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Groups and Events Calendar

April 2021
Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
			1 12:00 pm: Coffee Connections April 1, 2021 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm zoom Coffee Connections returns weekly every Thursday from 12:00pm to 1:00pm eastern time! It’s social. It’s different. It’s fun! Hosted by volunteers Olivia and Windy, this social group is a chance for us to gather, meet new people, share how you’re feeling, and to chat with others in the community. So, brew a cup of coffee or tea, hop onto Zoom, and come join us for a mid-week breather! If you have a topic suggestion, please let us know by emailing us at info@balancefba.org Call our office at 416-236-1796 extension 0, or click here to register.	2 7:00 pm: The Adventure Zone: An Interactive Dungeons and Dragons Role Playing Game April 2, 2021 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm zoom Join this interactive fantasy board game group where storytelling and single-character play, set on a loosely medieval world, will take you on the adventure of a lifetime! This group will run every Friday evenings, from 7:00pm to 8:30pm, and will allow you to meet new people and develop your soft-skills. No previous experience or knowledge necessary, all you need to bring is your imagination and have either a phone or computer to connect to Zoom. To register for this group click here or call 416-236-1796, extension 0 and speak to Chloe.	3	4
5	6 1:30 pm: Sharing Space Support Group. April 6, 2021 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm zoom BALANCE is pleased to announce that Sharing Space Support Group is moving to a year-round format with groups running every Tuesday, starting Tuesday January 12th, from 1:30pm-3:30pm. The BALANCE Sharing Space Support Group is year-round professionally facilitated group counselling for adults who are blind or living with sight loss. From navigating during the pandemic to navigating ableism at any time, the groups address life’s challenges specifically for blind people, whether big or small, in a safe and supportive group experience (currently offered virtually through Zoom). Our Sharing Space Support Groups are facilitated by people with lived experience and a Social Work background. This is open only to BALANCE clients. You need a service agreement in place in order to participate. If you don't have one, please call our office at 416-236-1796 extension 0 or email info@balancefba.org to get more information. 3:00 pm: Step Into Spring: Yoga with Fazia! April 6, 2021 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm zoom BALANCE for Blind Adults is offering a special yoga course with a focus on back care and postural alignment, with certified yoga instructor Fazia Ackbarali. Classes are being held via Zoom on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:00pm and are approximately 45 minutes long. Spots are limited so register now! Email BALANCE at info@balancefba.org, or call our office at 416-236-1796 extension 0. Fazia has 20 years of experience as a certified advanced yoga instructor. She specializes in therapeutic movement that include T’ai Chi, Pilates, and corrective Fitness. Her approach is holistic as it includes breath work, meditation, and natural posture alignment. Her classes are corrective and rehabilitative rather than performance focused, and they promote wellness, pain reduction, and correct posture. You’ll feel energized and uplifted. Her goal is to promote independence by helping her clients stay mobile and strong. These classes can be done on a mat, a chair, or standing. Please consult a doctor or registered therapist for specialized rehabilitation.	7 7:30 pm: Dan Minchom is back with Music to My Ears 2: Music Appreciation and Beginner Theory April 7, 2021 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm zoom We're excited to welcome Dan Minchom back with a slightly different course: Music Appreciation and Beginner Theory! This course will take songs selected by you and break them down from both a production and theoretical perspective. The class will discuss the tracks in regards to interesting studio techniques and each week will cover a basic music theory concept using a chosen song as an example. This is not a repeat of the November course of last year, so participants of "Music to My Ears" are encouraged to register. Dan is a Toronto based electric bassist whose performance credits include working with Jesse Cook, Madeline Merlo, amongst others. The course is 6 weeks long, and runs every Wednesday evening from 7:30 to 8:30 PM, EST, beginning March 3rd until April 7th. There are only 15 spots available. You can register by calling our office at 416-236-1796 extension 0, or by going to the following link: Register for Music Appreciation and Beginner Theory. At the time of registration, you will be asked to submit a song that you'd like to focus on during the course. Please include the song title and artist if you know it.	8 12:00 pm: Coffee Connections April 8, 2021 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm zoom Coffee Connections returns weekly every Thursday from 12:00pm to 1:00pm eastern time! It’s social. It’s different. It’s fun! Hosted by volunteers Olivia and Windy, this social group is a chance for us to gather, meet new people, share how you’re feeling, and to chat with others in the community. So, brew a cup of coffee or tea, hop onto Zoom, and come join us for a mid-week breather! If you have a topic suggestion, please let us know by emailing us at info@balancefba.org Call our office at 416-236-1796 extension 0, or click here to register. 