Glider Spotlight: Meet Dr. Leo Bissonnette.

In this monthly series, we're putting the spotlight on our Gliders community to celebrate individuals who inspire us. This month, we're highlighting Dr. Leo Bissonnette, a who among many other accomplishments has spent decades in the field of post-secondary education, providing accommodations to students with disabilities.

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Thanks for joining us, Leo! Let's start with an easy one: Where do you live?

I live in Beaconsfield, Quebec, Canada. Beaconfield is a suburb of Montreal.

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What do you do for work, or what is a big passion / hobby of yours?

I have been retired for 12 years and am active in several groups and projects. I am the 2nd Vice-President on the National Board for the Canadian Council of the Blind. I am also President of the Low Vision Self-Help Association, a group offering support to blind and low vision people living on the West Island of Montreal. Last but not least, I also serve on the board of Braille Literacy Canada, an organization promoting Braille.

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What's a typical day like for you?

I have the good fortune to live with my daughter and her family. Days get started with my Grandson, Jack, getting me up and going. Breakfast with the family and then after they leave it may be zoom calls on projects and meeting planning for upcoming event.

Then quiet time with my K9 Buddy, Elway. Elway came to our family through the Guide Dogs for the Blind Program where K9 Buddies - dogs that fail out are sent to homes. Our family became the first Canadian family to receive a K9 Buddy; Elway arrived here last May. So my time with him is relaxing and enjoyable.

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What is your favorite podcast?

Maybe you might call me a “podcast junkie”. I have 35 podcasts on my Victor Stream 3rd generation. I daily check for topics of interest to me. Of course, I make it a point to listen to those where the Glide is featured!

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What's one accomplishment or thing in life that you are most proud of?

From the perspective of 72 years of living a very fulfilling life, I have two:

My best work was as a husband to my wife Coralie. We shared so much together for 35 years. I learned so much from her. Every day I celebrate what we had and I miss her everyday after her death in 2019.

Being a father to my daughter, Alison, is part of this best work too and being a grandfather to Jack, is all part of Family Work. I’d add that I have a wonderful son-in-law, Dan, who is keen to learn about technology that I use..

I had a wonderful career as an academic at Concordia University. I obtained a doctorate in educational studies. I managed for 35 years an office for students with disabilities at a time when services for students with disabilities were developing.

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What's one lesson you've learned in life that you'd like to share?

Stay engaged with people and events happening around you. You learn so much that way and you stay active!

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What's got you most interested in Glide?

It’s the belief that Glide will make mobility even easier. The integration of cameras and other evolving technologies will offer us a new way to get out and enjoy life in ways that we have not even thought of. It is the promise of independence!

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Anything else you'd like to share with the Gliders community?

It’s the power of community that we share as we await the development of Glide. What we will ultimately receive later this year is what I call a socio-Tech revolution, that is the best of evolving technologies coming together through community. Let’s move this forward together!!!!…

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Thanks so much for sharing your story, Leo! We're thrilled to have you as part of the community, and appreciate all of the support, feedback, and input you've given us over the past year!

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Feel free to connect with Leo here, or learn more about his remarkable 35 year tenure with Concordia University here.

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