News

Imagine arriving at a job interview, excited at the thought of discussing your qualifications with a prospective employer, only to be told that you won’t be considered for the job because of your mobility device. For Stephanie Pilon, a guide dog handler from Sudbury, Ontario, this scenario became a reality when she was told she couldn’t be hired because her guide dog might bite or harm a client. But Stephanie’s experience is not an anomaly.

CNIB is honoured to share that The Birks Family Foundation has generously sponsored two future guide dogs named Birks and Drummy. Birks is a male yellow Labrador Retriever while Drummy is a male black Labrador Retriever. They are brothers who were born on May 9, 2022 in Australia and are now being raised in Calgary before they begin their formal training at the CNIB Canine Campus in Carleton Place, Ont.

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.

Let’s go to camp! On Aug. 13, people from across Muskoka converged in a synchronized dock party in support of an important cause that has been beloved by locals, cottagers and campers for more than 60 years: CNIB Lake Joe, a one-of- a-kind camp dedicated to providing uplifting experiences for Canadians with sight loss. This year the camp’s trademark gala, Dock-to-Dock: Taste of Muskoka — hosted by TV personality Joan Kelley Walker and sports broadcaster Rod Black — raised $170,000 to create enhanced watersports programming.

NOVA SCOTIA, July 25, 2022 – CNIB, Canada’s largest non-profit supporting people who are blind or partially sighted, announced today that Canadian opera singer and concert artist Measha Brueggergosman will become the organization’s newest official brand ambassador.

Mohawk College suspended its Accessible Media Production (AMP) program for Fall 2022 due to not meeting targeted enrollment numbers. Dr. Mahadeo Sukhai, Vice-President, Research and International Affairs and Chief Accessibility Officer at CNIB has penned a letter to the President of Mohawk College, Ron J. McKerlie, in response to the announcement.

CNIB is pleased to announce that Deloitte Canada has generously donated 300 smartphones to our Phone It Forward program. This incredible donation will support and empower people with sight loss across Canada to live more active, independent lives.

CNIB Deafblind Community Services is thrilled to share that in honour of National Deafblind Awareness Month, the Government of British Columbia has announced that they will be providing dedicated funding for intervenor services to support British Columbians who are Deafblind.

On May 26 and 27, 2022, CNIB participated in the Government of Canada’s first annual Canadian Congress on Disability Inclusion (CCDI) in advance of nationwide celebrations for National Accessibility Awareness Week. The virtual, two-day event was opened by the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, who spoke about the realities and experiences of persons with disabilities today, and the work ahead to realize disability inclusion in Canada. Angela Bonfanti, Acting President and CEO of CNIB, participated in a virtual panel discussion on Inclusive Services in Rural and Remote Communities.

With Saturday’s destructive storm still impacting our communities, we are thinking of you, and your family and friends. If you need support, please call us at 1-800-563-2642 or email us at GlobalAffairs@cnib.ca, so we can share local resources. Our Contact Centre is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. EDT. If you’re currently experiencing an emergency, please call 911.