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Meet the CNIB Lake Joe Community
A collection of stories that highlight the voices of CNIB Lake Joe. From past and present campers to our dedicated volunteers, board members, and generous donors – discover why our community is so passionate about CNIB Lake Joe.
Please also check out our blog post about how camp changes lives.
CNIB Lake Joe for Beginners: Alessia’s Story
Alessia Trulli’s life changed at 22 when she woke up one day and couldn’t see. Diagnosed with cone-rod dystrophy, Alessia was going to school and supply teaching as an Early Childhood Educator as she started to adjust to her sight loss.
All in the Family: Kathy gives back to CNIB Lake Joe by volunteering
Kathy McCormick and her family have a long history with CNIB Lake Joe. Their first time at camp was in 2002 with their oldest son Jack, and since then, someone in the family has either volunteered or worked at the camp.
Meet Munashe
In July, Munashe Nyenya visited CNIB Lake Joe with three other youth from Alberta for the Canadian Leadership Development Program (CLDP). This program offers youth who are blind or partially sighted an opportunity to come together for learning, skills development, social interaction and good fun. We caught up with Munashe to hear what he had to say about his time at CNIB Lake Joe.
An intervener’s experience at CNIB Lake Joe
Every year during Adult Week programming, CNIB Lake Joe welcomes guests who are Deafblind and their intervenors. Laura Mason is an intervenor with CNIB Deafblind Community Services in Hamilton, Ont. And we spoke with her about her experiences at CNIB Lake Joe.
Meet Harjinder Saran
In July, Harjinder Saran visited CNIB Lake Joe with two other youth from British Columbia for the Canadian Leadership Development Program (CLDP). We spoke with Harjinder about her experience.
CNIB Lake Joe’s New Blind Hockey Program featuring Luca DeMontis
This summer, CNIB Lake Joe was extremely fortunate to have Luca DeMontis, Program Director at Canadian Blind Hockey and General Manager of the Canadian National Blind Hockey Team, coach the first-ever Blind Hockey Camp during Camp Abilities Week.
An interview with Daniel Kisielewski
This interview is based on a “Guestimonial” Llonella Gilbert, our CNIB Lake Joe Communications Intern, had with Daniel during his stay at CNIB Lake Joe.
Meet Shawn Johnson
Born in Peterborough, Shawn now lives with his family in Hiawatha First Nations, Ontario. He is First Nations Mississauga Ojibwe and is a Sun Dancer. Shawn lost his sight in 2010 at the age of 50. His first visit to CNIB Lake Joe was in 2013, and he hadn’t missed a year until the pandemic closed in-person camp in 2020.
Lion Peter Best: Smashing Transportation Barriers
For many campers, transportation poses a significant barrier to visiting CNIB Lake Joe. With the support of Lions Clubs and dedicated Lion Peter Best, campers from southwestern Ontario have travelled safely and comfortably to Lake Joe on "Peter’s Bus" since 1989.
What’s YOUR Mountain? Team Limitless encourages kids to live without limits
Jason Mitschele always wanted to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. He used to live in Africa and knew others who had made the assent. Blind from birth, Jason thought climbing was a lofty dream, but he is not the kind of guy to hold back.