Future Focus 2026 returned to the University of Waterloo on April 2 co-hosted by UW optometry students Elisa Haley and Shreya Jain.
With 118 students in attendance, this fourth annual gathering brought together UW optometry students and industry leaders for an evening centered on connection, career exploration, and purpose.
The event theme, “Vision with Purpose: Building Meaningful Careers in Optometry,” was reflected throughout the program — from the student-moderated industry panel to the keynote presentation by Dr. Martina Sawatzky (UW ’19).
Dr. Sawatzky’s talk, Defining Meaning through Service, offered a powerful perspective on how students and new graduates can build careers that extend beyond clinical practice to include community and global impact.
Student moderators Natasha Reyes and Maryam Safdar, both graduating this year, directed questions to the assembled panel representing the Visionary Sponsors gaining insight into career pathways and tips as students enter the profession. Click here to view the full panel discussion.
Students also had the opportunity to engage directly with sponsors during the networking session, mentorship opportunities, and professional growth.
And of course, the evening wouldn’t be complete without the prize draw — featuring over $2,000 in giveaways, which were met with enthusiastic cheers from the crowd.
Future Focus continues to grow as one of the most anticipated events for UW optometry students — offering a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and start shaping what a meaningful career in optometry can look like.
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CNIB scholarships are here to support your personal and professional aspirations. Whether you’re just starting out in a cool apprenticeship, diving into skilled trades, or levelling up with continuing education, there are multiple scholarships, bursaries, and other educational awards available to people who are blind, Deafblind, or have low vision. It doesn’t matter where you are on your journey – from youth to adults – a scholarship or bursary is waiting just for you.
Most of our scholarships, bursaries and awards are given to eligible students with little to no strings attached. The money is yours to use as you see fit! Recipients can apply their scholarship money to everything from education expenses to room and board or purchasing new technology.
It’s not just about grades
Our scholarships and bursaries are awarded based on a wide range of factors, including financial need, where you live, community involvement, demonstrated resilience to overcome barriers, your ambitions, achievements, and goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about applying for a CNIB scholarship or need some help understanding how to complete the application? We have answers on our scholarship FAQ page! Here you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions we receive from our scholarship applicants.
CNIB Scholarship Information Session
Join us on April 21 for a virtual information session where we’ll outline available scholarships, eligibility criteria, review the application process and deadlines, and answer any burning questions that you may have.
Ledger is a bold eyewear statement crafted from rich, custom acetate inspired by buffalo horn materials, with spring hinges for exceptional comfort. The first collaboration between Jim Yellowhawk and AYA Optical, it features Buffalo Nation artwork.
Look closely and you’ll see subtle background numbers drawn from historic Plains Indian ledger paper.
We believe that art is transformative, and that eyewear can be the canvas to share stories and art from around the world. AYA Eyewear was first launched in 2009 in collaboration with renowned First Nations Artist Corrine Hunt and has continued to flourish and grow every year.
We are committed to the details and realize that beautiful design takes time, precision, and attention, so we don’t cut corners. We stand by our product. We treat our artists as our partners and make sure that their stories and art are always shared in the most heartfelt authentic way.
We take pride in our service and seek opportunities to give back to the communities we serve and the artist’s charities of choice.
AYA Eyewear is truly a brand that stands out from the crowd and is loved by Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities alike.
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EssilorLuxottica and Meta have announced an expansion of their AI glasses portfolio with the introduction of new Ray-Ban Meta optical-first styles designed for prescription wearers. The move adds to a portfolio that already includes Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta HSTN, Oakley Meta Vanguard and Meta Ray-Ban Display.
Ray-Ban Meta, Blayzer
The new Ray-Ban Meta collection includes two optical-first models: Ray-Ban Meta Blayzer Optics (Gen 2) and Scriber Optics (Gen 2). According to the companies, the frames feature a slimmer design, interchangeable nose pads, overextension hinges with an additional 10 degrees of rotation, adjustable temple tips and a dedicated action button for activating Meta AI and accessing shortcuts or capture functions.
