All posts by Jennie

Another Group Tandem Bike Ride Sun Aug 4!

We are gearing up for another tandem bike ride and you should join us!

For riders with some experience, this will be a 2 hour bike ride along the Chain of Lakes and BLT Trails.

Please find details below and RSVP as soon as possible. Tandem bikes & volunteer pilots are reserved on a first come first serve basis.

Group of 10 cyclists on a trail, varying ages, sexes, wearing helmets on a trail with bikes

Sunday, August 4, 2019

9:30 a.m. to approx. 12 p.m.  

RSVP by replying to this email 

call or text 902-449-0320 

Connect on Facebook 

At 9:30 a.m., we’ll Meet on Barnstead Lane at Halifax Alta Gymnastics (off of Bayers Rd & public transit accessible) and walk bikes a few blocks to the Chain of Lakes Trail Head.

Please let us know if this meet up location is not accessible for you or if there are any additional questions or requests (someone can meet you at a nearby bus stop).

We have a fleet of tandem bikes available for this ride. We provide helmets. 

We can offer a trained volunteer pilot for this ride, just let us know if you’ll need one! Volunteer pilots are available for those bringing their own tandem bike, too.

If you would like a friend or family member, who is a confident cyclist, to pilot a Blind Sports NS tandem bike, please let us know to ensure they receive orientation prior to the ride.

Friends & family with all types of bikes are welcome!!

If you’ll be joining us on your own bike and would prefer, feel free to meet us at the Chain of Lakes Trail head, right in front of Shoppers Drug Mart at Joseph Howe Dr. and Bayers Rd around 9:45-9:50.

We look forward to hearing from you! Learn more about tandem biking and how it works on our Tandem Biking page. 

 

Group Bike Ride Sunday July 14

We are excited to finally be hosting our first group ride of 2019. We’ll warm up with a short 45 minute bike ride along the Chain of Lakes Trail in Halifax. 

3 tandem bikes parked

Please find details below and RSVP as soon as possible, as tandem bikes & volunteer pilots are reserved on a first come first serve basis. 

Sunday, July 14, 2019

9:30 a.m. to approx. 11 a.m.  

At 9:30 a.m., we’ll Meet on Barnstead Lane at Halifax Alta Gymnastics (off of Bayers Rd and bus accessible) and walk bikes a few blocks to the Chain of Lakes Trail Head. 

This is an easy-going and well-maintained trail. 

Please let us know if this meet up location is not accessible for you or if there are any additional questions or requests (someone can meet you at a nearby bus stop).

We have a fleet of tandem bikes available for this ride. We provide helmets.  

We can offer a trained volunteer pilot for this ride, just let us know if you’ll need one! Volunteer pilots are available for those brining their own tandem bike, too. 

If you would like a friend or family member, who is a confident cyclist, to pilot a Blind Sports NS tandem bike, please let us know to ensure they receive orientation prior to the ride. 

Friends & family with all types of bikes are welcome!! 

If you’ll be joining us on your own bike and would prefer, feel free to meet us at the Chain of Lakes Trail head, right in front of Shoppers Drug Mart at Joseph Howe Dr. and Bayers Rd around 9:45-9:50.

We look forward to hearing from you! Email: blindsportsns@gmail.com  Call or text: 902-449-0320  Connect on Facebook

Enjoy the beautiful weather!

 

 

Blind Ball Hockey Hits Halifax this summer

NS Blind Hockey & Blind Sports NS are excited to share a new summer program for blind and visually impaired kids, teens, and adults of all experience & skill levels.

A goalie is positioned in front of a hockey net as a mother shoots the ball in that direction

Blind Ball Hockey is a fun way to get active while learning blind hockey skills in the floor hockey format. It’s also a great way for blind ice hockey athletes to maintain their skills over the summer months. 

The ball is adapted to be audible to players, sticks always stay below the waist, and nets are half as tall as conventional.

Get all of the details here!

Promoting a Cause Podcast Interview With Blind Sports NS

We’re sending best wishes and a great time to the many members & friends of Blind Sports NS participating in this weekend’s Scotiabank Blue Nose Marathon events!

We’re not only getting active in an awesome atmosphere, but also raising awareness and funds in support of our programs and athletes.

Blind Sports NS’s Jennie Bovard recently sat down for a conversation about everything Blind Sports NS. Check out this great local podcast, Promoting a Cause, to learn about who we are and what we do. There are plenty of ways to support our members & programs, volunteering and donating to name a few! Comment or send us a message to find out more!

Click Here to Listen!

Support 4 Sport Honourees 2019

Each year, through the wonderful #Suppor4Sport Awards program, Blind Sports NS honours shining stars in their respective categories. Last weekend, we were proud to recognize the following individuals:

Coach – Linda MacRae Triff (Goalball)
Official – Tamar Ellis (Goalball referee )
Senior Male Athlete – Peter Parsons (Goalball)
Senior Female Athlete – Stephanie Jane (Goalball)
Junior Male Athlete – Mason Smith (Goalball)
Junior Female Athlete – Tarah Sawler (Goalball)
Team – Nova Scotia Ship Recs (Goalball, Accepted by John Courtney)
Volunteer – Robyn Merrithew (Goalball)
bright yellow cartoon star

Try Tandem Biking & Volunteer Orientation Sat Jul 6 UPDATED

Would you or someone you know living with vision loss like to give tandem biking a try?

Would you or someone you know be interested in volunteering your time to help make biking accessible for people with vision loss?

2 people with tandem bike. They're in a park and smiling.
The Blind Sports NS Tandem Bike Club loves nothing more than putting butts on bikes!! Keep reading for more details.

Tandem biking is a great way for people living with vision loss to get active, while having fun outdoors, with friends, family, and peers.

A tandem bike is a bicycle built for two. A sighted cyclist rides in front, steers, breaks, and communicates effectively with the cyclist with vision loss on the back. The two cycle together as a team to enjoy this inclusive recreational activity.

The Tandem Bike Club has a fleet of tandem bikes available to participants with vision loss, as well as a roster of trained volunteer pilots, available for short or long term loan.

We also host regular group bike rides and participate in community bike events while the weather permits.

The Tandem Bike Club will be hosting both a Volunteer Orientation session and Try Tandem Biking Day and we’d love you to join us!

This event is for participants with vision loss who want to give tandem biking a try in a safe environment, with experienced volunteers, while learning best practices & safety tips.

This event is also for community members or family/friends of participants living with vision loss who want to receive training as a tandem bike pilot (person with sight who sits in front). Pilot training includes basic sighted guide technique, sight loss 101 & etiquette, and more.

Saturday, July 6, 2019    June 22, 2019 Cancelled due to weather
Halifax Alta Gymnastics parking lot (Barnstead Lane off Bayers Rd)

Volunteer Pilot Orientation Session
10 to 11 a.m.

Try Tandem Biking
11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Please RSVP   by Tuesday, June 18th
Connect with us on Facebook
Email blindsportsns@gmail.com
Text or call Jennie: 902-449-0320

We provide helmets. Please wear close-toed shoes, pants that are not too loose-fitting at the ankles, and bring water.

If you’d like to reserve a bike, want to arrange a 1 on 1 orientation as a pilot and/or participant with vision loss, or have your own bike and need a volunteer pilot, connect with us via the RSVP contact info above.

We look forward to hearing from you and putting your butt on a bike this season!