All posts by Jennie

Update

An announcement on behalf of Gerry Nelson, President of Blind Golf Canada.

On behalf of Blind Golf Canada, we would like to introduce you to the Western Canadian Blind Golf Association (WCBGA), the Nova Scotia Blind Golf Association (NSBGA), and the Ontario Visually-Impaired Golfers (OVIG)!

The WCBGA, NSBGA, and OVIG are to Blind Golf Canada what the Webb.com tour is to the PGA tour! At this level, our goal is to develop new blind golfers and promote competitive golf along with true sportsmanship amongst Canada’s blind and partially sighted community! For those who are eligible based on their visual acuities and wishing to play at a national and/or international level, Blind Golf Canada is a member country of the IBGA tour and is also an option for you!

For those of you who don’t know, blind golf is played by golfers who are totally blind or partially sighted (with an acuity of 20/200 or less or a visual field of less than 20 degrees). Simply put, if you are eligible for and possess a CNIB ID card, you can play. The rules are the same; the only difference being that blind golfers may ground their club in a hazard. We use the aid of a sighted guide and it is game on!

The WCBGA, NSBGA, and OVIG consist of the four western provinces, Nova Scotia, and Ontario and while our members are hosting and partaking in tournaments held in these six provinces, we are always looking for new golfers and provinces to join us!

We would like to welcome you at Blind Golf Canada! Our motto is You Can Still Play! It is our hope that as someone who is blind or partially-sighted, you will come out and join us. It doesn’t matter if you are a sighted individual, get involved as a volunteer, guide or a score keeper at a tournament in your local area, or just come out and watch us, you will be amazed! Please check our website for a calendar of events at www.blindgolf.ca

For further info in your local area, please contact the following:

Gerry Nelson,
President, Blind Golf Canada
gerry.nelson@shaw.ca

Darren Douma
President, WCBGA
thedoumas71@gmail.com

Glen Babcock
President, OVIG
glenn.babcock@rogers.com

Boyd Stewart,
President, NSBGA
boyde.jackie@bellaliant.netwww.blindgolf.ca

Update

The Nova Scotia League for Equal Opportunities and the Blind Sports NS Tandem Bike Club invites you, your friends, and family, to join us again at this year’s Picnic at the Oval! We’ll have tandem bikes and experienced pilots on hand for a spin around the Oval, there will be a BBQ, and other fun events!
When: Saturday, August 6, 2016
11:00 AM- 2:00 PM
Where: The Emera Oval, on the commons
Sighted guides and sign language interpreters on site
Thanks to the City of Halifax & the Nova Scotia Disabled Persons Commission for making this event possible!

picnic poster 2016 final

Events, NEWS

Come Try Tandem Biking! We’re looking for volunteer pilots and blind or partially sighted riders.

UPDATE – RAIN DATE:  If you were interested in attending our try out tandem biking event this coming Sunday, July 10th. Regrettably, due to the poor weather forecast, we have rescheduled the event for Saturday, July 16th from 2 to 4pm. We really hope you can make it!

Email us at tandembikes@blindsportsnovascotia.ca or message us on Facebook by searching Blind Sports Nova Scotia.

We 3 helmets available for stokers, but we encourage pilots to bring their own.

_________________________________________________________________________

Join us on Sunday, July 10th in Halifax from 10 to noon and try out tandem biking for fun & recreation. Please check us out on Facebook or email tandembikes@blindsportsnovascotia.ca for more information and to RSVP.

Tandem biking (on a bicycle built for two) makes getting active in the great outdoors with friends old and new more accessible for individuals who are blind or partially sighted. Blind Sports Nova Scotia’s Tandem Bike Club is excited to be hosting a try-it and training day for both new volunteer pilots and stokers.

A pilot is a sighted individual who rides up front, steers the bike, shifts gears, and communicates effectively with the stoker. The stoker in this case is a person with vision loss who rides on the back of the bike, pedals, and communicates effectively with the pilot. Pilots should be confident riding a bike, have experience riding in different environments, and be a good verbal communicator.

Blind Sports Nova Scotia’s tandem bike club provides short and long term tandem bike loans to individuals with vision loss. We also welcome and appreciate volunteer pilots.

