History
Guide Dogs 101
Extra Puppy Stuff
Show Me The Money
Myth or Fact?
100
The year in which the Canadian National Institute for the Blind was founded.
What is 1918.
The CNIB was founded as a response to rising blindness rates caused by the Halifax explosion and veterans returning home from World War I. The CNIB was founded and incorporated by a group of seven Canadian men - several veterans and blind men among them - all of whom were members of the board of the Canadian Free Library for the Blind.
100
The year in which the CNIB launched their Guide Dog Program.
What is 2017.
The CNIB is the only organization to raise and train guide dogs EXCLUSIVELY for people with sight loss.
100
True or False. A "seeing eye dog" is another name for a guide dog.
What is false.
Only dogs trained by The Seeing Eye, Inc., of Morristown, N.J., are properly called Seeing Eye® dogs. The Seeing Eye is a registered trademark.The generic term for dogs trained by other schools is “guide dog.”
So "Guide Dog" is to facial tissue, what "Seeing Eye Dog" is to Kleenex.
100
This is the cost of a guide dog, over the course of his/her lifetime.
What is $50,000.
100
Blindness means that you cannot see anything at all.
What is Myth.
Many people who are blind have some remaining sight. Only 1 in 10 live with full blindness.
200
The decade in which the Bank of Canada began producing bank notes with braille, so that persons with sight-loss could differentiate between denominations.
What is the early 2000's.
FunFact: Shortly thereafter, Euclid Herie established the World Braille Foundation to provide braille, braille equipment and technology, teacher training and materials and other support to groups of blind people and schools for the blind in developing countries.
200
The number of months that it takes to begin pairing a trained guide dog to their handler.
What is 18 months.
Pairings are ensured based on the dog's personality and physical attributes and the guide dog handler’s needs. An active handler will receive a dog that's higher in energy, whereas a more quiet individual may receive a dog that enjoys being cozy at home.
200
True or False. When a donor sponsors the CNIB Guide Dog Program, their donation is allocated to one specific puppy in training.
What is false.
Monthly sponsorship is of the entire program; the program isn’t currently large enough to offer one-to-one sponsorship at this time. It's also too unreliable as each dog costs $50k and requires 2 years of training- CNIB can't stop training a puppy part way through if a monthly donor cancels their gift.
Donors will receive updates on different puppies undergoing training, as they continue to be a supporter.
Additional Price Points:
$30/month can provide a guide dog with a harness, which is the “uniform” of the guide dog that enables it to guide a person with sight loss.
$25/month can cover a guide dog’s annual vet bills including vaccinations and preventative care, helping ensure a happy, healthy career as a guide dog.
$20/month can provide a guide dog starter kit. Guide dog starter kits are backpacks containing grooming supplies, a food bowl, a leash, play collar, travel bed, and more.
200
This percentage of CNIB's revenue is allocated to Administration costs.
What is 4%.
Administration costs include rent, utilities, insurance, wages, office supplies and equipment costs.
200
Blindness doesn’t always look the same. Many describe a grey or brown haze. Others are able to perceive changes in lighting. It depends on the person.
What is Fact.
300
An autobiography, by this famous hockey player, marked the first time in the world that a major publication was published simultaneously in print and braille.
Who is Wayne Gretzky.
A portion of the print sales were donation to the CNIB.
300
When a dog does not meet the criteria to graduate as a guide dog, these 2 alternative jobs become possible.
What are Buddy Dogs and Ambassador Dogs.
A buddy dog is partnered with a child who is living with sight loss. Whether it’s feeding, grooming or walking this well-trained family pet, this will give the child an opportunity to care for a dog and make it easier to transition into a guide dog partnership in the future.
An ambassador dog is partnered with a staff member to promote CNIB Guide Dogs at community events and raise awareness about the role of guide dogs. Whether it’s introducing someone to the benefits of guide dogs, recruiting volunteer puppy raisers for puppies-in-training or connecting with individuals who may be interested in sponsoring the program, this dog is an important member of the marketing team.
300
Unlike these other two types of animals, guide dogs and service dogs are protected under human rights legislation across Canada and may enter into any type of business that a human can.
What are Therapy Dogs and Emotional Support Animals.
These types of companions require permission to enter restaurants, hotels, taxis, and businesses. Guide Dogs and Service Dogs DO NOT need permission.
300
The percentage of CNIB's total revenue that is allocated to Fundraising and Marketing.
What is 15%.
Over 80% of all donations to the CNIB go to cause-related programs. Fundraising and Marketing costs go towards campaigns that generate more revenue for the business:
-TV commercials
-Events
-Face-to-face campaigns (us!!)
300
When you lose your sight, your other senses get sharper.
What is Myth.
It’s a little more complicated than that…
Blindness doesn’t change how your senses of hearing, taste or touch biologically work. However, most people who are blind learn to use their senses differently to interpret the world around them, like telling which way cars are travelling by listening, or reading braille with their fingertips.
400
The decade in which the CNIB took to rebranding itself and its look.
What is the late 1990's.
CNIB was now recognizable by its striking yellow, black and white colours; and easy-to-read, large, bold fonts.
400
Since launching, CNIB has trained and matched this many dogs across communities in Canada.
What is 57.
37 guide dogs, 14 buddy dogs, and six ambassador dogs.
400
This is the name of CNIB's bi-monthly e-newsletter that is sent out to monthly donors.
What is the Guide Dog Gazette.
400
Of all CNIB's cause-related program expenses, this is the most costly.
What is Live.
400
People who are blind shouldn't live independently.
What is Myth.
Not only can people who are blind live independently, they can do pretty much anything sighted people do: raise a family, have a meaningful career, play sports, travel and more.
500
The CNIB developed these 5 program areas in order address all the needs of people who are blind or partially-sighted.
What are: Live, Play, Work, Learn, and Tech
500
CNIB trains these two breeds of dogs, and crosses between the two, to become guide dogs.
What are Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers.
These breeds are chosen because of their temperament, personality and drive to please. These two breeds also have a double-layer coat, which means they can be placed anywhere in Canada and will shed according to climate.
500
Guide Dogs are the only dogs trained in this type of behaviour.
What is "Intelligent Disobedience".
Intelligent Disobedience is disobeying their handler's command if it will put the handler's safety at risk. The safety of their handler is the guide dog's number-one priority.
eg/ if there is a patch of ice ahead, a guide dog will not proceed, even despite their handlers instruction.
500
This was CNIB's main source of revenue in 2020.
What are donations.
Donations made up over 38% of all revenue. Gifts from other registered charities, government funding and "other" make up the rest.
500
You can identify a person with visual impairments by the fact that they will use a cane or a guide dog.
What is Myth.
Not every person who’s blind needs the same tools or accommodations. Never assume that just because someone doesn’t use a cane or guide dog that they are not blind.