An illustration of a calendar on a yellow background outlined in a black paintbrush-style design with white accents. Text: CNIB British Columbia Programs – Winter 2025.

CNIB British Columbia – Winter Programs

Join us! Our free programs are available to people who are blind, Deafblind, or have low vision as well as their families, friends and caregivers. Below, you'll find a snapshot of programs offered across the province throughout the winter. Schedule may be subject to change. We kindly ask participants to register for programs at least one business day before the start date. 

For program offerings available nationwide, explore our online calendar.

Advocacy Programs

  1. Accessible Community Engagement Presentation: By request, CNIB staff or volunteers provide virtual or in-person presentation about sight loss and CNIB services to businesses, community centres, schools, care homes and more. Please book a presentation by filling out the online form here. If you require any assistance, please contact Terry Kalkanis, Manager, Stakeholder Relations & Executive Operations at Terry.Kalkanis@cnib.ca or 604-431-2121 ext. 6030.  
  2. One-On-One Advocacy Support: CNIB Advocacy staff provides guidance and resources about any sight-loss related advocacy issues. Appointments are required. For more information, email Jamie.Auman@cnib.ca or call 604-431-2121 ext. 6022.
  3. Self-Advocacy Workshop:  Thursday, January 16, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Join us to learn how to advocate for yourself. Facilitated by one of CNIB’s advocate volunteers, this workshop will teach you how to be the best self-advocate you can be! To register, please contact Jamie Auman, Program Coordinator, Advocacy & Peer Support at Jamie.Auman@cnib.ca or 604-431-2121 extension 6022.

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Children & Youth Programs

  1. AI Unleashed: Tuesday, January 28, April 29, August 26, November 25, 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Join youth facilitator Shrey, a 15-year-old CNIB volunteer tech coach and technology enthusiast, as he shares his passion for helping people navigate devices like Windows, Mac, and more. With experience working with companies that develop products for people who are blind, Shrey's journey with AI began out of curiosity. He quickly discovered how to integrate tools like Chat GPT-Plus into his daily life. Sessions will delve into various topics and tips around AI. To register, please fill out this form.
  2. BC-Yukon Family Advocacy Group: Third Thursday of every month, 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. This advocacy group for parents and guardians aims to empower and connect families across the province and territory, working to identify advocacy items along with the needs of students who are DeafBlind, blind and partially sighted. To create a space for families, we have hired a parent facilitator, Sina Muscati.  He is a lawyer with Justice Canada, and the father of a son with a sight loss.  For more information or to register, please contact Alix Straith, Program Lead, Children and Youth at Alix.Straith@cnib.ca or 778-990-2356.
  3. Music for Kids - Monday Session: Every Monday, 3:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. via Zoom. Music Therapist Erin Koop hosts weekly sessions for children and youth participants across the country. These interactive sessions are filled with songs, stories, and more!  Get ready to make some music! 
  4. Music for Kids - Tuesday Session: Every Tuesday, 2:15 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. via Zoom. Music Therapist Erin Koop hosts weekly sessions for children and youth participants across the country. These interactive sessions are filled with songs, stories, and more!  Get ready to make some music! 
  5. Song Bingo Game Night:  Biweekly on Fridays, 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. via Zoom. Come join us for intergenerational fun! All you need to participate is access to a phone or Zoom and a bingo card at home or online. Feel free to play as a family or house. There will be prizes for the first three bingo winners of each game and those who correctly name the most tunes. This program is open to kids and “kids at heart” (all ages). Registration required. To register, please fill out the form here. For more information, please contact Shruti Shravah, Program Coordinator, Children & Youth, at Shruti.Shravah@cnib.ca or 604-644-6536. 
  6. Spring Break Day Camp:  New Westminster:  Monday, March 17 to Thursday, March 20, 8;30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at CNIB New Westminster. Join the Adventure with CNIB Day Camps! Get ready for an exciting spring break filled with fun and adventure! CNIB’s Day Camps, offering a variety of activities for students grade 6-12 in your community. Whether you're in the New Westminster or Victoria hubs, there's something for everyone to enjoy! From science experiments to guide dog workshops, it's all about making memories and building friendships. 
  7. Spring Break Day Camp:  Victoria: Tuesday March 25 to Thursday 27, 8;30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at CNIB Victoria. Join the Adventure with CNIB Day Camps! Get ready for an exciting spring break filled with fun and adventure! CNIB’s Day Camps, offering a variety of activities for students grade 6-12 in your community. Whether you're in the New Westminster or Victoria hubs, there's something for everyone to enjoy! From science experiments to guide dog workshops, it's all about making memories and building friendships. 

