As a native of St. Catharines, Frances Tanner has great memories which she shares in all of her keynote speeches, seminars and workshops. Frances is a graduate from the University of Guelph, has her Certified Meeting Professional designation, completed a 6 week French Immersion program at L’Universite Laval and has furthered her education by completing “Starting your own Business” and “Business Basics programs. Coupled with academic education, Frances has an abundance of life experience as a deaf/blind business woman. To her credit, Frances has been nominated for “Woman of the Year” by the Toronto Sun, won the Meeting Professionals International “Meeting Planner of the Year” award in Toronto and has recently been nominated for the “Breaking the Barrier” award in St. Catharines.

Frances’ enthusiasm and drive for success was seen and felt by those at Sheraton Hotels Niagara as a sighted woman. Sudden loss of sight presented her with a life style feared by everyone. Equipped with newly designed talking computer programs and a fervent zest for proving herself to be equally capable, Frances joined the Canadian National Institute for the Blind while enrolled in an adjustment to blindness course. Numerous radio interviews, the production of a video “Seeing with Feeling” is still used by all CNIB offices nationally and becoming a role model for others brought living with blindness to the forefront. Her strong goal to work in the corporate market brought her to Noranda Inc as a Meeting and Event Planner handling 75 conferences, think tanks, annual general meetings and special fun events per year. Developing corporate student mentorship brought great joy to Frances sharing her knowledge and networks. Following an unexpected downsize, Frances sought and accepted positions with Carlsonwagonlit Travel, Base Consulting, Friends of Second Marsh, YWCA Oshawa and now owns “TannerTalks”. Her business life lands her with customizing talks and training so her listeners will understand, live with and include people who are visually impaired, blind and deaf/blind. One never knows when, due to sports, auto accidents, disease or genetics, when they may become one of “THEM”.

When it comes to sports and recreation, little stops Frances. She loves kayaking, canoeing, backcountry tripping. She has been a lawn bowler and gymnastics demonstrator with the Ontario Blind Sports Association and Sports for the Physically Disabled organizations, curler for 6 years, conventional camper since she was a little girl and hopes to tandem cycle and go up in a hot air balloon in the near future! Adventure, risk and fun is the name of her game.

Although “seeing” is a distant dream for Frances, she lives independently coping with daily chores including cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping, enjoying music, conversing with friends and family on her talking cell phone as well as a great deal of volunteering within her community. She is escorted by her guide dog and shares her experiences and limelight with her canine partner! Her positive attitude, liveliness, laughter, strength in making decisions and research can be heard and seen on the St. Catharines Mayors Advisory Committee on Accessibility, the Canadian Red Cross (Ontario Zone), the Business Education Council Speakers Spot and her church. She brings membership experience with The Learning Partnership, the Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee, the Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Club of Niagara and Women in Niagara.

Frances shares her life experience in both worlds – sighted and blind. She is passionate about educating, motivating and inspiring others. As Frances’ wheel keeps moving forward she encourages everyone to see life from a new perspective!