Canadian Friends of the Israel Guide Dog Center Visits Vancouver and Vancouver Island
Canadian Friends of the Israel Guide Dog Center Visits Vancouver and Vancouver Island
Join us to learn more about the Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind and its incredible work on behalf of injured IDF veterans and disabled Israelis.
Achiya Klein, a visually impaired IDF veteran and client who was injured in the Gaza tunnels in 2013, will join us with his guide dog, Joy, to show first-hand the incredible impact of guide dogs. More on Achiya below.
During the current moment, the work of the IGDCB is more crucial than ever, providing support and guidance for those impacted by the war in Gaza.
Events in BC:
April 1st, 2:00 PM, Ladysmith, BC. More information and RSVP here.
April 1st, 7:30 PM, Chabad of Vancouver Island, 2955 Glasgow St, Victoria. RSVP here.
April 3rd 7:00 PM, Maple Grill, 1965 West Broadway. RSVP here.
April 4th, Meeting in private home
More to come, check back soon.
About Us
The Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind is dedicated to improving the quality of life of visually impaired Israelis. We provide them with mobility, independence, self-confidence and companionship through the faithful assistance of guide dogs specially trained in Hebrew to meet Israel’s rigorous and challenging environment. Founded in 1991, the Israel Guide Dog Center serves Israel’s 24,000 blind and visually impaired citizens and is the only internationally accredited guide dog program in the country.
Achiya Klein was raised in kibbutz Kfar Etzion, a tight-knit community where young men have a history of service in Israel Defense Forces (IDF) combat units. It was this legacy that motivated him to join the elite ‘Yahalom’ unit of the IDF combat engineering corps where he served as a sergeant and later as an officer.
In 2013, while on a sensitive mission to disable a terror tunnel, an improvised explosive device was detonated, severely injuring Achiya and robbing him of his vision.
Achiya has taken his fitness enthusiasm to the competitive level, competing for the Israeli national team at the Paralympic rowing championship, competing in the Tokyo 2021 Olympics. Achiya received his Masters degree in the Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy in Counter Terrorism and Homeland Security, at IDC Herzliya.
Achiya is married to Shirlee and a father to two boys and Joy, his guide dog.
