The CNIB National Youth Council provides council members with the opportunity to influence change and increase awareness of issues facing young Canadians living with sight loss. The council also ensures CNIB initiatives, programs, and policies reflect and respond to the needs of young people with sight loss.
Our mission
CNIB's National Youth Council advocates for equal and equitable opportunities for youth who have sight loss.
Our vision
A world where youth who have sight loss thrive in their autonomy and empowerment.
Your CNIB National Youth Council
Between meetings, council members are actively engaged in their roles and projects in a team environment, promoting collaboration, communications and leadership. Meet the young leaders who are driven to change what it is to be blind today!
Will Honcharuk – Chair, Vancouver, BC
Will Honcharuk is in his fourth year at Western University, where he is working towards a Business Administration degree from the Ivey School of Business and a Bachelor of Media Studies. In his free time, Will enjoys camping, theatre, and film history. Will became a National Youth Council member because he is motivated by creating a positive impact on the next generation of young Canadians with sight loss. Upon graduation, Will hopes to utilize his business and multimedia marketing knowledge to develop best-in-class concepts and become a force for change in the world of accessible marketing.
Emilee Schevers – Vice Chair, Kawartha Lakes, ON
Emilee Schevers is an Early Childhood Education graduate from Mohawk College. In her free time, Emilee enjoys get outdoors with her family, going on walks, and painting her nails. Emilee became a National Youth Council member because she is passionate about creating awareness for vision loss and making the world a more accessible place. This also inspired her and her sister to create Tru Faces – an online community and social media movement for individuals with disabilities to share stories, experiences and educate about their lives. Follow Tru Faces on Instagram and Twitter.
Alicia Chenier – Executive Member, Sudbury, ON
Alicia Chenier is an Early Childhood Education graduate from Cambrian College who is passionate about public speaking and raising awareness about disabilities and accessibility. Alicia shares her life on social media as a brain tumour fighter and survivor, chronic illness warrior, and person living with sight loss. During her time on the National Youth Council, she hopes to develop resources to help youth with sight loss achieve academic success in high school and post-secondary studies. You can learn more about Alicia's journey by following her on social media: Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Eitel Houedakor – Executive Member, Montréal, QC
Eitel Houedakor is a Pure and Applied Sciences student at Dawson College in Montréal. He has been involved with the CNIB National Youth Council since January 2018 and currently serves as council Chair. Eitel is passionate about programming, writing and literature and is driven by an unbreakable will to create a world where having a disability does not restrain anyone’s potential. From his perspective, the National Youth Council is a unique opportunity to make this dream become a reality.
Oceanne Comtois – Ottawa, ON
Oceanne is passionate about all things accessibility. She currently works in communications and social media as a social media manager and through her personal Instagram and TikTok accounts where she shares her life as someone living with albinism and sight loss. In her free time, Oceanne enjoys reading, science, horseback riding, and exploring the city with friends in search of the best new coffee shops in town. She joined the National Youth Council because she is dedicated to ensuring people with disabilities are represented, engaged, and supported in society. Follow Oceanne on Tik Tok, Instagram and Twitter.
Rilind Dragoshi – Moncton, NB
Rilind Dragoshi holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Crandall University. He currently works in taxpayer support, and as a Facilitator with Talkdoit, where he practices pronunciation, grammar, and English conversation skills with mainly Spanish-speaking students and professionals. He enjoys reading, spending time with family and friends, and food! Rilind joined the National Youth Council to collaboratively create more opportunities for blind and partially sighted youth in every sphere of life. His main areas of focus have been employment equity for the blind and promoting accessible and universal design.
Danica Frappier – Val Caron, ON
Danica Frappier is driven by helping others, learning new things, and having a positive impact on her community. She is currently working towards a Masters in Social Work at Laurentian University. When she is not volunteering, she is most likely studying or listening to podcasts. Danica brings unique professional and lived experiences, making her an asset to the National Youth Council.
Taylor Gaudon – Ottawa, ON
Taylor Gaudon is a 2021 graduate of Sheridan College’s Bachelor of Film and Television Program. Her goal is to amplify the voices of people with disabilities through her career as an exploring creator. She is passionate about music, going on adventures, animals (especially cats) and most valued to her, advocating for the blind and partially sighted. Taylor became a council member to use her experience, skills, and creativity to continue striving for awareness and change alongside incredibly strong and courageous like-minded individuals.
Caelin Lloyd – Bridgetown, NS
Caelin is a grade eleven student form Bridgetown, Nova Scotia. In school, he is a leader in his student council and gender and sexuality alliance and plays saxophone and percussion in the Jazz and Concert bands. He is a dedicated volunteer and is involved in many community organizations and committees where he advises on matters of accessibility. He joined the National Youth Council to provide a voice from youth in his mainly rural region, and to address the gaps he experienced growing up. He is a recipient of a Governor General’s Respectful Citizenship Award, and an associate of the Nova Scotia Secondary Schools’ Students Association. Follow Caelin on Instagram and Twitter.
Aadim Rajan – Burnaby, BC
Born and raised in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia, Aadim recently completed his Bachelor of Commerce degree at The University of British Columbia Sauder School of Business. In his spare time, Aadim loves to try new restaurants, binge-watch Netflix, or go for a run. Passionate about people and purpose, Aadim is ecstatic to be joining CNIB and to be supporting the organization in providing a voice for people impacted by blindness.
Curtis Ruttle – Calgary, AB
At just 17, Curtis Ruttle is the youngest member of the National Youth Council. In his spare time, he enjoys photography, blind hockey, skiing, and skateboarding. Curtis became involved with the National Youth Council to help make a difference in people's lives with sight loss, educate and advocate, and work alongside youth with the same mindset and goals as himself. In a short time, he has been on the council; he has started many different projects. He is currently the recipient of a grant through RisingYouth, a program led by TakingITGlobal, to create an accessible skatepark environment for youth with low vision. To learn more about the project, visit altroute.ca or check out Alt Route on Instagram!
Abby Sienko – Vancouver, BC
Abby Sienko is pursuing their Bachelor of Art degree in Child and Youth Care at Douglas College. As a DeafBlind person, they are an advocate for change within the DeafBlind/Blind community as well as other marginalized communities. Abby is also a part of the LGBT Community and understands the systematic barriers that many in the community encounter. In their free time, they enjoy playing piano, singing showtunes, dancing, reading various books and exploring nature. Abby is excited to be part of the CNIB-NYC to advocate and empower young lives! Follow Abby on Instagram.
Get involved
Each year, the National Youth Council seeks diverse youth representation from across Canada, with the next application process being launched in the fall 2023. For more information, please bookmark this page for updates or contact us at nationalyouthcouncil@cnib.ca.