Physical Activities
Toronto Ski Hawks
The Toronto Ski Hawks promote safe skiing for the visually impaired, blind and the deaf-blind.
Over the years, a unique system of skiing for the visually impaired has been developed by Ron and Barbara Lusher, the founding ski school directors. Skiers can be taught to ski down the most difficult ski slopes safely. A skier’s well trained instructor or guide follows the skier closely, calling out simple directions. Blind and visually impaired skiers always ski one-on-one, one student with one instructor/guide.
The Ski Hawks have the privilege of being invited as guests to several private and semi-private clubs in Ontario. These clubs have added great dimensions to the ski program by providing an exciting variety of ski slopes and excellent facilities for our use.
Our normal ski season lasts from the first week of January to the first week of March. On Wednesday evenings we have training sessions for both guides and skiers, each Saturday we ski all day at one of our guest locations. Transportation is supplied by volunteers.
For further information please contact us through our website.
Achilles Track Club
Achilles Canada offers people with various disabilities the opportunity to enjoy running. Training is provided and able-bodied volunteers act as guides. There are many local clubs throughout the country. The contact information, below, is for the Toronto club.
Phone: 416-485-6451
Email: bmclean@achillescanada.ca
The Argonaut Rowing Club
Get out on the water and stretch your muscles with the Argonaut Club’s Adaptive Rowing Program. Start with weekend Learn to Row classes in the spring. Then build from there into recreational adaptive rowing with a crew.
If you have a competitive spirit, you can also train with the Club for provincial, national and international competitions. Rowing at this level requires good physical fitness and dedication to a structured training plan.
Phone: 416-532-2803
Email: info@argonautrowingclub.com
Website: argonautrowingclub.com
The Blind Sailing Club
Sailing is great fun…and yes, you do get to steer and set up as well. Associated with Blind Sailing Canada, the Toronto club offers instruction and recreational sailing for those who have impaired vision.
Learn to sail from Canadian Yachting Association instructors. Get sailing experience with the assistance of sighted volunteers. If you're interested in competitive sailing, you can also learn racing techniques with experienced sailors and advance to local and international regattas. The costs are $40 a year for membership and $15 each time you go sailing.
Phone: 416-496-5089
Email: info@blindsailing.ca
Website: www.blindsailing.ca
Canadian Paralympic Committee
Are you an avid athlete? Why not consider training for the paralympics? During the summer games, vision impaired athletes compete in cycling, equestrian, football, goal ball, judo, rowing, sailing or swimming. In the winter games, competitions include alpine skiing, Biathlon, cross-country skiing and wheelchair curling. For more information visit the Canadian Paralympic Committee website.
Phone & Email: Contact varies with geographic location. Contact information on the web site
Website: paralympic.ca
The Community Association of Riding for the Disabled (CARD)
The experts at CARD tell us that the swinging, repetitive motion of horseback riding helps to improve balance, coordination, strength and muscle tone, while gently mobilizing the joints. Their experience shows that riding also improves sensory processing, focus and communication skills.
CARD’s mission is to improve the lives of children and adults with disabilities through quality therapeutic horseback riding programs. CARD therapy programs have a proven track record in the fields of rehabilitation, medicine, education, and adapted sport.
Phone: 416-667-8600
Email: card.info@sympatico.ca
Website: www.card.ca
Curling
A blind curling team, called a rink, can have 5 individuals instead of the usual 4. Each rink has one totally blind curler, two partially sighted curlers and, in some regions of Canada, one fully sighted participant. Each rink can also have a designated sweeper to sweep on behalf of the team’s blind curler.
If you are interested in learning more and/or even trying the sport of Blind Curling, contact the Toronto Blind Curling Club at
Phone: 416-627-6010
Email: r.nelson@rogers.com
Ice Owls Hockey Team
The Ice Owls are a team of mostly totally blind and vision impaired players. There are only four sighted players on the team, and there is one female player. She is both visually impaired and hard of hearing. The youngest player is 15 and the oldest is 71.
Email: Sharon Ros at msaaros@sympatico.ca
Website: iceowls.ca
The Safari Walking Group of Toronto
Step out with the Safari Walking Group and enjoy moderate exercise in a natural environment of green spaces, trees, birds and water features.
The group meets weekly at public transit stops across the city. The walks are 5–6 kms long, last about an hour and a half, and take place on weekdays. The walking routes are chosen to support different visual abilities and facilitate independent travel without a sighted guide.
Email: safariwalk@sympatico.ca
Toronto Parks and Recreation
The Parks and Recreation Department offers a broad range of physical and leisure activities at the city’s swimming pools and community centres.
People living on a fixed income can participate in these activities for free or at a small cost through the Parks and Recreation “Welcome Policy”. To qualify, provide a copy of your current O.D.S.P. income receipt and proof of Toronto residency. The Welcome Policy entitles you to a free pool pass and registration for programs and courses.
The Parks and Recreation “Fun Guide” gives details on recreation programs throughout the city. Pick up a copy at the library, have it delivered to your home, or see it online.
Phone: 416-338-4386
Website: toronto.ca/torontofun
Trailblazers Tandem Cycling Club
This club is located in Toronto and offers the opportunity for vision impaired “stokers” to cycle on bicycles built for two, by connecting them with sighted “captains”. The club owns bicycles for use by members. These are a few storage locations in the city.
Hotline: 416-760-2700
Email: info@torontoTRAILBLAZERS.org
Website: torontotrailblazers.org
Variety Village
Variety Village is a fitness and life skills facility that offers:
- three indoor pools
- a 200-metre indoor track
- three full-sized basketball courts
- a rock climbing wall
- a large exercise area with weight, circuit training and cardio equipment
Also check out the many specialized programs and athletic clubs listed on their website. The philosophy at Variety Village is: “when you feel good about yourself, you can overcome barriers.”
Phone: 416-699-7167
Email: info@varietyvillage.ca
Website: varietyontario.ca/village
Yoga and Pilates
Lululemon offers complimentary one-hour yoga or pilates classes at each of their stores once a week.
Phone: 1-877-263-9300
Email: cec@lululemon.com
Website: lululemon.com/stores