PROGRAM FOR SPONSORS AND EXHIBITORS Friday and Saturday, October 16 and 17, 2020 Sandman Hotel 999 rue de Sérigny, Longueuil, QC J4K 2T1 (next to the Longueuil metro) CONTENT 100 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE .................................................................. 2 ABOUT CONNECTING THE DOTS ........................................................... 3 ON FRIDAY: OPENING DOORS ................................................................ 3 ON SATURDAY: THE TECHNOVISION FAIR ............................................. 4 WHY TAKE PART IN CONNECTING THE DOTS? ...................................... 5 SUMMARY OF THE EVENT PROGRAM ..................................................... 6 EXHIBITORS’ PROGRAM ........................................................................ 7 EXHIBITION HALL FLOOR PLAN ............................................................. 8 STAYING AT THE SANDMAN HOTEL ....................................................... 9 La Fondation INCA - 2085 rue Parthenais, Montréal, (Qc) H2K 3T1 - Tél. : 514 934-4622 – Fax : 514 934-2131 - inca.ca 100 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE For more than 40 years, the CNIB Foundation has been organizing highly successful professional fairs, conferences and seminars on technology for blind and partially sighted people across the country. The Braille Conference in Toronto brought together clients, transcriptors, educators and staff to talk about the latest advances in literacy. The TechnoVision+ fair in Quebec was the largest one nation-wide dedicated to adaptive technologies and services for people with sight loss, and a must for visual health. The participants and exhibitors included clients, educators, health care professionals, technology suppliers and community organizations. Today, we are delighted to announce that we have brought these regional events together to offer you …. a larger and more inclusive conference that combines our strategic plan initiatives in order to stimulate participation in the workforce, explore the power of technology, and support success and equality for everyone. Join the CNIB Foundation for the launch of our new Connecting the Dots Conference focused on technology, employment and literacy for people with sight loss and anyone interested in opening their doors to them. This is the largest showcase of technologies and services dedicated to people with sight loss, and an important professional development experience for the whole country. Every minute, 3 people knock at the CNIB’s door for information, advice or support. Since 1918, the CNIB has been a charitable organization with a mission to change what it means to be blind through innovative programs and dynamic human rights initiatives to enable Canadians affected by blindness to live their lives as they wish. Our free programs are designed to meet the needs of people living with sight loss so that they can Live, Play and Work without barriers. In Quebec, in addition to organizing the Connecting the Dots Conference, the Foundation also offers, among other things, psycho-social services, training in adaptive technologies, a career and employment program, a program to encourage literacy among young people, scholarships, audio books, an adapted products store and public awareness campaigns. www.inca.ca La Fondation INCA - 2085 rue Parthenais, Montréal, (Qc) H2K 3T1 - Tél. : 514 934-4622 – Fax : 514 934-2131 - inca.ca ABOUT CONNECTING THE DOTS The Connnecting the Dots Conference in the greater Montréal area will run for 2 days, featuring some 20 presentations and several exhibitors. It will take place at the Sandman Hotel in Longueuil, right next to the Longueuil metro. This conference will combine our TechnoVision+ fair and our Accessible Neighbourhood project. Braille and technology are two complementary levers enabling blind people to remain independent and to take part in the labour force, and thereby realize their full potential as active participants in society. ON FRIDAY: OPENING DOORS Employment and accessibility Attendees: This will be a point of connection for employers and candidates with sight loss, as well as a point of connection for anyone interested in opening their doors to blind people and those offering accessibility solutions. There will be: • training, panels and presentations for anyone wishing to become more accessible and inclusive (employers, businesses, public services, etc.) • workshops and conferences for people with sight loss who want to develop their labour market skills and knowledge, and prospects for the future (talent pool, students, etc.) • a networking lunch for the talent pool and employers • scholarship awards Participants will be able to: • find out how easy it is to welcome a blind employee or client • become more inclusive • find out how easy it