Editor’s Note: What follows is volume 3 of Blind News Victoria, released on january 3, 2017. For convenience, headings have been added to this archived version. The timestamp on this archived copy reflects the time the original word document was last edited and does not reflect the time at which the newsletter went out via email.
Blind News Victoria
A publication of the Pacific Training Centre for the Blind
January 2017
Happy New Year from Blind News Victoria!!
Here are some upcoming events early in the New Year to brighten up the short winter days.
Adaptive Dance classes:
Want to be active and creative in a supportive setting? Move in new ways, release tension, and have fun through a variety of guided dance movement activities. All abilities welcome. Geared to ages 19+. No dance experience needed.
Date: Mondays, Intro class on Jan. 9 (free), and 7-week series from Jan. 23-March 13 – $49
Time: 1:00 – 1:45pm),
Location: Cedar Hill Recreation Centre’s Dance Studio (3220 Cedar Hill Road).
NOTE: If cost is a barrier please be in touch with Joanne@creativemoment.im
Or 250-812-2501 (text/tel).
Registration is through Saanich Recreation: either by calling 250-475-7121, registering online, or going in person to Cedar Hill Rec Centre (3220 Cedar Hill Road).
VIP Singers
The VIP Singers invite new members for their 2017 season. No choir experience is needed to join us for an exciting new year of music and song.
Date: Mondays starting on Monday January 16
Time: 10:00 – 12:00
Location: James Bay New Horizons, 234 Menzies St., Victoria
For more information contact Linda at lbartram@telus.net
Or call 250-595-5888
The CCB, BC-Yukon Division Book Club is seeking additional members. Monthly discussions take place by teleconference. Books for upcoming discussions are:
- January 28, 2017: The Wofield Poultry Collective, Susan Juby
- February 25, 2017: Grass beyond the mountains, Richmond Hobson
- March 25, 2017: I am Malala: the girl who stood up for education and was shot by the Taliban, Malala Yousafzai
- April 22, 2017 Do not say we have nothing: a novel, Madeleine Thien, 2016 Scotiabank Giller Prize. Winner of the 2016 Governor General’s Award for Fiction.
Date: fourth Saturday of each month
Time: 9:00 – 10:00
To join the Book Club contact: Kathy Sanness, President
Email: ksanness@telus.net
For those who RSVP to join the Book Club monthly discussion Kathy will circulate the toll free number and call-in code.
“Gracie” – a Vocaleye described performance.
Tucked away in a corner of our province is Bountiful, the largest polygamous community in Canada. With her deep empathy and compassion, Joan MacLeod (The Valley) takes us into young Gracie’s world, where events transpire that lead her to question her beliefs.
Date: Sunday February 12, 2017
Time: 2:00
Location: Belfry Theatre, 1291 Gladstone Ave., Victoria
Tickets are $24.68 for VocalEye users plus a 25% discount for a companion, while they last. Please call 250-385-6815 to purchase.
This performance will be followed by a Touch Tour.
“Write on the Dot” Braille Workshop
An introduction to Braille for everyone.
Date: Wednesday February 22, 2017
Time: 4:30 – 7:00
Location: Victoria Disability Resource Centre, 817a Fort St.
This workshop is being presented by the Pacific Training Centre for the Blind and cost is by donation. For more information or to register, call Elizabeth at 250-580-4910.
The Victoria Disability Resource Centre hopes to hold a financial literacy workshop series early in 2017. For more information or to register your interest, call 250-595-0044.
What’s New at the Pacific Training Centre for the Blind?
The PTCB has downloaded WindowEyes (a screen reading program similar to JAWS) on to two of the Disability Resource Centre’s public computers. These computers are available for anyone to use to send and receive emails, to surf the net or to create documents. If you do not have access to a computer you can use or you are no longer able to see your computer screen, the PTCB will show you how to use these computers which are available Monday to Friday from 10 – 4.
The PTCB has also acquired a SARA scanner which will scan and read out loud printed documents.
To book an orientation or training session for either the SARA scanner or the computers with speech output, call Elizabeth at
250-580-4910.
About the Pacific Training Centre for the Blind
The Pacific Training Centre for the Blind (PTCB) is a Canadian grassroots nonprofit charitable service organization founded and run by blind people. Its training fosters independence, where blind people empower blind people to be employed, independent and free.
The Blind People in Charge Program, provided by the Pacific Training Centre for the Blind, is the only program of its kind in Western Canada that offers regular, intensive rehabilitation to people who are blind or who are losing their vision; it is also the only program that uses an empowering, problem-solving model of instruction, where blind people are the teachers, planners, directors and administrators.
The program involves a collaborative, positive, and empowering approach to blindness, where blind people learn from and teach each other in a supportive, can-do atmosphere. Instructors and mentors teach the skills of independence such as Braille, adaptive technology, cane travel, cooking and other lifeskills, and develop strategies for coping with blindness and vision loss in a sighted world.
The Blind People in Charge Program held at the Victoria Disability Resource Centre 817a Fort St., runs two days a week from 10:00 – 4:00 and participants are encouraged to attend as full time students (12 hours a week). Drop in students are also considered. Teaching takes place in group and one-on-one sessions and participants progress at their own pace. Past participants have ranged in age from 24 – 88. Anyone over 18 who is blind or is experiencing significant vision loss may apply including those who are experiencing other challenges. There is no charge to students; however donations are always welcome. For more information, or to participate in our program, please contact us.
Phone: 250-580-4910
Email: info@pacifictrainingcentre.ca