3:00 pm: Step Into Spring: Yoga with Fazia! April 8, 2021 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm zoom BALANCE for Blind Adults is offering a special yoga course with a focus on back care and postural alignment, with certified yoga instructor Fazia Ackbarali. Classes are being held via Zoom on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:00pm and are approximately 45 minutes long. Spots are limited so register now! Email BALANCE at info@balancefba.org, or call our office at 416-236-1796 extension 0. Fazia has 20 years of experience as a certified advanced yoga instructor. She specializes in therapeutic movement that include T’ai Chi, Pilates, and corrective Fitness. Her approach is holistic as it includes breath work, meditation, and natural posture alignment. Her classes are corrective and rehabilitative rather than performance focused, and they promote wellness, pain reduction, and correct posture. You’ll feel energized and uplifted. Her goal is to promote independence by helping her clients stay mobile and strong. These classes can be done on a mat, a chair, or standing. Please consult a doctor or registered therapist for specialized rehabilitation.	9 2:30 pm: Beyond Siri: Getting the Most from Your iPhone April 9, 2021 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm zoom The Beyond Siri workshops are for both those who are new to iPhone as well as those looking to improve their knowledge and use of the device. The purpose of these sessions is to provide a setting to discuss the use of, or changes to, specific apps. On April 9th from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM Eastern time, Beyond Siri will focus on the use of the camera and how persons who are blind or low vision can take advantage of it. You may have used the camera to recognize QR codes, or as part of the OCR package to read printed materials. However, it has so many other uses! If you plan to attend, please ensure that you have downloaded on your device Seeing AI as we will be referring to this app throughout the session. If you are interested, please join us! Sessions are bi-weekly via Zoom and classes will be repeated periodically. A reminder that you must register for each class individually. Call the BALANCE office at 416-236-1796, extension 0, or click here to register for Beyond Siri: The Camera App: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0ofuGgrT8rGNxKFxd_kF7VyOvNwxd1beA0 7:00 pm: The Adventure Zone: An Interactive Dungeons and Dragons Role Playing Game April 9, 2021 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm zoom Join this interactive fantasy board game group where storytelling and single-character play, set on a loosely medieval world, will take you on the adventure of a lifetime! This group will run every Friday evenings, from 7:00pm to 8:30pm, and will allow you to meet new people and develop your soft-skills. No previous experience or knowledge necessary, all you need to bring is your imagination and have either a phone or computer to connect to Zoom. To register for this group click here or call 416-236-1796, extension 0 and speak to Chloe.	10	11
12 6:30 pm: Sharing Space Support Group April 12, 2021 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm zoom BALANCE is pleased to announce that Sharing Space Support Group is moving to a year-round format. The BALANCE Sharing Space Support Group is year-round professionally facilitated group counselling for adults who are blind or living with sight loss. From navigating life during the pandemic to navigating ableism at any time, the group address' life’s challenges specifically for blind people, whether big or small, in a safe and supportive group experience (currently offered virtually through Zoom). Our Sharing Space Support Group is facilitated by a Social Worker with lived experience. This is open only to BALANCE clients. You need a service agreement in place in order to participate. If you don't have one, please call our office at 416-236-1796 extension 0 or email info@balancefba.org to get more information.	