Ray-Ban Meta, Scriber
EssilorLuxottica said both new styles are designed to support a wide range of prescriptions and can be paired with advanced single-vision lenses, progressive lenses or Transitions® lenses. The companies are also expanding lens options across Oakley Meta products, with Oakley Meta Vanguard now available with Transitions® lenses for the first time.
In addition to the new prescription-focused styles, the announcement includes limited-time seasonal colours for select Ray-Ban Meta frames, including Shiny Transparent Grey for Wayfarer, Shiny Transparent Peach for Skyler and Matte Transparent Peach for Headliner. EssilorLuxottica and Meta also said the AI glasses collection will expand later this year to new markets including Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Chile, Peru and Colombia.
The companies are also broadening Meta AI functionality on their glasses platform. New and upcoming features include live translation in additional languages, hands-free food logging and nutrition tracking, and message summaries designed to help users recap missed conversations. Across the portfolio, the glasses also support functions such as photo and video capture, music and podcast playback, calling, messaging and real-time translation.
The new Ray-Ban Meta Blayzer Optics and Scriber Optics models became available for pre-order in the United States on March 31, with broader retail availability beginning April 14 through Ray-Ban stores, Ray-Ban.com, Meta.com, select EssilorLuxottica optical retail banners and the company’s wholesale distribution network in multiple markets, including Canada.
I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Sarah Braida in Montreal. Securing time with her felt like a small victory in itself; she is perpetually in motion, moving between cities, ideas, and opportunities. That rare pause only deepened my admiration for the clarity, courage, and instinct that have guided her professional journey for more than two decades.
A true road warrior with an unmistakable sense of style, Sarah travels tirelessly across Canada and abroad, navigating meetings, design development, trade fairs, and an ever-evolving calendar of industry events. Through it all, she remains anchored by vision, discipline, and remarkable tenacity.
Her radiant smile is ever-present, her energy magnetic. She speaks with joy and conviction, and behind her eyes lives just enough mystery to leave you wanting to know more. Sarah has a rare ability to captivate a room while intuitively sensing what lies ahead.
Always in creation mode, she has an innate understanding of trends, timing, and transformation. Curveballs are met with composure, challenges with confidence. At the heart of everything she does lies one unwavering priority: exceptional care for her clients. Whether on the road with her representatives, supporting trunk shows, or launching new collections, Sarah leads with presence and purpose. She spends close to 90 days a year traveling, while proudly calling Montreal home.
Alongside her demanding travel schedule and leadership role, Sarah is a single mother raising three beautiful children, embodying a modern femininity defined by resilience, grace, and the ability to hold many roles with confidence and purpose.
Fashion and sales are woven into her DNA. She spent several years running retail clothing stores, cultivating a deep appreciation for style, human connection, and the rhythm of commerce. At a pivotal moment in her life, she chose to step away from retail, guided by intuition and the quiet certainty that a new chapter was waiting to unfold.
Her introduction to the optical world came through curiosity and invitation. Attending SILMO for the first time proved transformative. Immersed in creativity, craftsmanship, and bold design, Sarah explored each floor with intention, drawn to the stories behind the collections and the people who brought them to life. She asked thoughtful questions, forged genuine connections, and left her contact details, unaware that this instinctive gesture was quietly laying the foundation for her future.
What followed was not coincidence, but momentum built on passion, presence, and an unmistakable ability to recognize opportunity when it appears.
Upon her return to Montreal, Sarah was presented with an opportunity with Wescan Optical – Western Division, where she began representing several established collections. Over the next three years, she gained a strong command of the optical landscape, sharpening her understanding of sales, distribution, and brand positioning. That foundation proved pivotal and prepared her for a broader, more independent vision.
While attending a New York trade show shortly thereafter, Sarah found herself drawn instinctively to the world of independent designers. It was there that she encountered the bold creativity of J.F. REY. The colour, the energy, the audacity of the designs – it was an immediate connection. Conversations followed, then deeper exchanges.
