Canadian Council of the Blind Peterborough Chapter

🐾 Let’s support one of our own!

CCB Peterborough member John Morris is helping organize the upcoming Walk for Leader Dogs on Saturday, August 29!

The walk raises funds for Leader Dogs for the Blind, supporting greater independence and mobility for people who are blind or have low vision.

📅 Saturday, August 29
🕙 10:00 AM
📍 769 Borden Ave., Peterborough

Want to join the walk or support John with a pledge?

Contact John Morris at [email protected] or Frank Hewitt at [email protected].

Let’s get behind John and support a cause that means so much to our community. 💙🐕‍🦺

Image description: A blue-and-white Walk for Leader Dogs event poster featuring a black Labrador puppy wearing a blue “Future Leader Dog” bandana against a mountain landscape. The poster includes the August 29 date, 10:00 AM start time, 769 Borden Ave. location, Leader Dogs for the Blind and Lions Club logos, Real Canadian Superstore sponsorship, and registration contact information for John Morris and Frank Hewitt.

Last week, members, family and friends of the CCB Peterborough Chapter gathered for our annual summer BBQ — an afternoon filled with great food, sunshine, laughter, swimming, four-legged friends and, most importantly, wonderful company. Even our hardworking guide dogs got to enjoy a well-deserved break and a swim in the lake!

One of the things we love most about our chapter is the community that has grown around it. Our guests at this year's BBQ ranged in age from 4 to 89, proving that friendship, connection and a little summer fun truly have no age limit.

A very special thank you to our wonderful host, Jennifer, for welcoming us and helping make the day such a memorable one.

Days like this remind us that CCB Peterborough is about so much more than meetings and advocacy. It's about connection, friendship, inclusion and community.

Thank you to everyone who joined us!

A big thank you to Costco Peterborough!

We are so grateful to Costco Peterborough for their generous gift card donation to the Canadian Council of the Blind Peterborough Chapter.

Gifts like this make a real difference. They help us cover the everyday costs that keep our chapter running — from gas for volunteer drivers and transportation for outings, to supplies for our office space and lending library, refreshments for gatherings, and other practical needs that support our members.

Every contribution helps us continue creating opportunities for connection, independence and community for people living with vision loss.

**Thank you, Costco Peterborough, for supporting our local CCB community!**

If you or your organization would like to support the CCB Peterborough Chapter through a donation, please reach out — we’d love to hear from you. 💙

Photo description: CCB Peterborough member Christel sits with her guide dog, Barb, while holding a Costco Shop Card.

Wishing everyone a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable Civic Holiday. ☀️

Here's to making the most of these final weeks of summer. Happy Civic Holiday!

Photo description:
A red Muskoka chair overlooks a peaceful lake at sunrise beneath a clear blue sky, with the message "Happy Civic Holiday – Enjoy the Day" and the Canadian Council of the Blind logo.

Building a more accessible Peterborough—together.

Yesterday, members of the Canadian Council of the Blind Peterborough Chapter met with Travis Patterson, Program Manager, Accessibility Standards and Integration for the City of Peterborough, to discuss how we can work together to improve accessibility for residents who are blind or have low vision.

It was a positive, productive conversation focused on collaboration, education, and creating more accessible municipal services for everyone. We left the meeting encouraged by the City's openness to listening, learning, and working together.

A sincere thank you to Travis for his time, thoughtful discussion, and commitment to accessibility. We look forward to continuing the conversation and helping make Peterborough an even more inclusive community.

Image description: From left: Leslie Yee, Travis Patterson, Christel Galachiuk with guide dog Barb, and Yvonne Garvey stand together at Peterborough City Hall following a meeting on accessibility.

Last week, our CCB National Vice Chair, Leslie Yee, met with Emma Harrison, MP for Peterborough, to discuss the proposed National Eye Care Strategy. This week, I had the opportunity to continue that conversation on behalf of the Canadian Council of the Blind.

They discussed the proposal Health Canada has put forward to the federal government and what a National Eye Care Strategy could mean for Canadians living with vision loss or eye disease.