is to make their work areas and products accessible • think of new markets to explore discover a pool of talented and untapped candidates in times of labour shortages • find out about the benefits of hiring them to join their teams • talk to employers hiring blind people find out how technology is transforming the lives of people with sight loss • become leaders and models • network with politicians, entrepreneurs, decision-makers and technology developers • better meet the requirements of Bill C-81 La Fondation INCA - 2085 rue Parthenais, Montréal, (Qc) H2K 3T1 - Tél. : 514 934-4622 – Fax : 514 934-2131 - inca.ca + ON SATURDAY: THE TECHNOVISION FAIR Attendees: This will be a point of connection for anyone interested in finding out about and trying out products and services dedicated to people with sight loss, discussing the issues, ways to become more independent and, most of all, the latest innovations and adaptive technologies on the market. This event is for the general public, for people with sight loss and their families, for adaptive technology businesses, for visual health and impairment professionals and students, for community organizations and for rehabilitation centres. There will be: • some 20 exhibitors of adaptive technology and services for blind people • presentations, panels and workshops all day long in two halls • Braille Creative Writing Contest awards • free detection of eye diseases, in partnership with Topcon, the largest distributor of ophthalmic instruments in Canada “I particularly appreciated being able to see the new technologies and services, and to meet and reconnect with our current and future partners in support of blind people. This is really important, and we thank you!” Participants will be able to: • try out the latest advances in braille and adaptive technologies • see and try out the products and services dedicated to blind people and those with sight loss • discover the latest adaptive technologies on the market • connect with professionals with whom they share a common interest • explore new ideas and join the discussion • improve their know-how and knowledge La Fondation INCA - 2085 rue Parthenais, Montréal, (Qc) H2K 3T1 - Tél. : 514 934-4622 – Fax : 514 934-2131 - inca.ca WHY TAKE PART IN CONNECTING THE DOTS? This annual conference is an event that brings together people who are deeply interested in the inclusion and independence of people with sight loss. Taking part in the Connecting the Dots conference is a perfect way to: ❖ connect with your target clients, close to 11,000 of whom are in the CNIB community ❖ find out about the latest on the sector, and open up to new sales and partnership opportunities ❖ propose new services and show new products (direct feedback from clients, new sales, etc.) ❖ meet new prospects and foster your clients’ loyalty ❖ stand out from the competition and increase your visibility ❖ detect new trends or needs Over the years, our event has become a key source of information helping participants see beyond sight loss. It has been made possible by the indispensable support of sponsors and partners. We offer several sponsorship opportunities and booths. ***New this year: we will be accepting donations of used smart phones as part of our Phone it Forward program. Businesses that donate more than 20 smart phones will receive additional visibility. *** S FAITS… ❖ 100% of exhibitors made new contacts, 100% want to return ❖ every 12 minutes, someone in Canada starts to lose their sight ❖ 75% of cases of sight loss can be prevented or treated ❖ more than 200,000 Quebecers live with partial or total sight loss, and close to half of them are 65 years of age and older ❖ sight loss costs Quebecers $2.6 billion dollars annually La Fondation INCA - 2085 rue Parthenais, Montréal, (Qc) H2K 3T1 - Tél. : 514 934-4622 – Fax : 514 934-2131 - inca.ca SUMMARY OF THE EVENT Friday, October 16, 2020, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Date of the event and Saturday, October 17, 2020, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sandman Hotel Location 999 rue de Sérigny, Longueuil, Quebec J4K 2T1 Exhibition hall Saturday: Salle Jacques-Cartier A-B-C Friday: Salle Jacques Cartier C and Salle Lafontaine AD Conference hall Saturday: Salle Lafontaine AD and Lafontaine BC Saturday: $10 (free for anyone with sight loss) Cost Friday: Free Parking Free for exhibitors, $5 for visitors PROGRAM The TechnoVision+ fair and the Accessible Neighbourhood program are now part of the two-day New Connecting the Points Conference, with a focus on technology, but also on literacy and employment. 1 draw in the morning, and another in the afternoon, Attendance prize both on Saturday 1 draw on Saturday afternoon First prize draw 50/50 Schedule: Friday: accessibility and employment 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (maximum of