Bringing awareness to chemical sensitivity

One of the quotes to be projected by Marie LeBlanc on walls of the Centennial Concert Hall.

“WHO says we need fresh air?!” is a series of quotes from sufferers of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Environmental Illness, Mold Exposure, Electrohypersensitivity Syndrome, Lyme Disease and other conditions related to Chronic/Complex Immunological Neurological Diseases.

The art installation is dedicated to MCS sufferer Eliana from Mexico, who passed away recently, and will be displayed by me (Marie LeBlanc) Fri. May 12 – Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)/Environmental Sensitivities Awareness Day — outside the Centennial Concert Hall (with a few quotes displayed on the indoor screens) starting at 7 p.m.

You will feel the cries for help of those living with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity from Manitoba, Canada and globally as they share their daily struggles to obtain safe housing and fresh air for their mere survival.

Marie LeBlanc is dedicating this year’s MCS awareness activities to Mexican MCS sufferer, Eliana.

My friend Eliana, from Mexico, who in her struggle for safe housing recently lost her life. At the point when I began collecting stories she had moved more than 73 times in the past few years. I could feel her cry for help. We at the MCS community feel the loss of Eliana, and know she is resting in peace.

Eliana found herself in places that were very unsafe physically, at times when the air she breathed inside was safe for her.

Housing is the greatest challenge for people with MCS. Many choose to become homeless as the air they breathe in their homes is not safe, thus forced to make the choice of being homeless for their mere survival, placed into the streets where it is physically unsafe.

Fresh air can mean many things to many people. For those with MCS, fragrance is a challenge in any environment. Feel what they are experiencing as they express what happens to them when exposed to everyday chemicals many take for granted.

Gerry McDougal, Marketing and IT Manager at the Centennial Concert Hall, hopes that “WHO says we need fresh air?!” will inform people about sharing the air and refrain from scents to enhance everyone’s experience.

I feel humans are becoming endangered. Loss of habitat and transportation corridors, and lack of social interaction is placing us in constant survival mode with no health care or any help at all. Animals becoming extinct are a cause for us humans becoming involved to stop this from happening. I feel humans are also becoming endangered.

There are no borders when it comes to MCS. However, the provincial and national borders keep us apart. The air we breathe is not controlled by borders, however, we are.

I would like to thank my fellow MCS friends who contributed to “Who says we need fresh air?!” and to the Centennial Concert Hall for graciously letting me share my message “WHO says we need fresh air?!” and for sharing the air.

The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra has scent free messaging on the back of their tickets, says McDougal. Their policy is listed on their website in their House Policies section, and it’s written in as a suggestion to patrons. As well, te WSO lists share the air as a suggestion on their website.