CNIB Advocacy Hits the Road with Workshops for Ontario Guide Dog Handlers

By: Stephanie Pilon

With generous funding from The Law Foundation of Ontario, CNIB has created new resources designed to educate police officers, guide dog handlers, and the public about the legal rights of guide dog handlers. 

The first resource developed was a training video for police services in Ontario. Developed in collaboration with the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, Toronto Police Service, Halton Regional Police Service and York Regional Police, we premiered the video in January at a screening event at Hot Docs Theatre in Toronto.

As part of the next phase of this project, CNIB Advocacy will be touring Ontario to deliver in-person legal information workshops to guide dog handlers. Through these workshops, guide dog handlers will learn about their legal rights under Ontario's Human Rights Code and the Blind Persons' Rights Act. 

Workshop Highlights

You will:

• Learn about the legislation that protects guide dog handlers in Ontario.
• Understand your legal rights as a guide dog handler and how to explain, assert and enforce them.
• Gain practical strategies and advice on responding to access denials and how/where to turn for enforcement and support.
• Discover new helpful resources and contacts.

To register to attend an in-person workshop, please click on the location listed below: 

1. Windsor: Sunday, May 25, 2-6 p.m. at Lions Manor (230 Strabane Ave., Windsor)
2. London: Monday, May 26, 4-8 p.m. at the  CNIB London Community Hub (171 Queens Ave., Suite 101, London)
3. Kitchener/Waterloo: Tuesday, May 27, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada (31 Kingsbury Drive, Suite 113,  Kitchener)
4. Brantford: Tuesday, May 27, 5:30-8:30 p.m. at W. Ross Macdonald School (350 Brant Ave., Brantford)
5. Burlington: Wednesday, May 28, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Burlington Public Library - Central Branch (2331 New Street, Burlington)
6. Toronto: Thursday, May 29, 4-8 p.m. at the CNIB GTA Community Hub (1525 Yonge Street, Toronto)
7. Thunder Bay: Monday, June 16, 4-8 p.m. at CNIB Thunder Bay (229 Camelot Street, Thunder Bay)
8. Sudbury: Tuesday, June 17, 4-8 p.m. at the CNIB Sudbury Community Hub (1545 Regent Street, Suite 104, Sudbury)
9. Ottawa: Wednesday, June 18, 4-8 p.m. at the CNIB Ottawa Community Hub (425 Marché Way, Suite 104, Ottawa)
10. Kingston: Thursday, June 19, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Rideau Heights Community Centre (85 Maccauley Street, Kingston)
11. Toronto: Saturday, June 21, 2-6 p.m. at the CNIB GTA Community Hub (1525 Yonge Street, Toronto)

For more information, contact Stephanie Pilon, Manager, Advocacy and Campaigns at stephanie.pilon@cnib.ca.