AEBC Blog

AUDIO VERSION Guide Dog Awareness Month is a chance to share not only the challenges faced by guide dog users, but also the stories that show how acceptance and respect can make a lasting impact. One of those stories comes from 1989, when AEBC member Chantal and her husband Rick Oakes welcomed their daughter, Whitney, into the world at Grace Hospital in Vancouver.   At the time, Rick had a guide dog named Bryor, and the couple asked if he could stay with them during the birth

By Diana Brent AUDIO VERSION I have been fortunate enough to have experienced both ocean and riverboat cruises, and I have never been disappointed. I have enjoyed sailing with Holland America, Celebrity, Norwegian, and Viking.   River boats are much smaller than ocean-going vessels and as a consequence, are less crowded. The atmosphere is sedate—you can’t really tell that you’re moving as you glide through the peaceful water. You are often so close to the land you can see and

By Devon Wilkins AUDIO VERSION Several years ago, I travelled to Phoenix, Arizona to attend two conferences: the first hosted by the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners, and the second by Assistance Dogs International. While there, I became quite ill with what I diagnosed as a nasty sinus infection, and then some. I was a board member of the IAADP at the time, and several other board members did whatever they could to convince me that I should seek medical at

Guide dogs give people who are blind or partially sighted the freedom to move with confidence and independence. While the idea of...

By Diana Brent   A quick Google search tells me that some form of eyewear for improving vision has been around since Ancient Egypt and...

Every guide dog begins life as a playful puppy, but their future path requires extraordinary focus, training, and dedication from the...

By Neven Humphrey   From past articles, you know that I love to travel, and I also took part in sports for the visually impaired. But...

September marks Guide Dog Awareness Month, a time to recognize the essential role guide dogs play in supporting independence for people...

by Dar Wournell I was 19 when I lost my vision. It happened in a single surgery. One day I had 20/20 sight. The next, I was blind. It was...

By Dar Wournell Recently, Yvon, my guide dog Demetris, and I took a trip from Halifax to Moncton aboard VIA Rail’s Ocean route --a choice...

By Marcia Yale I had the chance to attend the 2025 Canadian Telecom Summit in Toronto on June 3 and 4. It brought together people who...

By Linda Bartram   Too often, what I have to report is about barriers and the struggles I and others in the blind community continue to...

By Linda Bartram I recently went on a short vacation through Parksville and Honeymoon Bay on Vancouver Island with a sighted friend,...

By Linda Bartram   Last week I made my annual pilgrimage to Rathtrevor Beach on the east coast of Vancouver Island. At low tide, miles of...

Recently, someone in our discussion group asked, “What hobbies do you all have?” The floodgates opened. From crafting to curling, board...

By Marcia Yale, AEBC President A few weeks ago, I travelled to Thunder Bay to meet with a group of partners interested in rebuilding the...

By Simran Bhinder  When I boarded my early morning flight from Winnipeg to Toronto, I expected sunshine and spring air. What I got...

By Wendy Edey In the age of AI will we have any use for humans? Recently I had an opportunity to explore this question. While I was away...

By Diana Brent I admit that Ozempic plays a role in this story, but it’s definitely not the story. The important story starts with my...

During the past week, AEBC has featured several myth-busting blog articles and social media posts. On May 29, we hosted a virtual event...