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Culture, Sport & Recreation Programs

To register for these programs or for more information, please contact Leni White at Leni.White@cnib.ca or 250-595-1100, ext. 6039, unless otherwise listed. 

  1. Coffee-Talks: Biweekly on Fridays, 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. via Zoom. Each session will have a topic of discussion. This program is designed for those 19+.  
  2. Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) Group: Every third Wednesday of every month, starting January 15, 2025, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. via Zoom. 
  3. Seated Dance Fitness Zoom: Every Thursday, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. via Zoom. Adaptive Dance instructor Tiffany Tjosvold will lead a virtual high energy, seated dance class for participants ages 19+. This class is suitable for all fitness levels. 
  4. Victoria Harmony Choir: Every Friday, 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. at CNIB Victoria. This program intends to bring youth and adults who are blind or partially sighted 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! 
  5. Self-Management - Lifelong Learning BC:  Dates and times TBD. This program offers FREE health programs for adults with chronic conditions, available in various formats (in-person, virtual, online, by telephone, or by mail) for BC residents. Learn the skills and gain the confidence to live well with chronic conditions.

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Come to Work Programs

  1. Youth Pre-Employment Introductory Series: Every Thursday from January 16 to February 20, 4:30 p.m. Join us for the CTW Pre-Employment Introductory Series! This series is tailored for students (ages 15 to 30) looking to explore next steps in their educational and career journeys and will cover topics such as attending post-secondary with sight loss, communicating for success, and music and gaming with sight loss. For more details or support with registration, please contact Ellis at Ellis.Parsons@cnib.ca. 
  2. Visionary Voices: Every Wednesday, 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. starting March 12 at . This 10-week hybrid series is designed to help you build confidence in public speaking, a valuable skill for future interviews and personal growth. Throughout the program, you will have the opportunity to hear from guest speakers, take on roles to help run the program, and receive constructive feedback on your speeches. We’ll also have an exciting Quick-Fire Challenge—a fun 1-minute impromptu speech aligned with the week’s theme to help you think on your feet! Whether you want to improve your speaking skills or simply find your voice, this program is the perfect place to grow. For more details or assistance with registration, please contact Adele at Adele.Arrazola@cnib.ca. 

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Peer Support Programs

  1. Kelowna Peer Support Group: Third Wednesday of every month, 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the Rotary Centre for the Arts (421 Cawston Ave., Kelowna). A monthly community-based senior support group for Kelowna area residents aged 55+ to discuss issues relating to sight loss and to socialize with others. Guest speakers are occasionally invited to present on different topics. 
  2. Kelowna Working-Age Connections Group: First Wednesday of every month, 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at CNIB Kelowna. This is a monthly community-based support group for Kelowna area residents (ages 30-55) that offers ongoing emotional adjustment to sight loss support. Guest speakers are occasionally invited to present on different topics.
  3. Prince George Connections Group: Biweekly on Tuesdays, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. at Prince George & District Senior Citizens Activity Centre Society (425 Brunswick St., Prince George). This is a community-based support group for Prince George residents that offers ongoing emotional adjustment to sight loss support.
  4. Vancouver Seniors Connections Group: Third Wednesday of every month, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. via Zoom. This is a community-based senior support group for Vancouver area residents aged 55+ that offers ongoing emotional adjustment to sight loss support.
  5. Vancouver Working-Age Connections Group: First Thursday of every month, 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. via Zoom. This is a community-based support group for Vancouver area residents (ages 30-55) that offers ongoing emotional adjustment to sight loss support. Guest speakers are occasionally invited to present on different topics.
  6. Victoria & Abbotsford Connections Group:  Second Thursday of every month, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. via Zoom. This is a community-based support group for Victoria and Abbotsford area residents that offers ongoing emotional adjustment to sight loss support.

