GUIDE DOG USERS OF CANADA/UTILISATEURS DE CHIENS-GUIDES DU CANADA — Quick View

Reporting period views

Reporting period ending: 2021-12-31

Programs and activities:

Ongoing programs:
We support blind, partially sighted and deafblind Canadians who choose a guide dog as a primary mobility aid. We do this by providing peer support through our email lists, and in person or virtually at our AGM and Conference. Our website contains a wealth of information about guide dogs which the general public can access to find out what to do, and what not to do when interacting with a guide dog team. Our wellness fund continues to offer grants to Canadian guide dog handlers in financial need who face extraordinary veterinary expenses associated with the care of ill or injured guide dogs. Our Mary Spice fund provides grants to Canadian guide dog handlers in financial need to attend our in-person conference because of the costs involved. Finally, we advocate for equal access to businesses or public places and other key access issues faced by guide dog handlers

New programs:
We began to offer regular virtual chat groups to our members, particularly during the pandemic in order to help ease isolation and to share experience and best practice with respect to working our dogs within challenging circumstances caused by the pandemic such as: how to maintain social distance with a guide dog; how to maintain a guide dog's skills when normal destinations are closed due to the pandemic; how to manage during a time of shortage of guide dogs from the guide dog training programs, etc.

Compensation

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