We always appreciate the opportunity to meet with our elected representatives, share the lived experiences of Canadians with vision loss, and discuss the importance of accessible, equitable eye care. Thank you, Emma, for taking the time to listen, ask thoughtful questions, and engage in this important conversation.

Image description:
Emma Harrison, MP for Peterborough, and CCB National Vice Chair Leslie Yee smile together following a meeting about Canada's proposed National Eye Care Strategy.

Access isn't a privilege—it's a legal right.

Guide dog handlers continue to face unnecessary barriers in places like restaurants, hotels, and ride-share vehicles, despite laws that protect their right to access.

Guide Dogs for the Blind has released a powerful new public service announcement highlighting some of the most common access denials that guide dog teams face every day. In just 60 seconds, it reminds us that inclusion starts with awareness—and with businesses doing the right thing.

Please take a moment to watch the video, then help us spread the message by sharing it with your friends, family, and local businesses.

Together, we can build a more accessible and inclusive community for everyone.

GDB Access Public Service Announcement 2026: "Nonsense" This satirical public service announcement (PSA) by Guide Dogs for ...

This July, we celebrate the strength, diversity, and contributions of people with disabilities while recognizing disability as an important part of identity not something to be hidden or overcome.

At the Canadian Council of the Blind, we remain committed to advancing accessibility, inclusion, and equity for people who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision. Together, we can build communities where everyone belongs and has the opportunity to thrive.

Let's continue to challenge barriers, celebrate disability pride, and create a more inclusive Canada.

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜



French Translation:
Ce mois de juillet, nous célébrons la force, la diversité et les contributions des personnes en situation de handicap, tout en reconnaissant que le handicap fait partie intégrante de l'identité et n'est pas quelque chose à cacher ou à surmonter.

Au Conseil canadien des aveugles, nous demeurons engagés à faire progresser l'accessibilité, l'inclusion et l'équité pour les personnes aveugles, sourdaveugles ou vivant avec une basse vision. Ensemble, nous pouvons bâtir des communautés où chacun a sa place et la possibilité de s'épanouir.

Continuons à faire tomber les barrières, à célébrer la fierté des personnes en situation de handicap et à bâtir un Canada plus inclusif.

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

🇨🇦 Happy Canada Day!

However you're spending today—whether you're with family, with friends, at the lake, at home, or simply enjoying a quiet moment to yourself—I hope it brings a little peace, gratitude, and joy.

Today is a chance to appreciate the beauty of this country, the communities we're part of, and the simple moments that make life meaningful.

Wishing you a safe, relaxing, and wonderful Canada Day. 🍁

Photo Description:
A peaceful Ontario cottage sits among tall evergreens beside a calm blue lake. A large Canadian flag flies proudly above a dock with a red Adirondack chair and canoe. "Happy Canada Day!" appears across the top, while the bottom gently fades to white for CCB Logo.

Today, June 27th, the CCB Peterborough Chapter celebrates 10 incredible years!

Looking back over the past decade, it's amazing to see how far we've come. From fundraising events and advocacy initiatives to tandem biking, curling, monthly chapter meetings, educational workshops, our Lending Library, Guide Dog Tales, community outings, and opening the doors to our very own space, called Our Site, in the fall of 2024, we've shared countless memories, milestones, and moments of connection.

None of this would have been possible without our dedicated volunteers, generous donors, community partners, and every member who has walked alongside us. Your support has helped create a place where people with vision loss find friendship, purpose, inclusion, and opportunities to thrive. For that, we are truly grateful.

For 10 years, we've been committed to creating opportunities that empower people living with vision loss to live active, independent, and connected lives. Whether through peer support, recreation, advocacy, education, accessible technology, our Lending Library, Guide Dog Tales, or simply sharing a cup of coffee at Our Site, every program has been built on one belief—that everyone deserves to feel they are a part of, not apart from, their community.

As we celebrate this milestone, we're filled with gratitude for everyone who has helped shape our chapter over the past decade. Together, we've built something truly special, and we're excited for all that's still to come.

Here's to the next 10 years of friendship, advocacy, inclusion, accessibility, and making a difference—together.

Happy 10th Anniversary, CCB Peterborough! 💙