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 fall. 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.
- Barrie Community Hub
- Brampton Community Hub
- GTA Community Hub
- Kingston Community Hub
- London Community Hub
- Ottawa Community Hub
- Thunder Bay Community Hub
- CNIB Mobile Hub
- Advocacy
- Vision Mate
- Support CNIB
Barrie Community Hub
- Beyond Vision Loss: This open group for participants in Simcoe/Muskoka meets quarterly. For more information, email lucia.ricardo@cnib.ca or call 705-728-3352 Ext 5281.
- Everybody Sings: World Singing Day with CNIB and Barrie Folk: Enjoy a musical performance and sing along to "Imagine" by John Lennon with the Barrie Folk Society. Learn more about Everybody Sings Barrie.
Brampton Community Hub
- Brampton Coffee and Chat: Meet others living with sight loss over coffee on the second Wednesday of every month from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Learn more about Brampton Coffee and Chat.
- Brampton Guitar/Ukulele Lessons: Enhance your guitar or ukulele skills with weekly lessons. Sessions run every Wednesday, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Instruments are available if needed. Learn more about Brampton Guitar / Ukulele Lessons.
- Brampton Meditation & Yoga: Find tranquility and improve your flexibility with our weekly yoga class. Classes are every Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. All abilities are welcome. Learn more about Brampton Meditation & Yoga.
GTA Community Hub
- Computer Keyboard Coaching: Improve your keyboarding skills with weekly coaching sessions every Thursday. Learn more about Computer Keyboard Coaching.
- Friendly Chat Group: Join friendly conversations and informative discussions on the third Tuesday every month from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Learn more about Friendly Chat Group.
- Guitar/Ukulele Lessons: Advance your skills with weekly in-person guitar or ukulele lessons every Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Learn more about Guitar/Ukulele Lessons.
- Music Jam: Join us for a vibrant Music Jam session on the third Tuesday of every month from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. All musicians and music lovers are welcome. Learn more about Music Jam.
- Repair Café Toronto: Join us for a day of repairs focused on accessibility devices. Bimonthly on the third Saturday of the month 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Learn more about Repair Café Toronto.
- Super Accessible Ultimate Karaoke: Experience the revolutionary Super Accessible Ultimate Karaoke Remix Challenge on the fifth Tuesday of the month from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Learn more about Super Accessible Ultimate Karaoke.
- Woodturning: Discover the art of woodturning on the last Thursday of the month from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. No experience needed. Learn more about Woodturning.
Kingston Community Hub
- Coffee and Chat: Join us on the third Thursday of every month for coffee, snacks, and discussions. Learn more about Coffee and Chat.
- SmartLife Technology Drop-In: Learn about the latest assistive devices at our monthly technology group on the last Tuesday of every month. Learn more about SmartLife Technology Drop-In.
- Young Adult Cooking Group: Join us monthly for a fun cooking club session from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Learn more about the Young Adult Cooking Group.
London Community Hub
- CNIB SmartLife & Technical Café: Join us on the second Thursday of every month from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. for a showcase of CNIB SmartLife products and technical solutions for assistive technology. Learn more about CNIB SmartLife & Technical Café.
- Harmony Hub World Singing Day: Celebrate World Singing Day by uniting voices across Canada. Join us for singing, music trivia, and games. Tuesday, October 8 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Lyrics and music for the two featured songs will be provided at registration. Learn more about Harmony Hub World Singing Day.
- Information Session for Friendly Chat Group London: Meet the volunteer group lead, Shelby, and learn about the Friendly Chat Group in London. Bring your lunch and stay for Bingo and Word Games afterward. Saturday, September 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Learn more about Friendly Chat Group London.
- Madcap Wednesdays With Friends: Enjoy a variety of activities including trivia, games, and cards on the first and third Wednesday of each month from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Learn more about Madcap Wednesdays.
- Saturday Bingo: Join us for some fun with Saturday Bingo. Laughter, make new friends, and try to get that line first! To register, email vera.orsini@cnib.ca.
Ottawa Community Hub
- Coffee, Tea & Chat: Gather for coffee, tea, and conversation on the third Wednesday of every month from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Learn more about Coffee, Tea & Chat.
- Kids & Teens Heroes Circle Martial Arts: Practice Power, Peace, and Purpose on the second Thursday of every month from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Learn more about Heroes Circle Martial Arts.
- SmartLife Technology Drop-In: Explore cutting-edge technology with monthly sessions on the first first Friday of every month. Learn more about the SmartLife Technology Drop-In.
- Thanksgiving Technology Open House Celebration: Join us on October 9 to discover new and innovative assistive technology. Learn more about the Open House Celebration.
- Teen Baking Group: Create and enjoy delicious recipes with peers on the third Thursday of every month. Open to ages 12-18. Learn more about the Teen Baking Group.
- Youth Games Club: Participate in a variety of games on the fourthThursday of every month from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Learn more about the Youth Games Club.
Thunder Bay Community Hub
- Accessible Art CoLab Exhibit - The Dream Weaver Project: Celebrate the creativity and resilience of people living with sight-loss at the CoLab Gallery in Thunder Bay from September 6-18, 2024. Learn more about the Exhibit.
- Book Club: Discuss your favorite books with fellow readers on the third Monday of every month from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Learn more about the Book Club.
- Coffee Club: Connect with others in the Thunder Bay area on the first Wednesday of every month from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Learn more about the Coffee Club.
- First Nations Vision Loss Peer Support Group: Second Tuesday of every month or virtually on the fourth Tuesday of every month on Zoom from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Learn more about the peer support group.
- Tech it Out: Fourth Thursday of every month from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Work 1 to 1 with a Tech Coach volunteer. For more information or to book an appointment with a tech coach contact sara.salo@cnib.ca.
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! A list of where we’re headed next is below, and you can check out our full tour schedule at cnib.ca/mobilehub.
- Windsor – September 20
- Owen Sound – September 26
- Burlington – October 7
- Sudbury – October 10
- Atikokan – October 16
- Fort Frances – October 17
- Markham – October 24
- Hamilton – November 18
- Niagara Falls – December 6
One-to-One Support
Advocacy Programs
If you are struggling with a self-advocacy issue, you don’t have to struggle alone. CNIB’s advocacy team is here to help. If you need assistance with writing a letter, figuring out what to say, or brainstorming next steps, contact your local CNIB advocacy lead.
- In Eastern and Northern Ontario, email kate.riccomini@cnib.ca.
- In the GTA and Southwestern Ontario, email neisha.mitchell@cnib.ca.
Vision Mate
The Vision Mate program matches people who are blind or partially sighted with sighted volunteers who provide companionship and one-on-one assistance with everyday activities. This program is also available virtually. For more information or to register, please contact your local program staff:
- In Southwestern Ontario email ian.masterman@cnib.ca.
- In Northern, Eastern, and Central Ontario email nicole.cartmill@cnib.ca.
- In the GTA email angela.campos@cnib.ca.
Support CNIB
You can support CNIB in many ways. Here’s a few of our urgent needs:
- Volunteer: Our Vision Mate program is always recruiting for volunteers to provide one-to-one assistance and companionship for a person who is blind or partially sighted. This program is also available virtually – with matches connecting by phone or online.
- Donate: Because of our generous donors, we can offer free programs to people who are blind or partially sighted as well as their families, friends and caregivers. You too can become a donor or plan your legacy gift that will change lives for years to come.
- Discover the many ways you can support us at cnib.ca.