Blind and visually impaired youth learn to skate in Winnipeg

Fifteen blind and visually impaired teensfrom Winnipeg-area schools got a chance to lace up some skates Wednesdayand hitthe ice. For some of the students, it was their first time.

It was a part of the Courage Canada Hockey for the Blind program,which runs "learn to skate" workshops across the country from Victoria, B.C., to St. John's.

It was the first time the program, whichhas introduced more than600 visually impaired kids to skating and hockey, hasmade a stop here in Winnipeg.

"Skating is amazing.You're on the ice and you just feel like the whole world fades away," said H.S.

TheGrade 11 student from Fort Richmond Collegiate is legally blind and has skated a handful of times,but this was a unique opportunity for herto come and be a part of a larger group of peers.

"You feel like part of a community because everyone is no different than you," said H.S.

Students at the one-daycamp were paired up with mentors from the University of Manitoba men's and women's hockey teams.

Children and youth from more than20 communities across the country will have an opportunity to participate in similar one-day camps that work not only on skating skills,but also include off-ice components that focus on building confidence, self-esteem,healthy and active lifestyles and leadership characteristics.

"It gives you a chance to try something new and you don't feel left out because your classmates can do something you can't," she said.

Students who stand out or show a keen interest in hockey at Wednesday'ssession in Winnipegcould be selected to participate in a week-longnationalsummer camp in Burnaby, B.C., in Julyfor youth between the ages of 12 and 18.