Ontario region switcher

Notice

For content relevant to your community in Ontario, Please select your region

John Rafferty, President and CEO of CNIB stands behind by four members of the Nanji Family. On the left, Hale Mahon presents a certificate to the Nanji family on behalf of the MPP’s office in Barrie. The group poses for a photo inside the newly renovated Nanji Family Foundation CNIB SmartLife Centre in Barrie, Ontario.

CNIB announces opening of new SmartLife Centres across Canada

BARRIE, ONT., August 16, 2021 – CNIB, Canada’s largest non-profit serving people with sight loss, celebrated the grand opening of the Nanji Family Foundation CNIB SmartLife Centre in Barrie on August 13, 2021.

CNIB SmartLife is an interactive retail experience that gives people with disabilities of all ages hands-on access to the latest breakthroughs in assistive technologies, as well as tried-and-true favourites. The opening of the Barrie CNIB SmartLife Centre, now the second location in the country, was made possible by a generous donation from the Nanji Family Foundation.

"The ultimate goal of SmartLife is to give our customers the skills and confidence they need to make the most out of assistive tools that can help them lead better lives,” says Gary Nenson, Vice President of Philanthropy for CNIB. “We’re incredibly grateful to the Nanji Family Foundation for this extraordinary gift. With their support, we'll be able to empower Canadians with disabilities to take full advantage of these life-changing products and technologies.”

Thanks to the transformational gift made by the Nanji Family Foundation, the organization will be opening an additional four SmartLife Centres across Canada over the next several months – including locations in Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa, and Brampton.

“The sense of sight is something many of us take for granted,” says Pyarali Nanji. “So we wanted to find a way to give back by increasing access to innovative technology and training for Canadians with sight loss.”

As of today, consumers can access in-person support through the Toronto and Barrie locations, or visit cnibsmartlife.ca to order products from the comfort of their home.

-30-

About CNIB

CNIB is a non-profit organization driven to change what it is to be blind today. We deliver innovative programs and powerful advocacy that empower Canadians impacted by blindness to live their dreams while tearing down barriers to inclusion. Our work as a blind foundation is powered by a network of volunteers, donors and partners in communities across Canada. To learn more or get involved, visit cnib.ca.

For more information, please contact:

Alison Byczok, Director, Marketing and Communications

416-272-0464 | alison.byczok@cnib.ca

More News

Today, 23 new partnerships, including 15 guide dogs, seven buddy dogs, and one ambassador dog, formally graduated as part of the CNIB Guide Dogs Class of 2024.

As part of the celebration, viewing parties of the graduation ceremony were held in communities across Canada. For many graduates, these events signified not only the end of months of anticipation and formal training – but also a tribute to all the individuals who supported each dog in their journey, making these partnerships possible.
April 17, 2024 – Yesterday, the Government of Canada released Budget 2024 and announced that the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit will start in July 2025, pending a regulatory design process. The benefit will be funded with $6.1 billion over the next six years. 

This investment equates to a proposed maximum of $200 per month for eligible recipients who qualify for the Disability Tax Credit. Further, Budget 2024 does not invest in a strategy or programs that enable people who are blind or have low vision to join the workforce. 

While the passage of the Canada Disability Benefit Act was an important first step, CNIB joins the growing list of organizations and advocates calling on the government to commit to more support to lift people with disabilities out of poverty.  
Together, CNIB and CIRA are making the internet a safer and more equitable place for young people living with blindness.
Sail into summer with a taste of the Caribbean! CNIB is proud to present Sailing on the 6ix – A Night of Senses boat cruise event aboard the Obsession 3. Let’s bring the Caribbean experience to life with the tastes, sounds, and excitement of Toronto’s renowned Caribbean Carnival. Thursday, May 30 from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Get ready! The fifth annual CNIB Guide Dogs Pup Crawl is coming back this year on April 17 and will run for six amazing weeks.
Read more news