You can help more children and youth hit the ice!
Learn to Skate is a life-changing CBH (Canadian Blind Hockey) program that connects children and youth who are blind with the para-sport of Blind Hockey – often for the very first time.
For many, Learn to Skate is the beginning of a long-lasting love for Blind Hockey that transforms their childhood – connecting them with fun, friendship, mentorship, and the joy of hitting the ice as part of a team!
Thanks to donors like you, this program is available 100% free for children and youth to attend. But we need your support to bring this opportunity to more children and youth who are blind.
While there are many costs associated with Blind Hockey, all offset through CBH, one of the largest expenses are ice rink rentals. A donation of just $25 can help get at least one kid on the ice!
As a thank you for your generosity, and incentive to spread the word to your friends and family, all donors who give a minimum amount of $10, will be eligible to enter a raffle, if they choose, to receive an official CBH jersey, signed by the members of the soon to be announced Canadian National Blind Hockey team!
How the program works…
Learn to Skate is a one-day program jam-packed with fun, exploration, and all things Blind Hockey!
Children and youth are brought to an arena where they begin a sensory tour to familiarize them with this incredible new environment – all the way from the dressing room to the Zamboni to the press box.
From there, each participant is suited up with hockey equipment – including their own CBH hockey jersey that is theirs to keep – and paired one-on-one with a volunteer skating mentor. We partner with a local sighted hockey team who serve as our on-ice mentors and skating partners for the day.
During the program, children and youth have the opportunity to interact with peers who share their lived experience of sight loss while learning about Blind Hockey, the importance of sport, physical activity, and the Paralympic movement. They also get to try ice skating and Blind Hockey in a safe, inclusive environment. No prior skating experience is necessary. In fact, for many youth, it’s the first time they’ve been invited to try ice skating.
A powerful impact – made possible by people like YOU
Many Learn to Skate participants fall in love with the game and go on to participate in weekly CBH programming, regularly competing at the annual Canadian National Blind Hockey Tournament. Some participants have even progressed all the way onto the Canadian National Blind Hockey team!
Since establishing this program in 2010, we’ve hosted 200+ Learn to Skate events in all 10 provinces as well as the Yukon territory. Along the way, we’ve introduced over 2,000 young people to Blind Hockey.
Our goal this upcoming season is to host field trips in at least 25 communities across Canada to provide programming for over 250 students from coast to coast to coast.
You can help us meet this important goal. Please give today and help bring the joy of Blind Hockey into the lives of more children and youth who are blind or partially sighted across the country.
CBH and CNIB: Working together for change
Canadian Blind Hockey (CBH) and CNIB have joined forces to serve Canadians impacted by blindness. Recognizing the importance of sport and recreation to physical and mental health, CBH and CNIB are working together to ensure youth who are blind and partially sighted can are afforded the same opportunities as their peers at no additional costs to them.