The mission of Lions Foundation of Canada is to provide service to ...

Th e mission of Lions Foundation of
Canada is to provide service to Canadians
with disabilities in the areas of mobility,
safety and independence.
Th e Foundation operates Dog Guides Canada, a preeminent national training school and
charity, which assists individuals through four specialized Dog Guide programs. Th ese Dog
Guides are provided at no cost to eligible Canadians from coast-to-coast. Th e Foundation
relies on donations from individuals, service clubs and corporations and does not receive any
government funding.
Canine Vision Canada for Canadians who are blind or visually impaired
Hearing Ear Dog Guides for Canadians who are deaf or hard of hearing
Special Skills Dog Guides for Canadians with a medical or physical disability
Seizure Response Dog Guides for Canadians who have epilepsy
A Message from the Chairperson
and Executive Director
Milestone anniversaries are not always a true
cause for celebration. However, for us, our 25th
anniversary is truly signifi cant in terms of the
achievements realized to date for our organization.
As the year began, we outlined plans for all the things that would be necessary for us to
advance to the next major level of service. With the Dog Guide programs continuing
to grow and the need dramatically obvious, we asked for people’s help. Th e demand for
our Dog Guides never slows despite the number of teams graduating each month. We
are continually broadening our skill set to enable our Dog Guides to assist many more
people with diff erent disabilities.
Our Dog Guide program offi cially expanded this year with the addition of Seizure
Response Dog Guides to our already established Canine Vision, Hearing Ear and
Special Skills Dog Guide programs. We believe this program will be a huge boost to
children and adults seeking more independence, safety and mobility while living
with epilepsy.
Our growth plans have been developed and our exciting new expansion is underway,
giving us beautiful new kennel facilities to house twice as many Dog Guides along with
a veterinary care clinic.
We continue to educate more top quality trainers to allow future growth. Our threeyear
apprenticeship program for trainers is a major focus, and will lead to many more
Dog Guides across the country.
All of this is possible due only to amazing new levels of funding support. Every dollar
for Dog Guides is provided by donations, and we are so thankful that more and more
Canadians are thinking of Lions Foundation of Canada and Dog Guides Canada.
In fact, this past year had incredible new levels of gift s provided through estates. We are
very thankful to those who allow their estate to live on through newly trained Dog
Guides. Th ese gift s range from important small contributions to our largest ever single
donation received this year through an estate.
We also benefi t a great deal from the Lions Clubs that founded the school in 1983
and continue to provide critical funding. Th is past year saw a jump in support
through donations as well as Lions Clubs organizing Purina ® Walk for Dog Guides
in their communities.
Our Board of Directors and staff should all be proud of a very special 25th year.
Th ank you to all of our supporters.
Chairperson of the Board
Executive Director
Lions Foundation of Canada Annual Report 2007~2008 /1