Category Archives: Update

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!

2019 Canadian Senior National Goalball Championships Wrap-Up

Three days, 10 teams from across Canada, thirty-six games, and one incredible weekend of goalball! 

Group photo of all medal winners & coaches
All 2019 medal winners & coaches

Canadian Senior National Goalball Championships were held in Halifax May 10 to 12 for the 5th time in the competition’s 43 year history. 

For the third yea run a row, the Nova Scotia men’s team captured bronze in the final against Quebec, Alberta secured silver, and British Columbia won gold. 

2019 all medal winners Men
2019 all medal winners Men
Nova Scotia 1 with & coaches 2019 bronze medal winners
Nova Scotia 1 with & coaches 2019 bronze medal winners

On the women’s side, Ontario All Blacks defeated Alberta in a tight match to win 1st place at least the 10th year in a row. In the east versus west bronze medal game, British Columbia won over Nova Scotia with a score of 4 to 2. 

 Detailed games results and team rosters.

2019 all medal winners women
2019 all medal winners women

Nova Scotia’s Nick Gentlemen, a student at Citadel High where the competition as held, received this year’s Spirit Award. This honour is awarded to the athlete who most demonstrates great sportsmanship and love for the game. 

Nova Scotia's Nick Gentlemen with Spirit Award 2019
Nova Scotia’s Nick Gentlemen with Spirit Award 2019

We congratulate everyone who competed & coached this weekend and we’re beyond grateful for the continued support of the dedicated community of officials, volunteers, organizing committee, and spectators.

The competition was hosted by Blind Sports Nova Scotia, in partnership with Canadian Blind Sports, and would not have been possible without the following generous contributors:

Government of Canada LogoGovernment of Nova Scotia Logo Accel Physiotherapy & Sport Performance logoAccessible Media Inc logo

Lord Nelson Hotel & Suites

Media:

Goalball championships a chance for Nova Scotia athletes to showcase skills at home

Ontario takes it all at national goalball championships in Halifax

 

 

Goalball Senior National Championships Come to Halifax May 10-12

Blind Sports Nova Scotia is proud, along with Canadian Blind Sports, to be hosting the 2019 Canadian Senior National Goalball Championships. 

Poster Description: Two male players mid slide in front of a goalball net on a goal ball court. The athlete in front has a blue goalball nest in his arms. They are wearing blackout eyeshades. The poster reads 2019 Canadian Senior Goalball Championships / Championnat canadien senior de goalball 2019. Host & sponsor logos include Canadian Blind Sports / Sport Aveugles Canada; Blind Sports Nova Scotia www.blindsportsnovascotia.ca; AMI Accessible Media Inc.; Nova Scotia / Nouvelle-Ecosse; Accel Physiotherapy & Sport Performance; Government of Canada

Provincial teams from across Canada compete in Halifax Friday, May 10, to Sunday, May 12th, at Citadel Community Centre. 

Nova Scotia athletes have set a precedent in provincial parasport, by earning 5 medals in competition so far this year. Experience this high-intensity sport and witness parlaympians compete live! 

Admission to watch is free and spectators are welcome. Please be quiet while the game is in play.

Here is the schedule of games:                                                                            PDF 2019 Senior Goalball Nationals SCHEDULE                                     Excel 2019 Senior Goalball Nationals SCHEDULE

Keep tabs on our Facebook event for results!

Day 3 of the tournament, including final matches, will be streamed on Facebook Live.

Nova Scotia Earns Double Gold & Makes History at 2019 Junior Goalball Nationals

Nova Scotia Junior Girls won their first ever Gold Medal at the 2019 Canadian Junior Goalball Championships held at Brantford, Ontario this past weekend.

Our girls, who won silver last year, met the 2018 champions, British Columbia, in the gold medal game. Nova Scotia, consisting of Tarah Sawler, Shams Hamad, Alexis Butler, and Emily Kinnear,defeated the British Columbia girls by a score of 8 to 2 to capture the gold.

Nova Scotia Junior Boys won their second consecutive Gold Medal at these Junior Goalball Championships.

Group of 10 athletes & coaches pose with gold medals and flags

Nova Scotia boys first won the gold in 2018 in front of their home crowd in Halifax. Ontario, the 2017 champions, won the silver medal in Halifax and were hungry to retake the title in Ontario. However, our Nova Scotia boys, Mason Smith, Nick Gentleman, Matthew Gentleman, and Griffin Hiltz won the gold medal in the final game with a score of 14 to 4.

At the conclusion of the tournament, the tournament officials choose the 2019 Junior Goalball “All Tournament Teams” in both the Boys and Girls divisions. The girls selected were Tarah Sawler and Shams Hamad of Nova Scotia and Haley Olinyk of British Columbia. The boys selected were Mason Smith and Nick Gentleman of Nova Scotia and Nader Ibrahim of Ontario.

Both Nova Scotia teams were coached by Linda MacRae Triff and Peter Parsons.

The 2019 Senior National Goalball Championships will be held in Halifax from May 10 to May 12 at Citadel High School.

