Editor’s Note: What follows is volume 2 of Blind News Victoria, released in late November or early December 2016. 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
December 2016
Happy Holidays from Blind News Victoria!!
The holiday season brings a variety of festive events and activities. This edition of Blind News Victoria shares a few that you may wish to check out. We encourage you to pass this newsletter on to your contacts and if you have items you think might be worth sharing in future editions, please send them well in advance of the event to:
lbartram@telus.net
Mark Your Calendar
VocalEye Described Art Show
There will be two free described tours at this year’s Victoria Disability Resource Centre’s Art Show.
Date: Saturday December 3
Time: 11:00 AM or 12:30 PM
Location: Victoria Art Gallery, 1040 Moss St.
Contact: For more information call Linda at 250-595-5888 or visit www.drcvictoria.com
Get Together with Technology Group
Techno support group for persons who are blind or those with low vision.
Date: December 7,
Time: 1:15 Pm – 3:45 PM
Location: Community Room, GVPL Central Branch, 735 Broughton Street
Contact: Albert Ruel at 250-240-2343, or email us at GTT.Victoria@Gmail.com
Canadian Federation of the BlindChristmas Holiday Social
Come and join CFB celebrate the holidays. Everyone welcome.
Date: Saturday December 10
Time: 6:00 P.M.
Location: Hawk & Hen Restaurant, 531 Yates St http://hawkandhen.com/
Contact: Please RSVP by December 6th by emailing:
secretary@cfb.ca
VIP Singers
The VIP Singers invite you to a free, informal concert around the piano at Jubilee Hospital
Date: Thursday December 15
Time: 2:00 – 3:00
Location: Jim Pattison wing lobby, Jubilee hospital
Contact: Linda Bartram lbartram@telus.net
VocalEye Described Performance at the Belfry
“THIS LITTLE LIGHT” – a sweet, homegrown holiday musical for the whole family. The Belfry is producing this staged presentation with the Canadian College of Performing Arts and the show will feature choirs from George Jay Elementary, Central Middle School and Victoria High School.
Tickets are $23.10 and there is a 50% discount for students and a 10% discount for seniors. If you require assistance, Theatre Buddies are available.
Date: Sunday December 18
Time: 2:00 P.M.
Location: Belfry Theatre 1291 Gladstone Avenue
Contact: For tickets and more information about the Theatre Buddy program,
Call 250-385-6815
What’s New at the Pacific Training Centre for the Blind?
The PTCB is one of the contributing organizations, along with the Disability Resource Centre, sponsoring a Christmas tree at this year’s Festival of Trees. The students made tactile decorations featuring Braille. Everyone is encouraged to touch the decorations on this tree. It is the third tree on the right hand side of the main level of the Bay Centre, as you come in the Douglas entrance, and labelled #3.
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