Soon after, Sarah and Jean-François Rey met in Montreal. Over a glass of wine at Pizzadelic on St-Laurent Street, they exchanged ideas, vision, and perspective. It was a simple moment, rich in authenticity; one that marked the beginning of a lasting professional collaboration.
Today, Sarah serves as the exclusive agent for J.F. REY and Cazal across Canada. She has traveled the country coast to coast, often with seven sample bags in tow, and last year alone logged 59 flight segments with Air Canada: hence her signature preference for stylish flat shoes. From Vancouver to Paris, and across the United States, she collaborates on collection development, supports her clients, and stays attuned to emerging trends.
Her greatest passion remains unchanged: taking care of her customers and simply being there.
Like many driven leaders, Sarah acknowledges that balance is a continual work in progress. Her most recent resolution is to carve out more time for self-care; a commitment she honored with a restorative December by the sea, surrounded by her cherished and supportive family.
Sarah works with intensity and heart. She inspires others to trust both instinct and intellect, and she reminds us that believing in oneself is not optional, it is essential. That belief is what defines individuality and sets true visionaries apart.
About the Author:
Suzanne Sendel
Suzanne Sendel is an optical distributor who left the world of interior design and architectural sales management by falling in love with a pair of hand painted glasses, 11 years ago. Through her travels, Suzanne has inspired many with her independent collections, and her passion for optical fashion, and in sharing her stories and the many sales teams of “Road Warriors”, who have inspired the optical industry. Through her lens, Suzanne will share their journey and what has made them an integral part of the success of our industry. Reach her at suzannesendel@gmail.com.
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EssilorLuxottica has acquired a stake in Top Charoen, Thailand’s largest retail optical chain, reinforcing its long-standing relationship with the company and its presence in Southeast Asia.
By any measure, contact lenses remain a cornerstone of modern vision correction. Yet despite ongoing innovation and a steadily expanding global market, the overall number of contact lens wearers has not grown at the same pace as the technology.
Created through a collaboration between Ió:ken Designs Inc. and Centennial Optical Limited, the Ió:ken collection brings together modern frame styling, vibrant temple artwork, and authentic Indigenous symbols inspired by the heritage of the Haudenosaunee and other Indigenous Nations.
EssilorLuxottica has acquired a stake in Top Charoen, Thailand’s largest retail optical chain, reinforcing its long-standing relationship with the company and its presence in Southeast Asia.
By any measure, contact lenses remain a cornerstone of modern vision correction. Yet despite ongoing innovation and a steadily expanding global market, the overall number of contact lens wearers has not grown at the same pace as the technology.
Created through a collaboration between Ió:ken Designs Inc. and Centennial Optical Limited, the Ió:ken collection brings together modern frame styling, vibrant temple artwork, and authentic Indigenous symbols inspired by the heritage of the Haudenosaunee and other Indigenous Nations.
EssilorLuxottica has acquired a stake in Top Charoen, Thailand’s largest retail optical chain, reinforcing its long-standing relationship with the company and its presence in Southeast Asia.
By any measure, contact lenses remain a cornerstone of modern vision correction. Yet despite ongoing innovation and a steadily expanding global market, the overall number of contact lens wearers has not grown at the same pace as the technology.
Created through a collaboration between Ió:ken Designs Inc. and Centennial Optical Limited, the Ió:ken collection brings together modern frame styling, vibrant temple artwork, and authentic Indigenous symbols inspired by the heritage of the Haudenosaunee and other Indigenous Nations.
EssilorLuxottica has acquired a stake in Top Charoen, Thailand’s largest retail optical chain, reinforcing its long-standing relationship with the company and its presence in Southeast Asia.
By any measure, contact lenses remain a cornerstone of modern vision correction. Yet despite ongoing innovation and a steadily expanding global market, the overall number of contact lens wearers has not grown at the same pace as the technology.
Created through a collaboration between Ió:ken Designs Inc. and Centennial Optical Limited, the Ió:ken collection brings together modern frame styling, vibrant temple artwork, and authentic Indigenous symbols inspired by the heritage of the Haudenosaunee and other Indigenous Nations.
