By: Tessa Soderberg
CNIB Thunder Bay has received a $25,000 grant from the Thunder Bay Community Foundation for a Public Education Expansion Project. The project aims to reach indigenous and rural communities in the district of Thunder Bay to raise awareness of vision loss and the supports and services CNIB offers. This includes speaking with at least 150 individuals about CNIB and vision loss, hosting events in rural and indigenous communities, and offering teaching sessions with an Indigenous Elder, teacher, or musician. 
Some upcoming events include:
- Mask making with Elder Ma-Nee Chacaby. Ma-Nee will hold sessions where participants create and decorate traditional masks.
- Accredited music therapist Kaelyn McCallum hosts collaborative musical experiences by providing adaptive instruments engaging in song writing and group music making.
- Dream Weaver with Indigenous Artisan Betty Carpick combines traditional and modern materials in artistic creations to be displayed at Goods and Co Collaborative Gallery. The exhibit will include an audio component to describe the works.
- Two open houses (at CNIB Thunder Bay and Fort William First Nation) where community partners are invited to participate.
- Attending other local health fairs and partner with the CNIB Eye Van to visit several outlying communities.
- The First Nation Peer Support Group is creating a podcast to tell their stories and show how CNIB has provided support. This will be distributed to northern reserves and available on Indigenous community websites and radio stations.
To learn more about CNIB’s community engagement activities in Thunder Bay and how you can get involved, contact Tanis Boardman at tanis.boardman@cnib.ca or call 807- 633-6527. More information will also be available on CNIB’s website in the coming weeks.