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General Information
Choices and Goals: The 2021 Convention of the Canadian Federation of the Blind!
The 2021 National Convention of the Canadian Federation of the Blind took place the first weekend of May 2021. We did not have a convention in 2020, but CFB has been hard at work on initiatives to provide better information, more choice, and help for blind Canadians to reach their goals. The 2021 Convention was a three-day extravaganza showcasing the successes of the past two years, connecting blind Canadians with information and tools from our supporters, and taking on new challenges to forward equal participation of blind Canadians.
Our CFB annual conventions are a time for celebration, revitalization and networking. We know that blind Canadians are ready to come together. We may not have done all we set out to do, but we delivered on our promise to make this one of the most exciting and empowering conventions we have ever run.
- General Information
- When: Friday, April 30 to Sunday, May 2
- Where: Anywhere and Everywhere (powered by Zoom)
- Registration: $10 (entitles attendees to be entered into door prize draws and other conference features),
We look forward to seeing you again at our may 2022 convention.
NFB National Representative
NFB National Representative
The Canadian Federation of the Blind is pleased to welcome Scott Labarre, president of the National Association of Blind Lawyers to represent the National Federation of the Blind at this year’s convention.
Acknowledgements
We’ve said it before, but we’ll keep saying it many times again. Thank you to all of the people who brought this convention together and made it a success.
- Alex Jurgensen – Committee Chair
- Brian and Kerry Kijewski – convention Master of Ceremonies
- Joanne Gabias – lead zoom administrator
- Nancy Gill – Door prize Coordinator
- Roger Khouri – Lead mentor and customer tech support person
- Erik Burggraaf – Convention Webpage Administrator
- Douglas Lawlor, Skye Mundell, Elizabeth Lalande, Mary Ellen Gabias, and Marie Tullett – Hard work behind the scenes on whatever needed doing
- Our 67 registered attendees – Your support means the world to us.
- Scott Labarre – Representing Mark Riccobono on behalf of the National Federation of the Blind.
- Our convention sponsors and exhibiters – Check them out in our exhibit hall section.
Exhibit Hall
The Canadian Federation of the Blind extends our sincere gratitude to our sponsors and exhibiters for 2021. Please thank them by exploring their services.
HumanWare Canada Speaker: Rachel Feinberg, Blindness Products Specialist
You are invited to join HumanWare at 3:00 pm PST for a spotlight demonstration on the new intelligent braille displays. Come visit us to learn about the exciting new Brailliant BI X series and ask questions to our experts. In addition, one lucky attendee will win a $50 Amazon gift card!
Plan Institute (Melissa Cairns and Tom Brooks)
Access RDSP is a partnership project developed by three non-profits – Plan Institute, Disability Alliance BC (DABC) and the BC Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS) to provide free resources and supports to individuals with disabilities and to those who support them. We specialize in providing support on the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) and Registered Disability Savings Plans (RDSP). Join our presentation to hear more about these topic areas and the supports we offer.
Download our brochure: Access RDSP Introduction – Our Services (Oct 2020)
Neil Squire Society
Neil Squire operates the WorkBC Assistive Technology Services program in BC. We have funding for assistive technologies to overcome workplace barriers caused by disability, chronic pain and old injuries. For people looking for employment via the 102 WorkBC Employment Centres and those in the workforce employed part or full-time or self-employed. We will share the program details of who qualifies, what is covered the process to apply and success stories.
Canadian Assistive Technologies LTD (Steve Barkley)
Canadian Assistive Technologies is Canada’s fastest growing independent distributor of products for people who are blind or visually impaired. Join us to learn about our company, our products and the service and support we provide for our clients.
Accessible Media Incorporated, AMI
AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through accessible media, reflection and portrayal.
Purrformers Braying in the Sky
The purrformers feline therapy centre’s mission is to get an emotional support cat into the hands of those who need them. We are also attempting to give those who require it access to feline therapy. We do this in the following ways. 1. educating the general public about the importance of feline therapy and how it helps people with many and varried types of disabilities. 2. Promoting and selling a number of diferent products that will help us raie the money to accomplish our goal. These products enclude: Albums, books, t-shirts, advertising time on our tube cast, and art work.
