Category Archives: Update
Blind Sports NS Chair talks Covid-19 impacts on Neutral Zone Podcast
Have you heard the #NeutralZone show/podcast from Accessible Media Inc.?
Blind Sports NS Chair, as well as goalball athlete & coach, Peter Parsons joined the show to talk, with his usual passion, about how we’re handling the impact of Covid-19 on our organization as well as the hopeful plan to return to play this fall. Check out the show, available at the following links. Peter is on around the 23-minute point.
Canadian Blind Hockey Podcast Spotlight on Atlantic Canada
Did you know Canadian Blind Hockey has a podcast? Better yet, episode 6 is all about the blind hockey boom here in Atlantic Canada. Friends of Blind Sports NS, Jillian and Simon, share fond memories, their contributions, and hopes for the future of the sport. Check it out!! Check it out HERE!
We’re excited to put butts on tandem bikes again!
We’re excited to start putting #ButtsOnBikes again! Tandem bikes are now officially available for short and long-term loans!
Each tandem bike is thoroughly sanitized by a professional bicycle technician before and after each loan.
Some instruction can be provided to pairs interested in loaning a tandem, but it is preferred that riders have at least some tandem biking experience.
If you and a trusted friend or loved one would like to borrow a tandem bike for the day, the weekend, or long-term, just get in touch:
Message us on Facebook
Email blindsportsns@gmail.com
Call or text 902 449 0320 (Jennie)
We are unable to safely host group rides and cannot provide volunteer pilots/captains at this time.
We will not be hosting any group orientation sessions for volunteers and those brand new to tandem cycling until further notice.
Congrats to the 2020 Support4Sport Winners!
Congratulations to this year’s Blind Sports Nova Scotia #Support4Sport winners!!
Nova Scotia Junior Boys Goalball Team – Team of the Year and OVERALL Finalists!!
Linda MacRae Triff- Coach of the Year
Shams Hamad – Junior Female Athlete of the Year
Mason Smith – Junior Male Athlete of the Year
Peter Parsons – Senior Male Athlete of the Year Jeff Sawler – Official of the Year
Tarah Sawler – Senior Female Athlete of the Year
Cathy Sawler – Volunteer of the Year
Catch the #Support4Sport Awards online tonight at 6pm! Visit Support4Sport on Facebook.
Blind Sports Nova Scotia‘s own Junior Boys Goalball team are a finalist for Team of the Year, along with the Nova Scotia 17U Selects baseball team! This is big news because this is the first time that we have had a team, athlete, coach, official or volunteer make it as a finalist.
The NS Junior Boys Goalball Team team, consists of Mason Smith, Nick Gentleman, Matt Gentleman and Griffin Hiltz. The boys won the gold medal at the 2019 Canadian Junior Goalball Championships, was held last April and it was the second straight year the NS Junior boys won junior nationals. They also won at home in 2018. Alex Angus MacEachen played on the 2018 team that won Nova Scotia’s first ever junior national title. Also, it’s exciting to note that we celebrated double gold last year with our junior girls team winning gold.
In Memory of Nancy Morin, Canadian Goalball Legend
It is with very sad and heavy hearts that we share news of the passing of Nancy Morin. Our condolences go out to her family and those closest to her. Nancy will be fondly remembered as a friend & mentor and accomplished goalball athlete who consistently demonstrated genuine sportsmanship.
She will be greatly missed, but never forgotten, by the Blind Sports Nova Scotia family and all those whose lives she touched through sport and beyond. May you rest easy, Nancy.
Here is the link to the official news release: GOALBALL : NANCY MORIN, LE BRAS CANADIEN, S’ÉTEINT and the English version on Facebook, here.
Learn all about Nancy’s accomplishments in representing Canada on the world’s goalball court here.
The photos below are from 2017, when Nancy joined the NS Women’s goalball team to form Nova-Q. Nancy was key in the team capturing silver at the annual tournament in Michigan. Nancy and her legendary shot also helped Nova-Q win the first ever medal at Goalball Nationals for Nova Scotia women in 2017. At 2017 Goalball Nationals, she also assistant-coached the Nova Scotia men’s team, securing double-bronze for Nova Scotia, another first.
How are you? Resources
Hello members, volunteers, and community partners,
How are you doing? As we grieve as a province and continue to deal with our challenging new reality, I wanted to reach out and offer a few additional resources that may be helpful for you or someone you know.
Don’t hesitate to reach out with any suggestions, questions or requests for help. If we can’t help, we’ll point you in the right direction.
Another at home fitness option: OrCam have been offering described yoga and other at home fitness classes! Check out OrCam’s Facebook page for more.
How to Wear a Face Mask Without Fogging Up Your Glasses
Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team: The Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team provides support by phone 24/7 for children, youth and adults experiencing a mental health crisis anywhere in Nova Scotia and a Mobile Response from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. to most Halifax area communities. Call: 902-429-8167, 1-888-429-8167 (Toll Free)
Canadian Mental Health Association Nova Scotia: CMHA NS continues to provide non-clinical mental health psycho-social support throughout COVID-19. They are committed to keeping communities and clients safe and their services supportive and welcoming. www.novascotia.cmha.ca Call: 1-877-466-6606 (Toll free)
Health Minds Patient Navigator: Healthy Minds Cooperative is an innovative mental health cooperative providing a variety of peer-based services to people with lived experience of mental health issues and their families. HMC is available 9-5, Monday-Friday by phone and email. Call: 902-404-3504
What to Do If You’re Feeling Anxious About the Coronavirus An article from the UW Medicine website about dealing with anxiety and worry surrounding the Coronavirus.