13 1:30 pm: Sharing Space Support Group. April 13, 2021 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm zoom BALANCE is pleased to announce that Sharing Space Support Group is moving to a year-round format with groups running every Tuesday, starting Tuesday January 12th, from 1:30pm-3:30pm. The BALANCE Sharing Space Support Group is year-round professionally facilitated group counselling for adults who are blind or living with sight loss. From navigating during the pandemic to navigating ableism at any time, the groups address life’s challenges specifically for blind people, whether big or small, in a safe and supportive group experience (currently offered virtually through Zoom). Our Sharing Space Support Groups are facilitated by people with lived experience and a Social Work background. This is open only to BALANCE clients. You need a service agreement in place in order to participate. If you don't have one, please call our office at 416-236-1796 extension 0 or email info@balancefba.org to get more information. 3:00 pm: Step Into Spring: Yoga with Fazia! April 13, 2021 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm zoom BALANCE for Blind Adults is offering a special yoga course with a focus on back care and postural alignment, with certified yoga instructor Fazia Ackbarali. Classes are being held via Zoom on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:00pm and are approximately 45 minutes long. Spots are limited so register now! Email BALANCE at info@balancefba.org, or call our office at 416-236-1796 extension 0. Fazia has 20 years of experience as a certified advanced yoga instructor. She specializes in therapeutic movement that include T’ai Chi, Pilates, and corrective Fitness. Her approach is holistic as it includes breath work, meditation, and natural posture alignment. Her classes are corrective and rehabilitative rather than performance focused, and they promote wellness, pain reduction, and correct posture. You’ll feel energized and uplifted. Her goal is to promote independence by helping her clients stay mobile and strong. These classes can be done on a mat, a chair, or standing. Please consult a doctor or registered therapist for specialized rehabilitation.	14	15 12:00 pm: Coffee Connections April 15, 2021 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm zoom Coffee Connections returns weekly every Thursday from 12:00pm to 1:00pm eastern time! It’s social. It’s different. It’s fun! Hosted by volunteers Olivia and Windy, this social group is a chance for us to gather, meet new people, share how you’re feeling, and to chat with others in the community. So, brew a cup of coffee or tea, hop onto Zoom, and come join us for a mid-week breather! If you have a topic suggestion, please let us know by emailing us at info@balancefba.org Call our office at 416-236-1796 extension 0, or click here to register. 3:00 pm: Step Into Spring: Yoga with Fazia! April 15, 2021 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm zoom BALANCE for Blind Adults is offering a special yoga course with a focus on back care and postural alignment, with certified yoga instructor Fazia Ackbarali. Classes are being held via Zoom on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:00pm and are approximately 45 minutes long. Spots are limited so register now! Email BALANCE at info@balancefba.org, or call our office at 416-236-1796 extension 0. Fazia has 20 years of experience as a certified advanced yoga instructor. She specializes in therapeutic movement that include T’ai Chi, Pilates, and corrective Fitness. Her approach is holistic as it includes breath work, meditation, and natural posture alignment. Her classes are corrective and rehabilitative rather than performance focused, and they promote wellness, pain reduction, and correct posture. You’ll feel energized and uplifted. Her goal is to promote independence by helping her clients stay mobile and strong. These classes can be done on a mat, a chair, or standing. Please consult a doctor or registered therapist for specialized rehabilitation. 7:00 pm: Let's Get Quizzical! April 15, 2021 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm zoom We’ve decided to increase the spirit of competition and offer a prize to the winning team for each Trivia Night that we are hosting! Perhaps you are a trivia buff, or perhaps you are new to this trivia game thing…either way you will have tons of fun, get to know your teammates, and also be playing for a small prize that will be mailed to each member of the winning team (staff and volunteers excluded). The following registration link will register you for the monthly trivia night series. You do not have to attend all of the nights if you pre-register, but you can attend them all if you wish. The upcoming trivia night dates are on January 21st, February 18th, March 18th and April 15th from 7:00pm-8:30pm. Register for "Let's Get Quizzical!" on zoom or call the BALANCE office at 416-236-1796, extension 0.	16 7:00 pm: The Adventure Zone: An Interactive Dungeons and Dragons Role Playing Game April 16, 2021 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm zoom Join this interactive fantasy board game group where storytelling and single-character play, set on a loosely medieval world, will take you on the adventure of a lifetime! This group will run every Friday evenings, from 7:00pm to 8:30pm, and will allow you to meet new people and develop your soft-skills. No previous experience or knowledge necessary, all you need to bring is your imagination and have either a phone or computer to connect to Zoom. To register for this group click here or call 416-236-1796, extension 0 and speak to Chloe.	17	18
