D4

Linda Hersey
Time of your life

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The life of Florence (Evans) Carter, formerly of Hillsborough, is truly inspiring.

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Florence Evans, a native of Hillsborough, helped create the five-volume text Celebrating Braille: A Canadian Approach, which was launched in January and is now in use across the country.

The daughter of Norman and Rae (Thompson) Evans of Hillsborough, she had one brother Greg (Bud) and a very close friend, Shirley Wright (Lockhart) that she still describes as "the sister I never had."

There was plenty of fun, including making ice cream and fudge, and once she jumped off the second-storey balcony roof that ran out from the bedroom "because I was determined to get out." As a child, she also liked playing school, because she dreamed of being a teacher.

All dreams seemed dashed though when, at 16, she was diagnosed with a brain abscess, and taken on a stretcher by train to Montreal where emergency surgery saved her life. The abscess damaged her optic nerve, leaving her blind. (She only has light perception in one eye).

"I got home just in time to graduate with my class -- mind you, I was bald-headed and blind, having just come through surgery. It was a horrible experience."

She believed her vision would return and refused CNIB assistance. Months later she relented, attending the Halifax School For The Blind for two years. When she found she could become an at-home rehabilitation teacher for the blind, she was overjoyed, took the course in 1947, and subsequently began teaching throughout the Maritimes. In 1951, she returned to Toronto for a refresher course, and met her husband-to-be, Lloyd Carter, whose sight was badly damaged as a four-year prisoner of war (Second World War). The two married and lived in Toronto. They had a son, Greg (a paramedic in Toronto), and now three grandchildren. Lloyd Carter is deceased.

Florence stayed home with Greg, "until he was a little older," then returned to teaching full-time, including teaching rehabilitation teachers. She still teaches one semester at Mohawk College, "training all the new teachers", and started the New Beginnings Group for CNIB's "newly blinded clients" -- now a CNIB core service.

As well, she and two other rehabilitation teachers, Rose Zampese (whom Florence trained) and Myra Rodriguez, wrote a five-volume text (and teacher's guide) entitled: Celebrating Braille, A Canadian Approach which was launched in January of this year in conjunction with the 200th anniversary of Louis Braille. This book is now in use across the country.

Florence is also active with Diners, a "wheels to meals seniors organization." In 1996, she received recognition for her work with the blind from the international Association of Education and Rehabilitation in St. Louis, Missouri, in 2002, the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal; and in 2007 the Grace Worts (secretary to CNIB founder) Award from the CNIB for her outstanding contribution.

Still living life to the fullest at nearly 82, she takes care of herself in her own home, enjoys family and the company of her cat, Tigger, loves to swim, read, square dance, attends operas and plays, and enjoys getting "back down east to have a good feed of goose tongue greens and dulse."

Vibrant and accomplished, Florence Carter is a remarkable woman.

n Time of Your Life, stories of people 80 years and older who aren't letting age slow them down, appears each Tuesday in Life & Times. If you'd like to nominate an active senior for this series, please contact the newsroom at 859-4982; or e-mail the nominee's name and some background on the nominee to life@timestranscript.com; or fax to 859-4904.