News

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.

In 2020, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) received a $75,000 Seed grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. With this funding, the CNIB was able to support participants in their goals to get active through a pilot project called EmpowerPlay.

RBC has partnered with CNIB Frontier Accessibility to offer BlindSquare, the world’s most widely used accessible GPS app developed for people who are blind or partially sighted, at more than 305 RBC branches across Canada.

After many discussions with the Government of Ontario, and powerful advocacy from CNIB and other disability organizations, Ontarians without a drivers licence can now renew their health card online using an Ontario photo ID card.