Uploaded December 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Enjoy these Heritage Minutes brought to you by Historica Canada! While free to view and share, these productions remain under copyright. Re-uploads or modified versions are strictly prohibited without written prior permission. For all re-shares, please tag us (@HistoricaCanada).
After losing his sight during the First World War, Edwin A. Baker co-founded the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. His determination and resilience carried forward to other blinded Canadians, empowering them to live independently.
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DV version: youtu.be/_SV-U2cL5fk
IDV version: youtu.be/XnurPB4h5Zk
Version française: youtu.be/cd9TqVW1uZw
Edwin A. Baker was born in 1893 in Ernestown Township, Ontario. He graduated from Queen’s University with a degree in electrical engineering just before the First World War. In 1915, Baker went overseas with the Royal Canadian Engineers as a Lieutenant. Baker’s life was upended when he was blinded by a German sniper while repairing a trench.
While recuperating at St. Dunstan’s Hostel for the Blind in London, England, he was introduced to a mantra of self-reliance by Sir Arthur Pearson. After coming back home and experiencing the lack of services available for blind Canadians, Baker and six other men came together to form the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.
*Learn more on _The Canadian Encyclopedia_* :
Edwin A. Baker:
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/edwin-a-baker
First World War:
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-world-war-wwi
Canadian National Institute for the Blind:
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadian-national-institute-for-the-blind
Blindness and Visual Impairment:
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/blindness-and-visual-impairment
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*More educational content at* :
historicacanada.ca/
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en
*Credits* :
Edwin A. Baker: Bruce Horak (thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/bruce-horak)
End Narrator: Donovan Tildesley (thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/donovan-tildesley)
Director: Elad Tzadok
1st Assistant Director: Rachel Rose
Director of Photography: Naim Sutherland
Steadi Operator: Leo Harim
1st Assistant Camera: Christian Cummins
Editor: Elad Tzadok
Composer: Iman Habibi
Production designer: Louisa Birkin
Head of wardrobe: Nicole McCormick
Key makeup: LK Gifford
Key Hair: Emma Garland
Written by Elad Tzadok and Hayley Gray
Produced by Scopitone Films and Raynor Shimabukuro
Thank you to Sunbelt Rentals Film & TV for donating their services.
Enjoy these Heritage Minutes brought to you by Historica Canada! While free to view and share, these productions remain under copyright. Re-uploads or modified versions are strictly prohibited without written prior permission. For all re-shares, please tag us (@HistoricaCanada).
After losing his sight during the First World War, Edwin A. Baker co-founded the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. His determination and resilience carried forward to other blinded Canadians, empowering them to live independently.
*Join our mailing list* : histori.ca/email
SUBSCRIBE to learn more about Canada: histori.ca/youtube
Donate: historicacanada.ca/donate
DV version: youtu.be/_SV-U2cL5fk
IDV version: youtu.be/XnurPB4h5Zk
Version française: youtu.be/cd9TqVW1uZw
Edwin A. Baker was born in 1893 in Ernestown Township, Ontario. He graduated from Queen’s University with a degree in electrical engineering just before the First World War. In 1915, Baker went overseas with the Royal Canadian Engineers as a Lieutenant. Baker’s life was upended when he was blinded by a German sniper while repairing a trench.
While recuperating at St. Dunstan’s Hostel for the Blind in London, England, he was introduced to a mantra of self-reliance by Sir Arthur Pearson. After coming back home and experiencing the lack of services available for blind Canadians, Baker and six other men came together to form the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.
*Learn more on _The Canadian Encyclopedia_* :
Edwin A. Baker:
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/edwin-a-baker
First World War:
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-world-war-wwi
Canadian National Institute for the Blind:
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadian-national-institute-for-the-blind
Blindness and Visual Impairment:
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/blindness-and-visual-impairment
*FOLLOW US!*
Instagram: instagram.com/historicacanada/
Twitter: twitter.com/HistoricaCanada
TikTok: tiktok.com/@historicacanada
Facebook: facebook.com/Historica.Canada/
Pinterest: pinterest.ca/historicac/_saved/
*More educational content at* :
historicacanada.ca/
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en
*Credits* :
Edwin A. Baker: Bruce Horak (thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/bruce-horak)
End Narrator: Donovan Tildesley (thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/donovan-tildesley)
Director: Elad Tzadok
1st Assistant Director: Rachel Rose
Director of Photography: Naim Sutherland
Steadi Operator: Leo Harim
1st Assistant Camera: Christian Cummins
Editor: Elad Tzadok
Composer: Iman Habibi
Production designer: Louisa Birkin
Head of wardrobe: Nicole McCormick
Key makeup: LK Gifford
Key Hair: Emma Garland
Written by Elad Tzadok and Hayley Gray
Produced by Scopitone Films and Raynor Shimabukuro
Thank you to Sunbelt Rentals Film & TV for donating their services.