Taking Care of Your Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic A short video created by Dr. Adriana Wilson, Department of Psychiatry at Dalhousie University.
Mental Health Wellness Tips for Quarantine This article, written by NYS Psychologist Eileen Feliciano, includes some great tips.
CNIB Nova Scotia Programs:
Virtual Vision Mates: The CNIB Foundation has adjusted our Vision Mate program and launched “Virtual Vision Mates”, which includes volunteers that:
Could pick up and drop off groceries for people with sight loss during the current pandemic (you’d provide money in advance or order online and they’d deliver it to your doorstep)
Are part of our Phone-a-Friend program, where we will be matching our members with each other for weekly social calls
Will become Vision Mates when visits are allowed again, but will connect via telephone until then
If you’d be interested in being part of any of these “Virtual Vision Mate” offerings, email jeff.deviller@cnib.ca.
Living with Vision Loss Group: Vision Loss Rehabilitation Nova Scotia will be hosting a phone “Living with Vision Loss” 8-week session (formerly known as Adjustment to Vision Loss Groups) starting Wednesday, May 6 at 10:30 a.m. If you think you’d benefit from joining these sessions or you’d like to find out more, please reach out to Ginny Sweet at Ginny.Sweet@vlrehab.ca or (902) 440-9835.
Trivia & Games Night: Jeff deViller will be hosting an interactive series of trivia and games with very, real prizes on the line this Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. At the start of the call, Jeff will take attendance and create teams. We will then play games in rounds with teams being asked questions directly to avoid everyone answering at once. To participate, email jeff.deviller@cnib.ca and he will share with you both a link (if you want to participate through your computer) and a phone number (if you’d like to call in). Then all you have to do is login or call in at the time! Only call in if you’re ready to be a little silly and have a lot of fun!
Issues with Sighted Guides: Have you experienced issues when entering a pharmacy or grocery store with your sighted guide as a result of COVID-19 restrictions? You have rights! Please contact Shelley Adams at shelley.adams@cnib.ca and share your story. She may be able to provide advice, direction, and self-advocacy tools.
Stay safe.
On behalf of the CCB Blind Sports NS Family
COVID-19 Update from Blind Sports NS
In response to COVID-19, all Blind Sports Nova Scotia programs have been cancelled until further notice.
This includes Goalball, Blind Hockey, tandem cycling, and running, and all demonstrations & volunteer engagements.
To our members/participants, volunteers, and the community, we hope you stay safe and active responsibly during these challenging times.
Our Blind Sports NS Annual Charity Auction fund raiser, originally scheduled for April, has been postponed until further notice.
The Scotiabank Bluenose Marathon has been postponed until the weekend of November 6th to 8th. We look forward to givin’ ‘er then!
We know staying physically and mentally healthy by getting active has been more challenging during these unprecedented events, which have us spending more time inside, so we’d like to share a few resources that may help:
www.blindalive.com The home of a complete set of the Eyes-Free Fitness® audio exercise programs. All programs are completely free for your downloading pleasure — no strings attached. These programs allow you to stretch, strengthen, condition, and tone your body, all without the benefit of eyesight. All of these programs are thoroughly described with extra supplementary audio and text materials, should they be needed.
Reflect and Renew with Kevin Naidoo Prepare yourself for mind and body rejuvenation. Those with all levels of mobility can join host Kevin Naidoo on a self-transformation journey through thoughtful meditation and yoga.
Stay tuned to our Facebook page and Links & Resources page for more ideas on how to stay active & healthy. We’d love to hear your ideas, too!
Canadian Blind Sports/Sports Aveugles Canada has postponed, until further notice, the 2020 Senior National Goalball Championships
2020 Canadian National Blind Hockey Tournament – Postponed
2020 Ontario Provincial Goalball Championships until further notice
– CCB Blind Sports NS family
Bonvie MacDonald Grant helps grow goalball in antigonish
We’d like to extend a long overdue enormous THANK YOU to the Bonvie MacDonald Rinks to Links Golf Classic Grant for helping us grow opportunities in sport & recreation for youth in Antigonish through goalball!
Pictured are Linda MacRae Triff & Peter Parsons (coaches) with Tariq, goalball player, and Craig MacDonald presenting the grant cheque.
Learn more about Dennis Bonvie & Craig MacDonald, former NHLers who make the grant possible.
Blind Hockey Auction Fund raiser Fri Nov 29!
This Friday at Bubba Ray’s Too!! Find great deals just in time for the holidays and all in support of local blind hockey athletes. Auction begins at 6. $5 gets you an auction paddle and beer or pop. See you there! 🏒 Check out the Facebook Event for all the details.