Former Fort Frances resident Jim Pattison, a Canadian certified pedorthist from Prince Albert, Sask., was selected for the second year to attend the Calzateenia conference, sponsored by CIATEC, on Aug. 18-19 in Leon, Mex.
As last year, Pattison was the only Canadian in attendance and each day he addressed more than 1,000 delegates, including those from India, Colombia, Brazil, Nicaragua, the United States, Austria, and Mexico.
On the Friday, Pattison presented the topic “Effect of Disease on Shoe Design” to accommodate diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and circulation problems.
Then on Saturday, he explained “Take a Shoe Rapidly to Production with Planning and Implications.”
First the planning stage is defined by the disease, then shoe plans are designed by the implications of discomfort and corrections modified for the client’s needs.
The changes in production tends to widen the ball of the foot and a deeper construction of the shoe using leather, which is a more breathable type of leather with new soles of a special latex.
The shoes actually are taken on a road test for uppers and comfortable sole design. The feedback answers a spectrum of special need questions.
Different temperatures in different countries govern the slip resistance, traction, shock absorption, and flexibility to modify comfort in the knowledge of materials.
Each research team has two professionals to cut lab time to the road test and production of a better shoe required for the pedorthist to prepare for the client’s needs.
After his presentations at the conference, Pattison was surprised to see his picture and a story published on the front page of the AM Leon newspaper.
He was pictured holding the orthotic sole he has created for individual clients to compensate for foot problems, especially diabetic complications.
“He [Pattison] comes to Mexico because in his country the price of shoes is very high. In Mexico, the cost is 70 per cent less,” the reporter wrote.
“In Canada, we need shoes for wider and higher feet. We look for comfortable shoes in Mexico,” Pattison was quoted as saying.
In Mexico, a pedorthist can find a quality shoe worthy of a construction base on which to build orthotic soles for comfort, durability, and at a price clients can afford.
The conference in Mexico addresses a different crowd with educational information for shoe manufacturers to provide a product for clients with special need in comfortable-fitting, quality shoes.
CIATEC encourages technical research with annual conferences since 1976, held in the centre of the leather and shoe industry—Leon in Mexico.
It is developing the sound co-operative way to meet competitive world marketing.
Pattison, the son of Norma and Art Pattison of Fort Frances, is continuing his research after receiving his Canadian certification from the College of Pedothist of Canada.
His office is established in Prince Albert.
Fort Frances Times
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