Upcoming Events

Advocacy is a powerful tool to dismantle systemic barriers, challenge discrimination and create change by raising awareness, influencing policies, and mobilizing community members to get involved. But finding your voice and learning how to become an advocate can sometimes feel intimidating or overwhelming. CNIB’s new advocacy peer mentorship program, CNIB Advocacy Mentorship Network, aims to change that. Discover the tools and techniques you need to channel your frustrations and concerns into constructive advocacy efforts by enrolling in the CNIB Advocacy Mentorship Network!

VocalEye is the first dedicated live description service for blind and partially sighted people in Canada. Since its inception, VocalEye has described over 300 live events including theatre performances, dance, opera, parades, fireworks and public art tours for people who are blind and partially sighted. VocalEye Almost Live Zoom events are hosted by members of the blind community with special guest artists most Wednesday evenings.

This newsletter is for those interested in virtual or in person programs that are run specifically out of the Ontario West region.

Calling all aspiring young writers! The 2025 Braille Creative Writing Contest is now accepting entries. Write a short story, essay, or poem on any topic or re-purpose something you've written for school this year! Show off your creative writing talents for a chance to win cash prizes. 

This is a waitlist for when we have enough interest in the Windsor area for a Friendly Chat Peer Social Group. The program will be for those who are wanting friendly conversation and encouragement. It is designed for individuals who are blind or low vision to connect with others who are experiencing similar circumstances. Meetings will tie in good practices, information, discussions, caring and support. We hope that this group will start by being offered once a month in person. Once we are able to run this group, you will be contacted.

This is a waitlist for when we have enough interest in the St. Catharines area for a Friendly Chat Peer Social Group. The program will be for those who are wanting friendly conversation and encouragement. It is designed for individuals who are blind or low vision to connect with others who are experiencing similar circumstances. Meetings will tie in good practices, information, discussions, caring and support. We hope that this group will start by being offered once a month in person. Once we are able to run this group, you will be contacted.

The Vision Mate program is CNIB's flagship initiative for one-on-one support. Vision Mate volunteers are matched up with a person who is blind or partially sighted to provide one-on-one sighted assistance and companionship.

The Vision Mate program is CNIB's flagship initiative for one-on-one support. Vision Mate volunteers are matched up with a person who is blind or partially sighted to provide one-on-one sighted assistance and companionship.

Whether you believe you can, or you believe you can’t, you are right! Join the club that believes the word “Can’t" is not allowed! The I Can Club is focused on building the attitudes and skills that lead us to think about all that is possible. Are you a child or youth (age 29 and under) who is interested in exploring the world around you and finding ways to look at all the things that are possible, instead of only the obstacle in front of you?  In the I Can Club, you'll meet a group of individuals who challenge the word "Can't" with a “Yes, I can do that,“ or “How can I do that?" attitude. 

We’re excited to offer three amazing yoga classes, each designed to suit different needs and abilities. Whether you're new to yoga or seeking a gentle, mindful practice, we have something for you! All classes are held via Zoom, making it easy to join from the comfort of your home.

Make new friends, or deepen existing friendships, find support from your peers, and develop more theological insight about biblical understanding. Every Thursday (September to June) from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Central Time on Zoom or telephone.

Everyone loves games. This games group meets to socialize playing 2 to 3 different lively word games for the hour. Sessions are led by our own professional game hosts (aka CNIB staff and volunteers). We embrace a safe fun time to exercise your mind. Every Thursday from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Zoom. 

A monthly community-based support group for Vancouver area residents (ages 30-55) that offers ongoing emotional adjustment to vision loss support. Guest speakers are occasionally invited to present on different topics. First Thursday of every month from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Pacific Time on Zoom

A community-based support group for Victoria area residents that offers ongoing emotional adjustment to vision loss support. First Thursday of every month from 1 to 3 p.m. at the CNIB Victoria Hub.

Adaptive Dance instructor, Tiffany Tjosvold, will be leading a Zoom-based, high energy, seated dance class for participants ages 19+. This class is suitable for all fitness levels. Every Thursday from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. Pacific Time on Zoom.

Hey music lovers and musicians! Join us for a fun, creative, and laid-back musical experience! Whether you are here to unwind and enjoy talented musicians playing your favourite tunes, or you are a musician at any level (even if you are just starting out!), there is a place for YOU in our musical community. The The Music Room meets on the first Thursday of every month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Zoom.

