Volunteer opportunities

Breeder carers play a vital role in bringing future CNIB guide dogs into the world by caring for one of our adult dogs from 12 months of age through the end of their breeding career, as well as supporting whelping and the early socialization of puppies up to 12 weeks old. The duration of the breeder carer role could be for approximately six months up to a number of years.

Breeder carers are responsible for meeting regularly with a CNIB Guide Dogs brood stock supervisor, transporting the dogs for all breeding related activities as well as coming to veterinary clinics or other locations like CNIB offices or shopping centres for regular obedience training visits. 

This role is best suited to people who have a great deal of flexibility and are willing to have a brood dog and young puppies into their home.

This includes:

• Providing a safe, comfortable, and secure, environment for the dog and litter of puppies
• Whelping a litter of puppies in your home 
• Providing early socialization for puppies from birth to 8 to 12 weeks of age
• Providing updates on the dog's progress
• Transporting the dog to veterinary appointments or training areas as needed 
• Maintaining the dog’s training, routine, and appropriate social behaviour 

Want to know more about the role:

Read our blog post about Brood Riley and her Brood Carer Cindy Helps

From classrooms to city hall or speaking to businesses, our Community Engagement Volunteers provide public education and advocacy to help raise awareness about key issues facing the sight loss community and create positive change for people who are blind or partially sighted. Unsupervised Community Engagement Volunteers attend community events and give presentations on behalf of CNIB without direct supervision of CNIB staff and are screened to attend engagements at settings with vulnerable populations (i.e school settings, seniors homes etc). 

Responsibilities & Tasks:

This position is flexible and dependent on volunteer skills and interests. Common activities for this position include: 

• Delivering community presentations on topics such as blindness etiquette, accessibility and inclusion, white canes and guide dogs, braille, and assistive technology. 
• Attending community events or consultations on behalf of CNIB to raise awareness and educate the public about sight loss and how they can create a more accessible and inclusive society.
• Meeting with decision makers including politicians and business executives to discuss accessibility policies and legislation. 
• Supporting CNIB’s advocacy initiatives including national and local campaigns.
• Sharing your personal story and lived experience of sight loss, if applicable
• Staying up to date with CNIB by participating in town halls and subscribing to our advocacy mailing list and Equalize newsletter.
• Option to get more involved by joining a local volunteer advocacy committee.
• Taking part in CNIB training opportunities when available.

From classrooms to city hall or speaking to businesses, our Community Engagement Volunteers provide public education and advocacy to help raise awareness about key issues facing the sight loss community and create positive change for people who are blind or partially sighted. Community Engagement Volunteers support our advocacy programming and campaigns under the supervision of CNIB staff and do not work directly with vulnerable populations (i.e school settings, seniors homes etc).

Responsibilities & Tasks:

This position is flexible and dependent on volunteer skills and interests. Common activities for this position include: 

• Attending community events or consultations on behalf of CNIB to raise awareness and educate the public about sight loss and how they can create a more accessible and inclusive society.
• Meeting with decision makers including politicians and business executives to discuss accessibility policies and legislation. 
• Supporting CNIB’s advocacy initiatives including national and local campaigns.
• Sharing your personal story and lived experience of sight loss, if applicable (i.e. to the media, government deputations, etc. excluding schools or other settings with vulnerable populations)
• Staying up to date with CNIB by participating in town halls and subscribing to our advocacy mailing list and Equalize newsletter.
• Option to get more involved by joining a local volunteer advocacy committee.
• Taking part in CNIB training opportunities when available.

Since 1997, CNIB has organized a Canada-wide Braille Creative Writing Contest for children and youth. This important competition celebrates braille literacy and encourages young people to flex their creative muscles while practicing their braille skills. 

The contest is looking for volunteer judge(s)! This is an opportunity for you to learn more about how CNIB supports braille literacy, while fostering creativity in young minds. Publishers, library staff and children's authors are welcome to apply. 

