Uncategorised – Page 9 – Canadian Council of the Blind

For the safety of our employees, their families, and our society, the employees of the National Office of the Canadian Council of the Blind will be working from home.

What does this mean for you?

Our physical doors are shut. There is no GTT drop in, and all meetings scheduled in the space are cancelled. BUT we are still answering our emails, and the phones (please be patient with the phones as they are being forwarded to our homes), and doing our best to keep things running.

We are all in this together.

March 18, 2020April 9, 2020

A Statement from CCB about COVID-19

As President of the Canadian Council of the Blind at this very important time with the Corona Virus (COVID-19) I want to assure all members that we at the Council express concern for our country and most particularly our membership whom we consider as family.

We have compiled a few things for your attention. Our office will be opened at varying hours throughout this time. Emails and telephone messages will be answered in due course so please if you have any concerns let us know. 1-877-304-0968, ccb@ccb.monthlyconversion.com and check our web site for updates.

It is important to cancel all CCB social activities at this time. What is important is to have phone contact with your membership especially those who live alone. You can still conduct your local meeting via phone, Skype and GTT which is a great way to pass time as well as ensuring everyone is safe. If you are calling a meeting that normally would be in person check with Becky regarding setting up by phone. Also check with your GTT contacts.

We know and realize there is a lot of information on the news and social media and it can be overwhelming so best advice is to stay inside your home, avoid close contact if you need to go out and wash your hands frequently. We have no idea how long this will go on!

Many stores and restaurants are now offering take out services so that will reduce contact. As we realize there are many who are unable to get out to buy essentials so this is a time that we can contact our neighbours and friends to pick up these items for those of us who are healthy but not able to get out.

On the positive side this is a great time to download more books to read, watch TV – AMItv and radio, and movies. It is also a great time to get some long awaited chores to get done while we are all home.

Best wishes and Keep safe everyone.
Sincerely,

Louise Gillis, CCB National President

March 13, 2020April 6, 2020

VISIONS – March 2020

Read the newsletter here

February 26, 2020June 23, 2020

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada, to Serve as Viceregal Patron, to the Canadian Council of the Blind

PRESS RELEASE

The Official Portrait of Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada. — Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada
Photo credit: Sgt. Johanie Maheu, Rideau Hall © OSGG-BSGG, 2017

February 26, 2020 – Ottawa, ON –The Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB) is honoured that Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada, has agreed to serve, as it’s viceregal patron. We recognize this longstanding practice and are comitted to Her Excellency’s goal “to build on this tradition of recognizing exceptional contributions to Canadian society, by increasing the reach and impact of this relationship.”

“The Council is humbled by the continued recognition of its advocacy on behalf of the 1,560,000 Canadians living with vision loss and its role in changing what it means to be blind,” said the CCB’s National President Louise Gillis. “Whether it’s an awareness initiative or advocating governments for improved access and funding, the CCB identifies and addresses the specific barriers and obstacles that confront those with vision loss living in Canada. Our original mission and role (outlined in 1944), to promote the well-being of people with vision loss through advocacy, education, gainful employment, social association, and achieving a better quality of life, continues to this day.”

Today’s Canadian Council of the Blind

The CCB is the Voice of the Blind™ in Canada. Founded 75 years ago in 1944 by returning blind veterans and schools of the blind, the CCB is a membership-based registered charity that brings together Canadians who are blind, living with vision loss, or deaf-blind through chapters within their own local communities that provide the opportunity to share common interests and social activities.

The CCB works tirelessly to improve the quality of life for people with vision loss through advocacy and its dedication to building public awareness, improving the well-being of people with seeing disabilities and of its responsibility to promote and provide a better understanding of, and solutions for, the barriers faced by those living with vision loss all while shouting out, that a lack of sight, is not a lack of vision.

The CCB is proud of these efforts to change what it means to be blind, of its success in partnering and building relationships with other national and international organizations of, and for the blind. Most importantly, of its leadership role through initiatives that call for access to accessible, assistive technology, the provision of the very best in available medical treatments, and the fostering of patients’ rights, all while recognizing that blindness and vision loss are avoidable.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Becky Goodwin

National Office

Canadian Council of the Blind

Telephone: 1-613-567-0311

bgoodwin@ccb.monthlyconversion.com

www.ccbnational.net

February 19, 2020