Lift your voice and connect with others through the joy of singing. Join our vibrant online choir community on Thursdays, 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

A variety of exercises are included in the exercise hours program; participants will perform simple motions in certain sessions, while some sessions will take place in the water. Exercise Hour meets on the first and third Thursday of every month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at YMCA Rochdale.

If you like being read to or listening to audiobooks, then this program is for you! Each week, we will be listening to multiple chapters of a community-selected, family-friendly audiobook and chat about it! Join us Fridays from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern Time.

Sit back and relax in our virtual reading room and let the CNIB Lake Joe team share articles and stories of interest. Reading Room meets on the first Friday of every month from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Zoom information will be provided after registering. 

Join us for our Mix Level Yoga Class, a perfect opportunity to experience yoga at your own pace while embracing the Spring season! This class is designed for all levels—whether you’re a beginner or a more experienced practitioner, you’ll be guided through a series of poses and sequences that encourage relaxation, flexibility, and strength. Every Friday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the CNIB GTA Community Hub.

CNIB SmartLife Coach, Sara Salo, and technology volunteers are here to help participants get familiarized with SmartLife Assistive Technology, to assist with making smartphones and tablets more accessible and to recommend and offer demos on accessibility apps. Online training is also available upon request. Appointments are available Tuesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at CNIB Thunder Bay.

The in-person Friday Coffee Group is back! Rekindle old friendships while making new ones, meet new people and have enjoyable conversations. This group offers a safe, positive social network for those that are blind or partially sighted. This group meets in-person at CNIB Winnipeg every Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Central Time. Every Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Central Time at CNIB Winnipeg .

Designed for knitters/advanced knitters to work on projects, learn from peers, and enjoy knitting fellowship. Every Friday from 12 to 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Zoom.

This informal coffee chat provides a welcoming platform for individuals with sight loss to share their experiences, discuss concerns, and build friendships with others in the community who share similar journeys. Whether you are newly adjusting to vision loss or have lived with it your entire life, we warmly invite you to join us in a space where everyone is valued and supported. Every Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at CNIB Saskatoon.

Join us every Friday for a virtual meet up in the prairies with a friendly bunch of people looking to connect with others across the country! Make new connections and find friendships and enjoyable conversation. The focus is on a positive, inclusive, and safe support network of people who have experienced sight loss. Everyone is welcome. Virtual Coffee Group meets every Friday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Central Time on Zoom. 

Music alone shall live. It is hard for us not to fall in love with music. It is soothing and it greatly touches our soul. This program intends to bring youth and adults with blindness and vision loss from across Vancouver Island to experience many benefits for the mind, body, and soul that community and singing can bring. We are thrilled to welcome Marcelina Stanton as the musical director. She is a Latin American musician who loves to perform popular and traditional songs and play guitar. No prior singing experience is necessary. Everyone is welcome and if you play an instrument, you are invited to bring it along. CNIB Harmony Choir meets every Friday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at CNIB Victoria.

Sudbury and surrounding area children, youth and their families are invited to join us at the CNIB Community Hub for a day of fun and connection! Saturday, May 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the CNIB Sudbury Hub (1545 Regent Street, Suite 104, Sudbury).  

Adaptive Dance instructor, Tiffany Tjosvold, will be leading a Zoom-based, high energy, seated dance class for participants ages 19+. This class is suitable for all fitness levels. Every Thursday from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. Pacific Time on Zoom.

The Alberta Access to Education Coalition (AATEC) in collaboration with CNIB, is proud to host the second annual Access to Education Summit on Sunday, May 4, 2025. This year, we are excited to present a comprehensive toolkit of resources designed to equip parents and educators with the tools they need to better support children with sight loss throughout their education journey. In addition to our main summit, we are introducing a special Youth Summit. The Alberta Access To Education Coalition Summit is a hybrid event,  hosted in-person at Stanley A. Milner Library in Edmonton and virtually on Zoom, on Sunday May 5 from 12 to 8 p.m. Mountain Time. 

Join host Kelly MacDonald as he shares a blast from the past! Listen to all the old radio shows that made the genre so popular. Everything from mystery, comedy, westerns and holiday specific shows. Sit back and enjoy! First and third Sunday of every month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Zoom.

The Walking Group provides a chance for individuals who are blind or partially sighted to exercise and practice their mobility and travel skills. Every Monday (Tuesday when there is a long weekend) from 10 to 11 a.m.

