Imagine training a guide dog to sit quietly in a bustling café, board a plane, or navigate a construction zone – all without stepping outside.
At CNIB’s Canine Campus in Carleton Place, Ont., that’s exactly what’s happening.
The Indoor City – a game-changing training space made possible by the generosity of donors like you – simulates real-world scenarios to help future guide dogs gain the confidence and skills they need to empower Canadians who are blind to navigate the world safely and independently.
This one-of-a-kind environment offers the complexity of everyday life in a fully controlled setting. It’s a place where guide dogs – and the people who rely on them – can build trust, skills, and confidence.
A city built for learning
“Envision a bustling, simulated cityscape complete with sidewalks, curbs, road crossings, and elevated spaces,” says Ben Francis, CNIB’s Director of Guide Dog Training. “There’s an office building for socialization exercises, a simulated construction site, and intersections equipped with traffic lights and crosswalk buttons.”
Inside the Indoor City, guide dogs in training are exposed to a wide variety of public environments. There’s a bus stop and a faux café where dogs can practice settling under tables while their handlers work on a laptop or watch the world go by.
A mezzanine level helps dogs adjust to elevated settings and there are plans to add a high-quality sound system in the future. This will help introduce the dogs to realistic background noises like traffic, crowds, and thunderstorms – all within the safety and comfort of a training space designed with the dogs in mind.
The Indoor City lays the foundation for our guide dogs’ future work. It’s where our dogs will learn life-changing skills – like stopping at curbs, guiding someone safely through busy intersections, avoiding obstacles, and finding doorways or seats. Every lesson prepares them to become a trusted partner, helping their future handler move through the world with confidence and independence.
Preparing for takeoff: Simulating air travel
One of the most exciting features of the Indoor City is its newest addition: a life-sized airplane fuselage, complete with authentic airplane seating.
This innovative training area will help future guide dogs adjust to the tight quarters, unfamiliar sounds, and busy atmosphere of a real airplane cabin. Led by CNIB Guide Dog Trainers and Guide Dog Mobility Instructors, training sessions will teach dogs to lie calmly under seats and stay focused – even in a crowded environment.
Handlers will also receive practical guidance to help manage air travel with confidence, ensuring a comfortable and safe experience for everyone on board.
By introducing these realistic scenarios, CNIB is making air travel more accessible and less stressful for people who rely on guide dogs – setting both dogs and handlers up for success!
Why the Indoor City matters
While not a replacement for real-world training, the Indoor City offers something invaluable: flexibility. Whether it’s too hot or too cold outside or a dog needs a calmer environment to work through a challenge, trainers now have the space to adapt.
“Every inch of this space has been put to good use,” Francis says. “This Indoor City will prepare our guide dogs for success around every corner in the real world by mimicking the rich, independent life our handlers can experience with a guide dog by their side.”
What’s next?
Construction is already underway to install a functioning elevator that connects the ground floor to the mezzanine – and plans for an escalator are also in development.
These additions will continue to shape how CNIB prepares guide dogs for the real world – with heart, innovation, and care.
Thank you!
The Indoor City wouldn’t exist without supporters like you.
Because of your generosity, guide dogs are gaining essential skills in a safe, adaptable space – and the Canadians who will one day rely on them are gaining greater independence, mobility, and confidence.
Thank you for helping us build a training environment that’s as dynamic and full of possibility as the lives our guide dogs will help shape!
| Looking for a meaningful way to honour a loved one? You can now purchase a commemorative brick that will be engraved with a name or message of your choosing and displayed in our Indoor City! Your brick will be a lasting symbol of your love and generosity, while also empowering Canadians who are blind. Click this link to learn how you can honour a loved one. |