Agenda
Agenda
Our agenda was packed with great speakers presenting on a wide variety of topics. You can click the link beside each item to hear the presentation.
Friday April 30th, Networking Day
| Time | Event | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30 AM- 1:50 PM | Exhibitor presentations | Hear directly from companies and service providers about their products and services. |
| 9:30 AM | Opening Exercises | |
| 9:45 | Gateway Navigation | David Brun |
| 10:00 AM | Canadian Assistive Technology LTD. | Steve Barclay |
| 11:00 AM | Neil Squire Society (not released) | Nate Toevs |
| 11:40 AM | Plan Institute | Melissa Cairns |
| 12:20 | ||
| 12:55 | The National Network for Equitable Library Service (NNELS) | Daniella Levy-Pinto, Project Coordinator; Riane Lapaire Braile and Accessibility Testing Coordinator |
| 1:30 | HumanWare | Peter Tucic, Brand Ambassador of Blindness Products |
| 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Exhibit Hall | Tour our online exhibit hall and meet directly with companies and service providers. |
| 5:00PM – 6:00PM | Open Chat Room | General networking |
Saturday May 1st, General session Presentations
| Time | Event | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00AM – 12:00PM | General Session Presentations | |
| 9:00 AM | Opening exercises | |
| 9:10 AM | Diversity and intersectionality panel | Host: Kerry Kijewski; Panelists: Victoria Francis, Sky Mundell, Jinnie Saran |
| 10:00 AM | Blindness and Parenting panel | Host: Nancy Gill; Panelists: Erik Burggraaf, Elizabeth Lalonde, Melissa from Happiness Is Blind |
| 10:50 AM | Talk Description to Me | Presented by Christine Malec and JJ Hunt: You can find more information here: |
| 11:10 AM | Report on the Impact of the CNIB Monopoly on Blind Canadians | Presented by Daryl Jones, author of the report. You can read the report here. |
| 12:00PM – 1:00PM | Lunch | Take a much-needed screen break |
| 1:00PM – 4:00PM | General Session Presentations | |
| 1:00 PM | Welcome back | |
| 1:05 PM | Kernels of Hope | Presented by Maggie Bray, Kernels of hope is our peer support program which uses the NFB Kernel to provide positive solutions to every day issues around blindness. |
| 1:25 PM | The Blind Canadian Magazine | Presented by Doris Belusic and Kerry Kijewski, You can read the Blind Canadian here. |
| 1:40 PM | Special Presentation by the Canadian Organization of the Blind and Deafblind, Camp Bowen, the Pacific Training Centre for the Blind, and the Bowen Island Research and Development Society (BIRDS) (Recording not available) | Hosts: Jocelyn Gladysz, Alex Jurgensen, Elizabeth Lalonde |
| 2:30 PM | Screen Break | |
| 2:45 PM | Braille Literacy Canada Part one Braille Literacy Canada part two |
President Natalina Martiniello |
| 3:05 PM | Outlook on Radio Western Surpasses 100 Episodes | Brian Kijewski, Kerry Kijewski, hosts of the Outlook on Radio Western radio show. You can catch up on apple podcasts or listen live Mondays at 11:00 eastern on radio western. |
| 3:25 PM | BC Human Rights Tribunal rules that bike lanes in front of bus stops discriminate against blind transit riders | Oriano Belusic |
| 3:45 PM | Landlords allowed to refuse housing to blind people in shared accommodations, and you might be able to help | Ben Fulton | 4:00PM – 5:00PM | Open Chat Room | For those who cannot get enough screen time. |
| 5 PM – 6:45 PM | Banquet | Support your local restaurants and join us for the banquet including Keynote address by Mary Ellen Gabias, and words from the National Federation of the Blind presented by Scott Labarre. |
| 7:00PM – 8:00PM | Open Chat | |
Sunday May 2nd, Membership Day
| Time | Event | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00AM – 10:30AM | Canadian Federation of the Blind Annual General Meeting | Open to the public, but only members can vote. Click here for membership information |
| 10:30AM – 11:30AM | Open Chat Room | For anyone who just cannot stand to see the end of convention. |