SPEAKER - JIM SANDERS, "I am an able-bodied person who is blind"
We are truly privileged at our club to host top class speakers such as Jim Sanders who addressed us on May 9, 2025. His presentation was informative, mind-changing and humorous.
In welcoming and introducing Jim, Helmuth Slisarenko explained that Jim had been born with severe glaucoma, had worked around his blindness his whole life, and had dedicated his life to helping others with low vision or blindness, living and leading by example. For 42 years, Jim had worked for CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind), finally retiring as its Presidents and CEO. He received the Order of Canada in 2003. He also served as the Executive Director for the War Blind institute.
Jim began his talk with humour, saying he knew he had a strict time limit for his talk, and since a picture is worth a thousand words ... he would show no pictures!
Jim highlighted the impact of visual impairments on daily life, and shared little tricks he had learned to solve problems. Of the five top fears people have about their future health, blindness is number one.
Jim said that main difference between a blind and sighted person was the manner in which they send and receive information, giving many examples of this.
He went on to share the history and remarkable development of reading technology for the blind, and how prices have come down over the years to make technology more accessible. Jim remains is an expert in this area and gladly shares his experience and expertise with others.
Believing that laughter is the best medicine, Jim regaled us with many funny examples of advantages that blind people have in a sighted world.
In closing, Brian Martin thanked Jim for his wonderful talk, and then surprised Jim with the presentation of an Honourary Paul Harris Fellowship award from our club - the highest honour that Rotary can bestow on anyone. Jim knows the value of a PHF and was deeply appreciative.
We are delighted to welcome Jim Green to our club, inducted on Friday, May 9, 2025. Jim is the owner and general manager of 
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