Upcoming Webinars
Dates: Fall 2026 – 5 sessions taking place; dates are outlined below
Link to Register: Canadian Council of the Blind Author’s Series Sponsored by AMI – Fill out form
Platform: Zoom
Summary: In Fall 2026, The Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB) is launching the CCB Author’s Series, a national virtual event that will highlight Canadian authors who are blind or living with vision loss. This series will bring together readers, writers, and members of the low-vision community for engaging conversations with authors about their work, creative process, and lived experiences.
About the Author’s Series: The CCB Author’s Series will spotlight Canadian authors who are blind or living with low-vision through a series of engaging virtual conversations. Each session will feature an author discussing their book, creative inspiration, and the role that lived experience plays in their writing. The series aims to:
● Provide authors with a platform to promote their work
● Amplify blind and low-vision voices in Canadian literature
● Promote accessible storytelling and publishing
● Inspire members of the community to pursue creative expression
● Build stronger connections among readers, writers, and advocates
These conversations will offer audiences unique insight into the authors’ creative journeys while celebrating the diverse voices shaping Canada’s literary landscape.
Confirmed Sessions:
Charles Mossop: Thursday, October 22nd @ Noon ET
Charles Mossop was born and brought up in the United Kingdom, apart from seven years spent in Canada as a youngster. After finishing secondary school in Britain, he returned to Canada where he obtained undergraduate and graduate degrees in Cultural Anthropology with a specialization in Oriental Studies. After spending further time in the United Kingdom, he made his permanent home in Canada where he pursued a lengthy career in post-secondary education and international development. Now retired and living on Vancouver Island on Canada’s west coast, he divides his time between writing the historical fiction he loves, motivational speaking, and music. Legally blind since the age of nineteen, Charles is also an active leadership volunteer with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, the Canadian Council of the Blind, and the World Blind Union, an international non-governmental organization dedicated to improving the lives of people throughout the world who are blind or partially sighted.
Yvonne Garvey: Thursday, October 29th @ Noon ET
After graduating from the University of Ottawa I began my career as a Frontline Social Worker for a homeless shelter. Little did I know at that time that this was an integral steppingstone of things to come. It wasn’t long before I transitioned from a Frontline Worker into a Communications and Fundraising Manager. It all started with a simple internal and “printed” newsletter asking for staff members willing to teach children about homelessness and poverty. I jumped at the opportunity and haven’t looked back since! My business has changed over time, much like myself! We are both a work in progress. In 2021, I ended a twenty-seven-year relationship with alcohol. This game-changing move saved my life and inspired a new life filled with a passion for recovery and helping others. I expanded my communications business to incorporate my other two passions, wellness and creative writing. Whether you are looking for creative communication for your business, seeking a life of wellness, or are an interested reader, I can’t wait to connect with you! I live with my English Bulldog, Winnie, in Peterborough, Ontario, and am a proud member and volunteer of the Peterborough Chapter of the Canadian Council of the Blind.
Lynn Jensen: Thursday, November 5th @ 4pm ET
Lynn’s strongest characteristic is determination, or what she prefers to call stubbornness. Soon after graduating from the University of British Columbia’s School of Nursing, she suddenly and unexpectedly lost all her sight. As soon as she could, she went to Mohawk College in Ontario and got her post-graduate certificate in rehabilitation teaching. Back in Vancouver, she joined CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind), presently known as Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada (VLRC), as a certified vision rehabilitation therapist. Lynn worked in that position for 24 years. At VLRC, Lynn facilitated a series of virtual independent living skills workshops she co-created for clients throughout the province called “Best Kept Secrets for Living With Sight Loss.” Today, Lynn continues to work in vision rehabilitation as an independent consultant, facilitating in-person and virtual workshops, and providing independent living skills training and support. Lynn has written an anonymous “Dear Izzy” advice column for clients at VLRC as well as articles for the nursing profession, nursing homes, and physicians showing how best to support patients with sight loss. She’s an active speechmaker at her local Toastmaster’s club. Lynn lives with her family and her new and retired guide dogs, Quest and Misty, in Port Moody, British Columbia. Lynn is in disbelief that she is “on” her fourth guide dog considering the fact she never actually applied to get the first one. Looking back, Lynn remembers saying, “There’s no way I’m going to have a filthy, stinky, furry dog in my house!” Today, however, Lynn admits sheepishly that it was the best thing that ever happened to her. Lynn swims and hikes with her guide dogs, spends time with her identical twin sister and fraternal twin nieces, and loves to write.
Penny Leclair: Monday, November 9th @ Noon ET
Guide dogs are carefully bred and trained to help their handlers live safely and independently. But what makes one dog truly exceptional? Life With Jefferson tells the true story of the remarkable partnership between Jefferson and Penny Leclair, a deafblind woman whose independence depended on finding the right guide dog. After two years of searching, Jefferson was chosen for his unique intelligence, sensitivity, and ability to meet Penny’s specific needs. His training continued with special considerations that shaped him into more than a working dog—he became a trusted partner and beloved family member. Through heartfelt and often humorous stories, listeners come to know Jefferson’s personality, devotion, and deep desire to communicate and protect. As he aged, his wisdom grew, and his dedication never wavered. This moving nonfiction account offers an intimate look into the bond between a guide dog and the humans who depend on him—a story of trust, love, and partnership that will stay with you long after the final tick.
Anne Mok: Wednesday, November 18th @ Noon ET
Anne Mok is a digital storyteller dedicated to making beauty, purpose, and inspiration accessible to all, particularly within the visually impaired community. Diagnosed in adulthood with the inherited retinal disease cone rod dystrophy, she later developed New Daily Persistent Headache (NDPH), a debilitating chronic condition that forced her to leave her career and spend much of her time in darkness managing pain and light sensitivity. Through these challenges, Mok discovered a renewed sense of purpose and began sharing her experiences online, transforming her Instagram platform into an accessible storytelling space that includes image descriptions, audio and video descriptions, and alt text. Her work celebrates diversity, fosters connection, and empowers others—especially those living with vision loss or chronic illness—by highlighting resilience, creativity, and the beauty that can still be found even in life’s most difficult moments.
Webinar Archive
