CNIB is saddened to hear of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We are proud to have had a long history with the British monarchy; as the Queen's representative in Canada, the Governor General has been CNIB's official patron since our founding in 1918.
Queen Elizabeth II herself was the official patron of the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB), an organization that has been a long-time partner and friend to the CNIB community.
“Her Majesty the Queen was a dedicated supporter of inclusion and equity for people with disabilities, including people who are blind or partially sighted,” said John M. Rafferty, President and CEO of CNIB. “On her many trips to Canada, Her Majesty often prioritized meeting Canadians with sight loss and raising awareness of the issues our community faces.”
In the coming months, CNIB will look to memorialize the Queen’s dedication to our community and the difference she made in the lives of people with sight loss across Canada.
We send our deepest condolences to the British Royal Family, and all those touched by this loss around the world.