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CKMS Community Connections, Shows

CKMS Community Connections for 24 August 2026 with Robin Arnott of the Parkinson Society Southwestern Ontario

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Show Notes

A woman in a striped shirt sitting at a microphone smiling towards the camera
Robin Arnott

Robin Arnott of the Parkinson Society Southwestern Ontario tells Bob Jonkman about the work PSSO does, the Walk for Parkinson’s fundraiser, and their annual conference. She describes the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, tells us about the work of the support groups, the Graduate Student Scholarship Program , and some of the differences she sees in the different communities she supports in southwestern Ontario.

The interview starts at 2m50s.

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Podcast

Download: ckms-community-connections-2026-08-24-episode270-robin-arnott-of-the-parkinson-society-southwestern-ontario.mp3 (48 MB, 52m17s, episode 270)

Index

Time Title Album Artist
0m00s Theme for CKMS Community Connections ccc CKMS Sunflower logo (yellow petals surrounding a black centre with white wavies all on a teal background)
CKMS Community Connections 		Steve Todd
0m52s Flight of the Mothman Space Kitchen (comic book illustration of two people in spacesuits at the entrance of a cave with a giant moth)
Space Kitchen (2026) 		Space Kitchen
2m50s Introducing Robin Arnott and the Parkinson Society Southwestern Ontario, explaining what PSSO does, and talking about the Walk for Parkinson’s. PSSO is not a medical organization, but offers social support, webinars, and an annual conference. Working with local neurologists, nurses, and other experts. Robin gives details on the Fall Regional Parkinson’s Conference.
7m20s Talking about the extent of the Southwestern Ontario East Region. There are walks in each area, fourteen diffent locations. Every year they break the record for highest fundraising.
9m15s Robin explains what happens in a support group.
10m25s What is Parkinson’s Disease? Robin makes a disclaimer that she’s not a doctor, but gives a good description of the symptoms: tremors, mental health issues, digestion, communication. But there are many symptoms that Robin hears about for the first time. Parkinson’s is a varied disease. Some people have good experience with diagnosis, but it can take a long time for others. It might be up to 20 years of living with symptoms before diagnosis. The Parkinson’s Society doesn’t require a diagnosis to provide support, they support people. Shoutout to the YMCA of Three Rivers: Guelph, Kitchener, and Cambridge, who have provided exercise programs for people living with Parkinson’s. Exercise can help with the management of symptoms.
16m40s Robin tells us about the support groups, the different ways support groups work. There are support groups for care partners, separate from the people they’re supporting. The location of support groups aren’t publicly announced for privacy reasons, but are available by registering on the website. Communication can be by e-mail, postal mail, whatever works for people. People are directed to support groups based on their needs. There is no cost to the participants for support groups, only the conference has a fee. Sponsorships from local businesses help fund the support groups. Sponsors get some marketing boosts through the Parkinson Society. There is still a need for sponsors for the Walk for Parkinson’s.
24m29s Talking about the history of Parkinson’s Disease, and the progress in research. There are reseachers funded through the Graduate Student Scholarship Program funded by the Parkinson Society Southwestern Ontario. The research is neurlogy-based, not so much the social aspects, or accessibility requirements. Advocacy for laws like Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is left to other organizations. But PSSO does pay attention to accessibility for their conference and support groups.
29m25s Walk for Parkinson’s is a great way to let people know about Parkinson’s, there is not a big understanding of how prevalent Parkinson’s is. Robin provides us with some statistics. Bob wonders why a fundraiser for a mobility-based disease is done as a walk. Robin goes over the different non-walking activities. Pre-registration on the website is encouraged, but people can register for the walk at 10:00am on Saturday 12 September at Kiwanis Park in Kitchener.
32m40s Bob introduces the next song by Tim McInnes.
32m55s Where Do I Go? (headshot of Tim McInnes wearing a fedora and dark sunglasses)
(single) 		Tim McInnes
36m29s Robin tells us about her role in the Parkinson Society Southwestern Ontario, and the work in different communities. Robin tells of the volunteers and the work they do. Aside from volunteers who work in adminstration or for the fundraiser walk, there are volunteer support facilitators. PSSO will interview people for that role, and provides practice groups and annual training. A support group facilitator is the moderator for the conversation in the support groups.
44m21s PSSO was formed in 1993, starting with local support groups. There’s no national or international network of Parkinson’s Societies, although there are organizations that do world conferences. More global sharing is needed. PSSO concentrates on local support. There are regional variations in support, some rural areas have no neurologists so people need to drive to urban centres. But the biggest obstacle to be overcome is awareness of PSSO and the needs that still exist. The YMCA provides space, but the need is outgrowing the available space. There’s an online Kaffee Klatsch every Monday, for discussion on things not directly related to Parkinson’s.
50m10s Robin summarizes the events at the October conference, and the Walk for Parkinson’s. Bob gives the end credits.

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Bonus Video

Video: CKMS Community Connections for Monday 24 August 2026, 280 MB (Radio Waterloo video)

Show notes and podcast interview content is Copyright © 2026 by the participants, and released under a CC BYCreative Commons Attribution Only license. Copy, re-use, and derivative works are allowed with attribution to Radio Waterloo and a link to this page. Music selections are copyright by the respective rights holders. The theme music is written and performed by Steven Todd.