More information for volunteers: BSNS TANDEM BIKE VOLUNTEER 2016

More information for blind and partially sighted riders; BSNS TANDEM BIKE CLUB 2016 POSTER

BSNS TANDEM BIKE VOLUNTEER 2016 BSNS TANDEM BIKE CLUB 2016 POSTER

Update

Blind Sports NS Athletes in the News

Congratulations, Simon Richard, centre for Nova Scotia’s men’s goalball team,  on being selected to represent Canada at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games! (articles in French only)

Simon Richard participera aux Jeux paralympiques de Rio 

Goalball: Simon Richard est confirmé aux Jeux paralympiques de Rio

A fantastic article from The Casket featuring Alex Angus MacEachen, a 15-year-old from Mabou, won silver for Team Nova Scotia at the Junior Boys (20-and-Under) National Goalball Championships recently in Calgary.

MacEachen silver medallist

Check out this article about Mason Smith, Junior goalball athlete from Middleton, who was named Sport Nova Scotia’s Sport Chek Athlete of the Month for his performance at the 2016 Goalball Championships. Congrats, Mason.

Middleton teen helps provincial team secure national goalball win

 

Update

ns men snatch gold 2nd year in a row at Canada senior national goalball championships

In Quebec City, Nova Scotia men’s team began day 3 of the Canadian Senior National Goalball Championships  by winning 6 to 1 over Alberta in the semi-finals. British Columbia be Quebec 4 to 1 in the other semi match, This would set the stage for Nova Scotia to defend their title as top national team in the fast-growing para sport of goalball.  Nova Scotia defeated BC 8 to 0 in the 2015 gold medal match.

Nova Scotia remains on top, having beat BC 2 to 0 in another shut-out to take home gold. Nova Scotia centre Simon Richard also won the MVP award for a second year in a row.

Simon had to come out of the final game with a few minutes left because of a nose bleed. 16 year old Mason came in with seamless defense to help secure the victory.

Tarah Sawler, 17 of Nova Scotia, played with Quebec last weekend. They made it to the semi-finals, losing to Ontario, and losing their bronze medal game with BC. Tarah played very well and at 17 years old, she has a bright future in the sport.

Congratulations to all of the athletes at coaches who participated! On the  men’s side: 1st NS, 2nd BC, 3rd QC. Women: 1st ON Harlequins, 2nd ON Thistles, 3rd BC.

NS men win gold sr nationals 2016Simon Richard MVP 2016

Update

Canadian Senior National Goalball Champs Day 2 Results

Canadian Senior National Goalball Champs Day 2: Nova Scotia men beat quebec Quebec 5-1 then won against Ontario 4-2. In they final game of day 2 they played BC and needed to win to come first after the round robin. NS tied BC 1-1 in that game, which made it a tie at 4 wins, no losses and 1 tie. BC came first based on goal differential. Nova Scotia is playing Alberta in the 2 vs. 3 semi-final right now! The Score at the half is 2-0 for Nova Scotia. Watch live here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=OvlfHhLYM_A

Update

Senior Goalball Nationals Day 1 Update and Day 2 Schedule & stream

Day 1 update: The Nova Scotia men won 9 to 5 against Alberta in a game that started slow & steady but quickly became a fast-paced match. NS then beat Manitoba 10 to 0.

Day 2 of the Canadian Senior National Goalball Championships has Nova Scotia men taking on Quebec soon at 12:45 Atlantic. This, and all games played in Gym B will be streamed at the following link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=OvlfHhLYM_A

NS then plays Ontario at 3:30pm and BC at 5:20pm Atlantic in Gym A. All Gym A games streamed here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=OvlfHhLYM_A

Full schedule here: http://sportsaveugles.qc.ca/…/Horaire-Championnat-canadien-…

Update

NS athletes competing at 2016 Canadian Senior Goalball Championships Apr 22-24

This weekend, the Nova Scotia men’s goalball team and Tarah Sawler head to Quebec for the 2016 Canadian Senior National Goalball Championships. We’d like to wish all athletes and coaches the best of luck! Full schedule available here:  Full Schedule 

The tournament is hosted by Association sportive des aveugles du Québec and the Canadian Blind Sports and will be held in Quebec City on April 22-24, 2016. Competition will be held at the Cégep de Sainte-Foy, 2410 chemin Sainte-Foy in Quebec, QC.

Check us out on Facebook or Twitter @BlindSportsNS for updates