19 6:30 pm: Sharing Space Support Group April 19, 2021 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm zoom BALANCE is pleased to announce that Sharing Space Support Group is moving to a year-round format. The BALANCE Sharing Space Support Group is year-round professionally facilitated group counselling for adults who are blind or living with sight loss. From navigating life during the pandemic to navigating ableism at any time, the group address' life’s challenges specifically for blind people, whether big or small, in a safe and supportive group experience (currently offered virtually through Zoom). Our Sharing Space Support Group is facilitated by a Social Worker with lived experience. This is open only to BALANCE clients. You need a service agreement in place in order to participate. If you don't have one, please call our office at 416-236-1796 extension 0 or email info@balancefba.org to get more information.	20 1:30 pm: Sharing Space Support Group. April 20, 2021 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm zoom BALANCE is pleased to announce that Sharing Space Support Group is moving to a year-round format with groups running every Tuesday, starting Tuesday January 12th, from 1:30pm-3:30pm. The BALANCE Sharing Space Support Group is year-round professionally facilitated group counselling for adults who are blind or living with sight loss. From navigating during the pandemic to navigating ableism at any time, the groups address life’s challenges specifically for blind people, whether big or small, in a safe and supportive group experience (currently offered virtually through Zoom). Our Sharing Space Support Groups are facilitated by people with lived experience and a Social Work background. This is open only to BALANCE clients. You need a service agreement in place in order to participate. If you don't have one, please call our office at 416-236-1796 extension 0 or email info@balancefba.org to get more information. 3:00 pm: Step Into Spring: Yoga with Fazia! April 20, 2021 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm zoom BALANCE for Blind Adults is offering a special yoga course with a focus on back care and postural alignment, with certified yoga instructor Fazia Ackbarali. Classes are being held via Zoom on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:00pm and are approximately 45 minutes long. Spots are limited so register now! Email BALANCE at info@balancefba.org, or call our office at 416-236-1796 extension 0. Fazia has 20 years of experience as a certified advanced yoga instructor. She specializes in therapeutic movement that include T’ai Chi, Pilates, and corrective Fitness. Her approach is holistic as it includes breath work, meditation, and natural posture alignment. Her classes are corrective and rehabilitative rather than performance focused, and they promote wellness, pain reduction, and correct posture. You’ll feel energized and uplifted. Her goal is to promote independence by helping her clients stay mobile and strong. These classes can be done on a mat, a chair, or standing. Please consult a doctor or registered therapist for specialized rehabilitation. 7:30 pm: The Listening Stage presents Blind Imaginings: A Celebration of New Writing! April 20, 2021 7:30 pm – 8:45 pm zoom Join us on Tuesday April 20 from 7:30 - 8:45pm EST for “Blind Imaginings: A Celebration of New Writing!” as part of the Listening Stage Series. Common Boots Theatre and BALANCE for Blind Adults invite you to a celebration of creative writing by members of our blind community. With guest host Amy Amantea, featuring new writing by Anthony Coulter, Cat Peever and Karoline Bourdeau, plus an audio-described screening of a new short film written and performed by Alex Bulmer. This gathering is a chance to come together, celebrate creativity, and enjoy good conversation. Bring your headphones for the best listening experience. The Zoom room will open at 7:15 EST with the event starting at 7:30pm EST. There will be a relaxed meet and greet followed by readings, a screening, and a talk around with the artists. Admission is free (donations are always welcome), however pre-registration for the event is required. Register online at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEocOipqzIqE9WJixvt5y2sDtx6tsmZy5EO. The event will take place via Zoom. An email address is required in order to register, however, participation may be online or by phone. If you require assistance in the registration process, please contact BALANCE at (416) 236 1796. For more information please contact assistant@commonbootstheatre.ca	21	22 12:00 pm: Coffee Connections April 22, 2021 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm zoom Coffee Connections returns weekly every Thursday from 12:00pm to 1:00pm eastern time! It’s social. It’s different. It’s fun! Hosted by volunteers Olivia and Windy, this social group is a chance for us to gather, meet new people, share how you’re feeling, and to chat with others in the community. So, brew a cup of coffee or tea, hop onto Zoom, and come join us for a mid-week breather! If you have a topic suggestion, please let us know by emailing us at info@balancefba.org Call our office at 416-236-1796 extension 0, or click here to register. 