BC Affiliate 2025 President’s Report

Dear BC Affiliate Members,

Although we are meeting a little earlier than usual this year, we can reflect proudly on the many initiatives we’ve undertaken on behalf of the BC Affiliate over the past several months. Here’s a glimpse into our accomplishments; a year which we remained actively engaged and productive.

By all accounts, our fundraising events this year were both successful and meaningful. Our fifth annual trivia event raised valuable funds for our scholarship program. This year, we are proud to award two scholarships—one in honour of Betty Nobel and another in memory of Tom Teranishi. Additional initiatives, such as Who’s Coming to Dinner? and Baking for Christmas, brought in funds that will replenish our general account, to help support BC Affiliate activities and future endeavors.

It was also heartening to see so many of us attend the AEBC National Annual General Meeting this past September. The hybrid format was a welcome feature, offering the ability to regroup in-person after such a long time. I’m especially pleased we were able to subsidize transportation for some members. I believe everyone who wishes to attend these events should have the opportunity to do so when possible.

Several members have been deeply involved in advocacy efforts this year, and for that I am extremely grateful. Whether you participated in focus groups, completed surveys to inform research, attended conferences to promote AEBC, or shared your expertise in meetings with other organizations, your contributions have not gone unnoticed. Many of you serve on national committees or engage in local advocacy work and your dedication is truly appreciated. Planning and executing events of any kind require a collaborative effort, and we continue to welcome new ideas and volunteers for future activities.

We remain committed to addressing key barriers facing people who are blind, deafblind and partially sighted. Ongoing concerns such as the safety of floating bus stops, limited services for individuals who are deafblind due to funding constraints, and persistent transportation issues especially with ride-hailing services, are at the forefront of advocacy efforts by the BC Affiliate and remain a work in progress. If you haven’t yet found a way to get involved in this important work, I encourage you to consider how your voice and time could make a difference.

Several members are now participating on national committees, and a few have occasionally taken on the role of delivering training sessions on topics such as advocacy, emergency preparedness and accessible technology.

Of course, our work isn’t only about serious matters—we also make time for fun and connection. Thanks to Ryan Fleury, we’ve enjoyed several afternoons of entertainment, thoughtfully planned for the enjoyment of AEBC members and friends. Although Ryan has been unavailable to continue with the program, I would like to consider if alternate arrangements can be made or if we can find a way to do something similar with a different schedule. Last but not least, I would like to thank Louise Johnson for the many hours she dedicates to hosting our Thursday night chats - a place where everyone is welcomed to connect with friends in an informal but respectful setting. As we enter our fifth year of making the BC Affiliate Zoom Room available to those who enjoy gathering on Thursday evenings, we have seen more than BC Affiliate members join us from time to time to share in the experience of being able to attend without the worries of an agenda, whether you are on topic, or whether you will have a chance to speak, as Louise make sure to include everyone.

In closing, I wish to thank members of the Executive who served so faithfully and assisted me when needed, as I depend on a few of you regularly to help with specific tasks. To all members of the BC Affiliate, I want to express my sincere gratitude for your participation in whatever way you were comfortable. I am always impressed by our collective commitment and strong attendance in support of the work of AEBC. Your continued involvement ensures that our goals remain achievable and, I look forward to what we can accomplish together in the future.

With appreciation,

Chantal Oakes

Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians

President, BC Affiliate