Come out and enjoy the comradery of your peers while experiencing a variety of restaurants for brunch. A different restaurant will be chosen each month.

Join us at the CNIB Community Hub in Thunder Bay for a lively discussion about the books you’re reading and those that have captured your interest! Share your recommendations, discover new reads, and explore accessible technology designed to enhance the reading experience. This is a great opportunity to connect with fellow book lovers, exchange ideas, and socialize in a welcoming and inclusive space. Come for the books, stay for the conversation! Everyone is welcome. This book club meets at CNIB Thunder Bay every Monday from 1 to 3 p.m. Eastern Time.

The CNIB Winnipeg office offers a drop in for participants every Monday from 12 to 3 p.m. This is a space in which you can connect with other peers.

If you have a green thumb (or you'd like to have one), then this gardening discussion group is for you! We swap success stories, talk about our favorite plants, and generally 'dish the dirt' on all things horticultural. For all levels of garden enthusiasts. Whether you patio or container garden, or have lots of gardening space, the time in this group will just buzz by. Every Monday from 1 to 2 p.m. Eastern Time on Zoom.

If you are between the ages of 18-35 and would like to meet up with others in the Edmonton area, this group is for you. The Edmonton Social Meet Up group gets together once a month or a couple of hours to socialize at different locations.

his class is all about making yoga accessible to everyone, no matter your experience or physical ability. You’ll move at your own pace, with support for breathwork and mindfulness throughout. Every Monday from  5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Zoom.

Sit back and enjoy several stories from the well-known Chicken Soup books! A volunteer will be reading a selection of interesting and enjoyable short stories. First Monday of every month from 7 to 8 p.m. Newfoundland Time on Zoom.

Love cooking or would love to know more about cooking? Join this group to share ideas, tips, tricks and the joy of cooking and baking! Every Monday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Zoom.

Music Therapist Erin Koop hosts weekly sessions on Zoom for children and youth participants across the country. These interactive sessions are filled with songs, stories, and more!  Get ready to make some music!  This group runs on Zoom, every Monday from 3:45 to 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time.

This four-week program offers a supportive and inclusive environment for individuals adjusting to vision loss. Participants will have the chance to share practical strategies, fostering confidence, independence, happiness, and hope while redefining the experience of sight loss. Every Tuesday (beginning February 4, 2025)  from 1 to 3 p.m. at CNIB Winnipeg. 

Please join us for a fun youth coding program! Code Jumper is a computer coding program designed for youth with sight loss. Participants will learn sequencing, problem solving, and other coding applications in a fun and barrier-free environment. Next Step Coding will introduce youth participants to touch-typing skills that are necessary for the Python computer coding program.  Learn to Code: Code Jumper and Next Step Coding meets every Monday (April 28 to June 16, with the exception of Tuesday, May 20) from 6 to 7 p.m. at CNIB Saskatoon.

Join us for conversation, laughter, and a chance to reminisce about your favourite CNIB Lake Joe memories. Pour yourself a coffee, tea, or beverage of choice, login and connect with your friends from Lake Joe. Coffee Break meets every Tuesday from 9 to 10 a.m. Eastern Time. Zoom information will be provided after registering. 

The informal coffee chat group is a chance to socialize and meet new people. It is a very warm and welcoming group of regulars and newcomers. Every Tuesday from 10 to 11 a.m. Atlantic Time on Zoom. 

Are you craving that social interaction you normally get from going for coffee with friends? We are here to keep the virtual conversation going post pandemic! Since we've gotten to know each other, lets stay connected and share some good news stories, discuss practical tips and successes with others living with vision loss. Every Tuesday from 10 to 11 a.m. Eastern Time on Zoom.

The CNIB Mobile Hub visits Chatham, Ontario on Tuesday, May 6 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Chatham Centre Mall (100 King Street W, Chatham) Room T227.

The CNIB Mobile Hub visits Schreiber, Ontario on Tuesday, May 6 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Township of Schreiber Municipal Complex (204 Alberta Street, Schreiber) – Room 124.

CNIB SmartLife Coach, Sara Salo, and technology volunteers are here to help participants get familiarized with SmartLife Assistive Technology, to assist with making smartphones and tablets more accessible and to recommend and offer demos on accessibility apps. Online training is also available upon request. Appointments are available Tuesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at CNIB Thunder Bay.

Calgary Audio Book Club gets together monthly to discuss books they are reading and recommendations. First Tuesday of every month from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Mountain Time at CNIB Calgary.