3:00 pm: Step Into Spring: Yoga with Fazia! April 22, 2021 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm zoom BALANCE for Blind Adults is offering a special yoga course with a focus on back care and postural alignment, with certified yoga instructor Fazia Ackbarali. Classes are being held via Zoom on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:00pm and are approximately 45 minutes long. Spots are limited so register now! Email BALANCE at info@balancefba.org, or call our office at 416-236-1796 extension 0. Fazia has 20 years of experience as a certified advanced yoga instructor. She specializes in therapeutic movement that include T’ai Chi, Pilates, and corrective Fitness. Her approach is holistic as it includes breath work, meditation, and natural posture alignment. Her classes are corrective and rehabilitative rather than performance focused, and they promote wellness, pain reduction, and correct posture. You’ll feel energized and uplifted. Her goal is to promote independence by helping her clients stay mobile and strong. These classes can be done on a mat, a chair, or standing. Please consult a doctor or registered therapist for specialized rehabilitation.	23 2:30 pm: Beyond Siri: Getting the Most from Your iPhone - News and iTunes U April 23, 2021 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm zoom The Beyond Siri workshops are for both those who are new to iPhone as well as those looking to improve their knowledge and use of the device. The purpose of these sessions is to provide a setting to discuss the use of, or changes to, specific apps. Join us next Friday April 23rd from 2:30 to 4:00 PM Eastern Time for another edition of Beyond Siri. This session focuses on the News App. Learn how you can get quick and easy access to news feeds from some of your favourite sources. In addition, we will be exploring iTunes U. Learn how easy it is to get access to a large collection of free educational content and public courses! If you are interested, please join us! Sessions are bi-weekly via Zoom and classes will be repeated periodically. A reminder that you must register for each class individually, even if you have registered for ones prior. Call the BALANCE office at 416-236-1796 extension 0, or click here to register for Beyond Siri: News and iTunes U. 7:00 pm: The Adventure Zone: An Interactive Dungeons and Dragons Role Playing Game April 23, 2021 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm zoom Join this interactive fantasy board game group where storytelling and single-character play, set on a loosely medieval world, will take you on the adventure of a lifetime! This group will run every Friday evenings, from 7:00pm to 8:30pm, and will allow you to meet new people and develop your soft-skills. No previous experience or knowledge necessary, all you need to bring is your imagination and have either a phone or computer to connect to Zoom. To register for this group click here or call 416-236-1796, extension 0 and speak to Chloe.	24	25
26 6:30 pm: Sharing Space Support Group April 26, 2021 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm zoom BALANCE is pleased to announce that Sharing Space Support Group is moving to a year-round format. The BALANCE Sharing Space Support Group is year-round professionally facilitated group counselling for adults who are blind or living with sight loss. From navigating life during the pandemic to navigating ableism at any time, the group address' life’s challenges specifically for blind people, whether big or small, in a safe and supportive group experience (currently offered virtually through Zoom). Our Sharing Space Support Group is facilitated by a Social Worker with lived experience. This is open only to BALANCE clients. You need a service agreement in place in order to participate. If you don't have one, please call our office at 416-236-1796 extension 0 or email info@balancefba.org to get more information.	