– Linda MacRae Triff, Head Coach

Volunteers Needed in Halifax May 10 to 12 Goalball Nationals

CCB Blind Sports Nova Scotia is proud to be hosting the 2019 Senior Goalball National Championships, from May 10 – 12 , at Citadel High in Halifax.  We still need volunteers!

This is a rare opportunity to support your local and Canadian parasport community, while witnessing the unique competitive sport of goalball.

Please let us know if you are interested in signing up for a volunteer shift, don’t hesitate to ask questions, and feel free to share this information around. Get in touch:  blindsportsns@gmail.com

 

blue goalball on a green gym court floor

Below is the volunteer schedule.  We need goal judges, time keepers, shot recorders, etc.  Shifts are available on a first come, first serve basis.  

Shift 1A – Fri, May 10 – 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM

Shift 1B – Fri, May 10 – 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM

Shift 2 – Sat, May 11 – 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM

Shift 3 – Sat, May 11 – 12:30 PM to 5:00 PM

Shift 4 – Sat, May 11 – 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM

Shift 5 – Sun, May 12 – 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM

Shift 6 – Sun, May 12 – 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM

If you haven’t seen goalball before, here is a link to highlights from the medal games at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlztSzz6Uh8

If you would like to watch a full game, here is the finals of our 4th Annual NS Open (with commentary) in November – Nova Scotia vs. Quebec.  https://www.facebook.com/BlindSportsNS/videos/1126165574208470/

Peter Parsons                                                                                                                         Chairperson

3 Medals for Nova Scotia Goalball at Eastern Canadians!

Nova Scotia was very well represented this past weekend at the Eastern Canadians goalball competition in Brantford, ON. 

The NS Ship Recs brought home gold medals, securing first place for the third year in a row in the open rec. division! The co-ed team earned 5 wins and 1 tie.  

Young Nova Scotians also brought home hard-earned hardware! Youth teams, the Blizzards and Bluenosers captured gold and bronze respectively. 

Congratulations the athletes & coaches! We are beyond proud. Go Nova Scotia Go!

Check out the Chronicle Herald news article. 

NS ship recs, coaches, team golden guide dog Lennie NS Youth teams Blizzards & Bluenoses group photo with coaches All NS Youth & Ship Recs teams & coachesAll photos courtesy of Robyn Merrithew

 

That’s a Wrap! 4th Nova Scotia Open Goalball Tournament

What a weekend! Congratulations to all athletes, who competed and demonstrated incredible sportsmanship and skill this weekend.

Thank you to each and every volunteer, from the organizing committee to the goal judges to the food crew, you made this event a huge success. Many, many, thanks to the officials for your professionalism and time this weekend.

We’re beyond grateful for the support of all returning Gold, Silver, and Bronze Sponsors, as well as Goalball Supporter contributors. Your donations enable us to create these inpactful opportunities for athletes of so many skill levels and ages to participate in competitive sport.

For detailed tournament results, videos with play by play of each game, and more, visit us on Facebook!

Gold Medal winning team, Nova Scotia 1 Linda MacRae Triff, Peter Parsons, Oliver Pye, Mason Smith, and John Courtney
Gold Medal winning team, Nova Scotia 1
Linda MacRae Triff, Peter Parsons, Oliver Pye, Mason Smith, and John Courtney
Silver Medal winning team, Québec!
Silver Medal winning team, Québec!
Bronze Medal winning team, Eagles (USA)
Bronze Medal winning team, Eagles (USA)

Thank you

4th Nova Scotia Open Goalball Tournament Nov 16-18 in Halifax

The 4th Annual Nova Scotia Open Goalball Tournament brings skilled athletes with vision loss from across Canada & the US to Citadel High to compete in a 3-day parasport event like no other on the east coast!

Event Poster. Shoulders-up profile of a male goalball athlete in eyeshades. Text reads 4th Annual  Nova Scotia Open Goalball Tournament Nov 16-18 2018 Citadel High, Halifax. Admission is free.  Proudly hosted by Blind sports NS. Made Possible by Accessible Media Inc. CNIB Foundation. Accel Physiotherapy & Sport Performance Centre. — with Accessible Media Inc., CNIB Nova Scotia-Prince Edward Island and ACCEL Physiotherapy and Sport Performance Centre.

If you’ve never experienced this high-intensity team sport live, now is your chance. Admission is for spectators is free! Join us at Citadel High, 1855 Trollope St, in Halifax Friday, Nov 16, through Sunday, Nov 18, 2018.

Visit the Facebook event for matches schedule, results, and live stream of all games with play-by-play! 

Connect with Blind Sports NS: Facebook, Twitter, info@blindsportsnovascotia.cawww.blindsportsnovascotia.ca, or 902-449-0320

This event is proudly hosted by Blind Sports Nova Scotia, and made possible by AMI, CNIB NS & PEI, and Accel Physiotherapy. 

Accel Physiotherapy & Sport Performance Centre! cnib ns pei accessible media

Bronze Sponsors: Parsons ICF Construction, Ocean - Built on Quality, Atlantica Hotel Halifax, Canadian Council of the Blind, and Subway.