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CNIB SmartLife & Technology Programs

  1. Assistive Technology Primers: Offers 1-on-1 training at CNIB locations or public libraries. These 90 minutes sessions are intended to give additional assistance to participants who have trouble learning in a group or virtual setting. Various dates in Prince George, Kelowna, Victoria and the Lower Mainland. To book, please reach out to Julia Bonnett at Julia.Bonnett@cnib.ca or 778-897-3115.
  2. CNIB SmartLife: Home to a myriad of accessible technologies and devices, CNIB SmartLife is an interactive retail and lifestyle experience like no other. CNIB SmartLife is committed to emboldening people with sight loss to lead independent, active lives and helping them gain access to life-changing technology. It is Canada’s largest retailer of assistive products for people with sight loss, serving over 20,000+ people a year, offering services both online and in physical spaces, as well as a variety of accessible technology programs. All proceeds from CNIB SmartLife go to supporting CNIB’s life-changing programs for people with sight loss across Canada.
  3. CNIB SmartLife Tech @ Home: Explore cutting-edge assistive devices right in your own home! If you live in BC and want to try a wide range of accessible technology, look no further than our innovative program Tech @ Home. Check out the accessible brochure, and discover the financial assistance programs in your province. Every Canadian with sight loss has the right to access accessible technology.
  4. Gift of Technology: Through the generosity of our donors, this program is able to provide various Assistive Technology devices at no cost to participants living with sight loss in BC. If you could benefit from an updated piece of technology or software, please reach out to Amit Ram at Amit.Ram@cnib.ca or 778-312-3155.
  5. Intro to Assistive Technology: Every second Tuesday, 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. via Zoom. Like it or not, technology is becoming a big part of modern life. People rely on computers and smartphones for work, school, entertainment and connection. For people with sight loss, assistive technology offers all of this as well as increased confidence and independence. Join us over Zoom to find out what is possible and how we at CNIB can help you harness the power of assistive technology. To register, contact Amit Ram at Amit.Ram@cnib.ca or 778-312-3155.
  6. Phone It Forward: Driven by the guiding principle to put as many smart devices into the hands of British Columbians living with sight loss as possible, the Phone It Forward program provides free smartphones and tablets to CNIB participants who are in need. To learn more, contact Amit Ram at Amit.Ram@cnib.ca or 778-312-3155.
  7. SmartLife New Westminster Open House: You're Invited to the CNIB SmartLife Open House at the CNIB New Westminster Hub! Join us on Saturday, March 1, 2025, starting at 10:00 a.m. for coffee, treats, and a hands-on experience with assistive kitchen technology. Explore accessible tools like the Talking Microwave, PenFriend, and the Be My AI app, which will be demonstrated in the Tech Café to showcase how it can enhance independence. To register, please fill out the online form. Connect with others, and see these innovative devices in action. We can’t wait to welcome you!
  8. Tech Mate: By being matched with a tech savvy volunteer, you learn how to use technology devices to your advantage. Tech Mate program provides one on one instruction on how to use technology to gain or regain independence. For more information, please contact Julia at Julia.Bonnett@cnib.ca or 778-897-3115.
  9. Tech Primer Cafe - Kelowna: Wednesday, March 5, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at CNIB Kelowna. Would you like to sit down with a coffee and a pal to learn the tech that will make vision loss easier? Would you like to browse through the SmartLife shop at the same time? Come join us at your local CNIB Hub. We’ll spend some time “in class”, followed by some small group and 1:1 work. We'll share some learning - and some laughs - together! Refreshments provided. For more information, please call Julia Bonnett at 778-897-3115.
  10. Tech Primer Cafe - Prince George: Third Wednesday of every month, 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. at Q3 Creative Business Hub (1299 3rd Ave). Would you like to sit down with a coffee and a pal to learn the tech that will make vision loss easier? Would you like to browse through the SmartLife shop at the same time? Come join us at your local CNIB Hub. We’ll spend some time “in class”, followed by some small group and 1:1 work. We'll share some learning - and some laughs - together! Refreshments provided. For more information, please call Julia Bonnett at 778-897-3115.
  11. Tech Primer Cafe - Vancouver: Would you like to sit down with a coffee and a pal to learn the tech that will make vision loss easier? Would you like to browse through the SmartLife shop at the same time? Come join us at your local CNIB Hub. We’ll spend some time “in class”, followed by some small group and 1:1 work. We'll share some learning - and some laughs - together! Refreshments provided. For more information, please call Julia Bonnett at 778-897-3115.
  12. Tech Primer Cafe - Vernon: Wednesday, March 5, 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. at Vernon Library (2800 30th Ave). Would you like to sit down with a coffee and a pal to learn the tech that will make vision loss easier? Would you like to browse through the SmartLife shop at the same time? Come join us at your local CNIB Hub. We’ll spend some time “in class”, followed by some small group and 1:1 work. We'll share some learning - and some laughs - together! Refreshments provided. For more information, please call Julia Bonnett at 778-897-3115.
  13. Wireless Wednesday:  Every second and fourth Wednesday, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Are you new to assistive technology? Want to get more out of your smart device or computer? This Zoom workshop is a 2 for 1! This drop-in workshop offers a short learning module on an Assistive Technology topic, followed by a tech-focused Q&A session. Come prepared to swap tips and tricks and strengthen your own tech skills in the process. To learn more, contact Amit Ram at Amit.Ram@cnib.ca or 778-312-3155.