27 1:30 pm: Sharing Space Support Group. April 27, 2021 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm zoom BALANCE is pleased to announce that Sharing Space Support Group is moving to a year-round format with groups running every Tuesday, starting Tuesday January 12th, from 1:30pm-3:30pm. The BALANCE Sharing Space Support Group is year-round professionally facilitated group counselling for adults who are blind or living with sight loss. From navigating during the pandemic to navigating ableism at any time, the groups address life’s challenges specifically for blind people, whether big or small, in a safe and supportive group experience (currently offered virtually through Zoom). Our Sharing Space Support Groups are facilitated by people with lived experience and a Social Work background. This is open only to BALANCE clients. You need a service agreement in place in order to participate. If you don't have one, please call our office at 416-236-1796 extension 0 or email info@balancefba.org to get more information. 3:00 pm: Step Into Spring: Yoga with Fazia! April 27, 2021 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm zoom BALANCE for Blind Adults is offering a special yoga course with a focus on back care and postural alignment, with certified yoga instructor Fazia Ackbarali. Classes are being held via Zoom on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:00pm and are approximately 45 minutes long. Spots are limited so register now! Email BALANCE at info@balancefba.org, or call our office at 416-236-1796 extension 0. Fazia has 20 years of experience as a certified advanced yoga instructor. She specializes in therapeutic movement that include T’ai Chi, Pilates, and corrective Fitness. Her approach is holistic as it includes breath work, meditation, and natural posture alignment. Her classes are corrective and rehabilitative rather than performance focused, and they promote wellness, pain reduction, and correct posture. You’ll feel energized and uplifted. Her goal is to promote independence by helping her clients stay mobile and strong. These classes can be done on a mat, a chair, or standing. Please consult a doctor or registered therapist for specialized rehabilitation.	28	29 12:00 pm: Coffee Connections April 29, 2021 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm zoom Coffee Connections returns weekly every Thursday from 12:00pm to 1:00pm eastern time! It’s social. It’s different. It’s fun! Hosted by volunteers Olivia and Windy, this social group is a chance for us to gather, meet new people, share how you’re feeling, and to chat with others in the community. So, brew a cup of coffee or tea, hop onto Zoom, and come join us for a mid-week breather! If you have a topic suggestion, please let us know by emailing us at info@balancefba.org Call our office at 416-236-1796 extension 0, or click here to register. 3:00 pm: Step Into Spring: Yoga with Fazia! April 29, 2021 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm zoom BALANCE for Blind Adults is offering a special yoga course with a focus on back care and postural alignment, with certified yoga instructor Fazia Ackbarali. Classes are being held via Zoom on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:00pm and are approximately 45 minutes long. Spots are limited so register now! Email BALANCE at info@balancefba.org, or call our office at 416-236-1796 extension 0. Fazia has 20 years of experience as a certified advanced yoga instructor. She specializes in therapeutic movement that include T’ai Chi, Pilates, and corrective Fitness. Her approach is holistic as it includes breath work, meditation, and natural posture alignment. Her classes are corrective and rehabilitative rather than performance focused, and they promote wellness, pain reduction, and correct posture. You’ll feel energized and uplifted. Her goal is to promote independence by helping her clients stay mobile and strong. These classes can be done on a mat, a chair, or standing. Please consult a doctor or registered therapist for specialized rehabilitation. 7:00 pm: On the Same Page April 29, 2021 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm zoom Calling All Bookworms! Join Our Monthly Book Club “On the Same Page” is a monthly book club for readers and bookworms alike who are looking to explore different genres, titles, and to just have fun with it. Led by fellow community member Carol, this book club will meet on the last Thursday of every month at 7:00 PM Eastern Time. Our first “On the Same Page” meeting will be happening over Zoom, this Thursday March 25th. If you are interested in joining this new group, please contact the BALANCE office at 416-236-1796 extension 0, or click here to register for On the Same Page	30 7:00 pm: The Adventure Zone: An Interactive Dungeons and Dragons Role Playing Game April 30, 2021 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm zoom Join this interactive fantasy board game group where storytelling and single-character play, set on a loosely medieval world, will take you on the adventure of a lifetime! This group will run every Friday evenings, from 7:00pm to 8:30pm, and will allow you to meet new people and develop your soft-skills. No previous experience or knowledge necessary, all you need to bring is your imagination and have either a phone or computer to connect to Zoom. To register for this group click here or call 416-236-1796, extension 0 and speak to Chloe.