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>> RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THE ARTS
HAVE A SPECIAL WAY OF HELPING US
HEAL BOTH PHYSICALLY AND
EMOTIONALLY.
>> IN A SPECIAL REPORT TARA
YOLAN LOOKS AT HOW THEIR LIVES
WERE SHATTERED WHEN THEY BECAME
PARALYZED AND HOW AN ART PROGRAM
IN SASKATOON HAS BROUGHT THEM
BACK FROM THE BRINK.
>> Reporter: JULY HAD 4,,000 5,
JACK COG AS A PROFESSOR AT THE U
OF S WAS RIDING A BIKE ON THE
MEEWASIN TRAIL WHEN HE WAS
STRUCK HEAD-ON BY A 12-YEAR-OLD
ON A BIKE.
>> WHEN I REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS
I WAS A QUADRIPLEGIC.
I COULDN'T MOVE MY ARMS OR LEGS.
>> Reporter: ACROSS THE CITY,
DENNIS ANDERSON, A FORMER
LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER WAS COPING
WITH THE PAINFUL EFFECTS OF
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.
THE TWO MEN FOUND THEMSELVES
INSIDE THE SHERBROOKE COMMUNITY
CARE HOME PLAGUED WITH
DEPRESSION.
>> I WAS PREPARING TO GO TO
SWITZ SKMRAND GET AN ASSISTED
SUICIDE.
>> Reporter: A SHORT TIME HAD
PASSED AND THE SASKATCHEWAN ARTS
BOARD SENT IN AN ARTIST IN
RESIDENCE AND AFTER WEEKS MAUCHG
THE MEN AND OTHERS STRUGGLE WITH
NEWFOUND LIMITATIONS HE GOT TO
THINKING.
>> WHAT IF THEY WERE ABLE TO
COMMUNICATE THROUGH PAINTING?
WHAT IF THEY COULD GET OUT SOME
OF THAT FRUSTRATION OR ANGER ON
A CANVAS, AND SHARE THAT WITH
EVERYBODY.
IT TOOK SOME COAXING BUT
EVENTUALLY THEY CONVINCED JACK
AND DENNIS TO POUR THEIR SOULS
ONTO CANVAS.
BEFORE LONG THE ART WAS AT THE
MENDEL ART GALLERY, IN A SHOW
CALLED "THE NOTICERS," AND
VIEWED BY THOUSANDS.
BUT ONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASS
IN PARTICULAR WAS SO TOUCHED BY
THE MEN'S WORK THEY JUST HAD TO
MEET THEM, AND SO THEY WROTE.
>> I LIKE YOUR ARTWORK, IT'S
VERY INTERESTING.
>> YOU'VE INSPIRED ME TO WRITE
AND DRAW LOTS OF STUFF.
>> I LIKE HOW YOU EXPRESS TWROUR
FRUSTRATION THROUGH ART.
I'VE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT HOW
HARD IT IS TO BE DISABLED.
>> IF YOU COME TO OUR SCHOOL YOU
CAN TEACH US HOW YOU DRAW AND
THINK.
>> Reporter: ONE WINTERY MORNING
THE CLASS GOT THEIR WISH.
AND MAGIC HAPPENED.
THEY TALKED ABOUT HOW THE
PROCESS EVOLVED...
...
GOT ME A MOUTHPIECE AND A STICK
AND SAID HERE'S A PIECE OF
PAPER.
I DREW MY DOG.
>> JEFF KEPT ON BUGGING ME,
PAINT SOMETHING, PAINT SOMETHING
WRITE DOWN ON THE CANVAS WHAT IT
IS YOU CALL YOUR WHEELCHAIR
(INDISCERNIBLE)
YOU MEAN 175 POUNDS OF THINKING
DESPERATION?
GEE LAUGHED AT WHAT ONCE BROUGHT
FRUSTRATION.
>> WHAT COLOUR OF PAINT DO YOU
WANT?
SKPA SAID PURPLE, AND HE SAID
PURPLE?!
YOU DON'T WANT PURPLE!
>> Reporter: AND THEY SHARED RAW
EMOTION.
>> AFTER I WAS HIT ON THE
BICYCLE MY LIFE JUST WENT INTO A
VORTEX.
AND I GO RIGHT INTO THE TOILET
BOWL RIGHT INTO THE SEWER.
>> Reporter: THE STUDENTS WERE
HOOKED.
>> THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE THERE
THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING DOWNWARD,
THEY'RE NOT GOING UPWARDS,
THEY'RE JUST FALLING UP IN THE
SKY.
>> THERE'S ANGELS SDP AND DOWN
IN HELL THERE'S THE DEVIL.
>> A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHEN THEY
GO INTO SHERBROOKE, THE ONLY WAY
TO GET OUT OF THERE IS THEY DIE.
>> Reporter: NOW DEATH IS NO
LONGER AN OPTION IN THESE MEN'S
MINDS AND THAT'S HUMBLED THIS
ARTIST TO THE CORE.
>> IT'S PRETTY OVERWHELMING.
I DON'T WANT TO GET EMOTIONAL
ABOUT IT ON CAMERA, BUT...
>> Reporter: THE FOLLOWING WEEK
THE STUDENTS WERE INVITED TO
SHERBROOKE, AN ENVIRONMENT
TYPICALLY FOREIGN TO CHILDREN.
>> WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE KIND
OF PEOPLE AT THAT LIVE IN THIS
COMMUNITY.
THEY WERE VERY PREPARED TO SEE
PEOPLE ABOUT SOME PHYSICAL
LIMITATIONS AND I THINK THAT
EVERY CHILD SHOULD EXPERIENCE
THIS BECAUSE YOU ONLY FEAR WHAT
YOU DON'T KNOW.
THEY GOT THEIR FEET WET AND
IMMERSED THEMSELVES IN THE ART.
THE RESIDENTS OF SHERBROOKE AND
THE IDEA THAT LIFE CAN CHANGE IN
THE BLINK OF AN EYE.
>> IT'S NOT LIKE THESE PEOPLE
ARE CRAZY.
THEY JUST HAVE AN UNFORTUNATE
ACCIDENT OR ILLNESS.
IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT.
>> Reporter: A VERY GROWN-UP
OBSERVATION.
>> I THINK EVERYBODY IS CHANGED
IN A WAY THAT NOBODY COULD HAVE
PREDICTED.
>> JACK COULD HAVE NEVER
PREDICTED THAT AFTER THAT SUMMER
DAY IN 2005 HE'D EVER FIND HIS
WAY OUT OF THE DARKNESS.
>> CONNECTING WITH THE STUDENTS
AT QUEEN ELIZABETH SCHOOL IS THE
BEST DAY OF MY SECOND LIFE.
>> Reporter: THE INSIDER SHOW
WILL BE TOURING THE PROVINCE FOR
THE NEXT YEAR AND A HALF.
IN THE MEANTIME, JEFF IS WORKING
ON GETTING FUNDING TO CONTINUE
THE PROGRAM AND EXPAND IT INTO
OTHER LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.
HE SAYS IF THIS COMBINATION OF