those who must use AAC devices to communicate, said SHANS President, Janine Verge. Skye and his family are an inspiration to our members, as they would undoubtedly be to anyone who learns about their effort. We encourage all Nova Scotians to support Kilometres for Communications and to become more informed. To learn more, visit; http://kilometresforcommunication.com/ In honour of their arrival and to welcome them to Nova Scotia, SHANS is hosting a waterfront welcoming ceremony for Skye and Gail, which will feature refreshments, live music and a presentation on the campaign.

WHO: WHAT: WHERE: WHEN:

Kilometres for Communication SHANS Welcome to Nova Scotia Ceremony for the Team Maritime Museum of the Atlantic - Boardwalk Friday, July 22, 2011, from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m.

The event will feature remarks from Skye and Gail, demonstrations of AAC tools, a Strawberry Shortcake fundraiser as well as the music of singer-songwriter Mark Cameron and Guitarist Brian Baker (see attached bio). Members of the media are encouraged to promote and attend the event. Skye, and his family/team members will be available for interviews and visuals throughout the event and afterwards. They will speak to attendees at approximately 12:30 p.m. About SHANS: SHANS is the professional association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists in Nova Scotia. Led by the SHANS Board of Directors and Executive Director Paul Doucet, the mission of SHANS is to pursue an environment in which Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology professionals can meet their collective potential and support the communication needs of all Nova Scotians. For more information, please contact: Paul Doucet, Executive Director - SHANS Speech and Hearing Association of Nova Scotia M: 902-229-5922 or E: paul.doucet@blood.ca.

Singer/Songwriter Mark Cameron with Guitarist Brian Baker.

This local powerful duo joined forces in 2005 and immediately turned heads in the music industry, having shared the stage with acts such as Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, Little Texas and the Kentucky Headhunters. Marks unforgettable voice and Brians dynamic finger-picking, along with their laid-back and fun-loving stage presence have earned them a reputation as crowd favourites, covering a variety of original and well-loved country, rock, and Celtic tunes. In their free time, they enjoy giving back to the community, entertaining for various charity-fundraiser events across Nova Scotia. Mark Cameron is well-known in the community as an incredible singing talent, landing him as a finalist on CMT Karaoke Star in 2007. As a singer and songwriter seeking to collaborate with fellow East Coast musicians, his most recent album was co-written and recorded with songwriter Gordie Sampson in Nashville, T.N. Brian Bakers amazing finger-picking abilities, as featured on his 2010 album Local Weather, has been featured on CBC Radio and is making waves across the North American music scene. In 2008 and 2009, he had the honour of performing at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society in Nashville with guitarists from all over the world. This freelance musician currently shares his secrets of guitar mastery as an instructor and operator of Brian Bakers Guitar Studio, a music instruction studio in Halifax. If I heard your voice coming out of a bar in Nashville you would draw me in. CMT Host- Casey Clarke (re. Mark Cameron) A first call guitar picker for many East Coast recording acts Country Music News (re. Brian Baker) www.markcameronmusic.com www.brianbaker.ca