Responsibilities

May – June:

Depending on your familiarity with braille, you may be invited to attend one or more of the following:

• In-person or virtual introduction to braille and CNIB braille literacy programs.
• Tour of CNIB Hub or invitation to local CNIB program for children, youth, families.
• Tour of Beyond Print braille production facilities (Toronto)

July - August: 

•  You will receive text versions of all entries. Entries may be in English or French, and will include poetry, stories and essays. Entries will be of various lengths, from both primary and secondary students. Each entry you receive will have been assigned a score for Braille Proficiency. You will be adding a Creativity score for each entry and the combined scores will determine the winners (equal weighting is given to braille proficiency and creativity). 
• Number of entries may vary, but you should anticipate reviewing approx. 50 entries.  
• Creativity Scores for each entry will be due by early September 

Transition Boarders are dedicated to caring for pups during an important transition phase in their training while they are on their journey to becoming Guide Dogs. 

Boarders provide temporary care for future CNIB Guide Dogs. This role is best suited to people interested in bringing a dog into their home on a temporary basis.

This role is best suited to those who may not be able to commit to those earlier stages of a puppy’s life but would still like to help raise a puppy with purpose. As a Puppy Finisher, you’ll receive a 6-month-old puppy that is likely already toilet trained with most of their routine vaccinations completed. The puppy will have already spent the last 3 – 4 months building positive associations with the world around them, will have a basic understanding of their training, and may be able to settle quietly for up to an hour. 

This role is best suited to those who enjoy the early stages of a puppy's life. As a Puppy Starter, you’ll help potty train a puppy, build a foundation for obedience training and good manners, and most importantly, start your puppy off on the right “paw” with their socialization. Future Guide Dog puppies will need to attend several veterinary appointments. Their socialization schedule and training will keep you busy as they learn to cope with and navigate various environments, including their first few exposures riding on public transit.

As a puppy raiser, you’ll help build a foundation for obedience training and good manners, and most importantly, start your puppy off on the right “paw” with their socialization. Future Guide Dog puppies will need to attend several veterinary appointments. Their socialization schedule and training will keep you busy as they learn to cope with and navigate various environments, including their first few exposures riding on public transit.

In-person Event Assistants provide general assistance (sighted guide, making and serving coffee, etc.) and specific assistance (Dungeons and Dragons, music therapy, knitting, socials, etc.) at CNIB Events in Halifax. You would also help make our events social and fun by engaging in conversations and creating an open and cheery environment!

The Vision Mate Coordinator Assistant provides support to CNIB’s Manager of Programs to enhance our current recruitment, onboarding, and evaluation of Vision Mates.

Volunteer Drivers assist by driving CNIB staff with sight loss to training sessions and meetings. You will drive a rental vehicle or – occasionally – your own vehicle (you’ll receive mileage). Trips may be for an afternoon or over multiple days (CNIB will pay for your meals and accommodations during trips outside of the HRM).

Virtual Event Assistants login to CNIB Nova Scotia’s virtual events 20 minutes before they start and assist by using the Zoom platform to individually connect people into the event.

Weekly Callers phone a list of 20 interested people with sight loss once a week to let them know about upcoming events. Over time, the volunteers get to know the people they’re calling and can tailor their calls to individuals (i.e. John never wants to attend a Trivia Night, etc.). At least 60% of our virtual event attendance comes from these calls.

Smart Life Assistants provide shop support for 3.5 hours a week including assisting people with sight loss as they try various products in CNIB’s shop. This may include providing hand-over-hand guidance, demonstrating and recommending devices, processing sales, and maintaining the shop.

Tech Mates provide one-on-one and group support to people with sight loss learning how to use their smart devices. Training will be provided to the volunteer by CNIB in terms of best practices for assisting someone with sight loss and on the use of some sight loss specific functions and apps; however much of what Tech Mates help with is relatively simple (setting up emails, basic computer skills, etc.)

Living without sight can be challenging and sometimes it’s easier to have a friend help with daily sighted tasks. Our Vision Mate program matches volunteers with people with vision loss to help one-on-one for a couple of hours a week. You’ll help with activities like reading, organizing, running errands or going for walks. Activities are mutually agreed upon, based on your match's needs. Volunteers do not clean, cook, provide personal care or counselling.

To see a match in action, watch this video. 

Vision Mates provide regular, one-to-one assistance and companionship for a person who is blind or partially sighted. Matches are made with someone who lives close to your home, school or work. You visit once a week for a couple of hours to assist with tasks like reading, errands (like groceries and shopping), going for walks, and socializing.