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CNIB Mobile Hub

CNIB on the Road – the CNIB Mobile Hub is coming to a community near you. Drop in to meet CNIB staff and learn more about free programs and resources for people who are blind, Deafblind, or have low vision. Enjoy a day of recreational and social activities, technology workshops, and much more. Experience the latest breakthroughs in assistive tech from CNIB SmartLife and connect with other members of the sight loss community. We’d love for you to join us when we visit your community! For additional questions, please contact Sharon Pratt at Sharon.Pratt@cnib.ca.

  • Campbell River: Thursday, February 6,  10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at Campbell River Seniors Centre (1414 Ironwood Street, Campbell River) 
  • Parksville: Wednesday, February 5, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at Parksville Community Centre (223 Mills Road, Parksville)

For additional confirmed locations and dates, please visit www.cnib.ca/mobilehub.

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Community Corner

Lacrossing Barriers: Every Saturday starting January 25, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. Lacrossing Barriers is a non-profit Organization dedicated to providing opportunities to play sport, move, and learn skills to those in marginalized communities. They believe in All Abilities and All Possibilities, focusing on the supports participants need to enjoy and succeed. Join their Adaptive and Inclusive Lacrosse Programming for eight Saturdays, where they will share Canada's National Summer Sport through a fun, play, and laughter-based approach. To register, visit their website or email Scott@LacrossingBarriers.org.

VocalEye Almost Live Zoom Events: Every Wednesday (except the first Wednesday of every month), 6:30 p.m. VocalEye is the first dedicated live description service for blind and partially sighted people in Canada. Their Almost Live Zoom events feature audio plays, virtual art tours, festival highlights, music, dance, documentary film, storytelling, and more, hosted by Amy Amantea with special guest artists. These events are designed to be accessible for people who are blind and partially sighted, but everyone is welcome. Sign up for one event or the whole season.

To register: 
For VocalEye Almost Live Zoom events, please contact Lindsey Adams, Marketing & Communications Coordinator at Lindsey@VocalEye.ca.  
For VocalEye in-person events, please contact Donna Soares, Event Manager at Donna@VocalEye.ca.

For general questions about VocalEye, support or info, please call 604-364-5949 or email Info@VocalEye.ca. 

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