Latest news with #AccessibilityAdvisoryCommittee
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Levelling the Playing Field at Burlington's Accessible Sport and Art Fair
This article has been corrected; in the main photo, Teresa Campbell, Supervisor, Sports Development, was not identified correctly, and that has now been rectified. On May 31, Tansley Woods Community Centre was host to the Accessible Sport and Art Fair. The event was put on by the City of Burlington and was intended to be an opportunity for citizens to learn about the many programs that operate in Burlington and are fully accessible. Booths were set up in a recreation hall, with a number of local organizations present, including the Burlington Lions Club, the Burlington Public Library, Student Theatre, Special Olympics, and the Art Gallery of Burlington (AGB). On the opposite side of the building, demo rooms were prepared with activities hosted by groups in attendance, including wheelchair basketball, pickleball, adaptive rugby, improv, and arts and crafts workshops. Cheryl Hurst, who sits on the City of Burlington's Accessibility Advisory Committee, describes her personal connection with accessibility in her youth, which inspired her to take action. 'Growing up, I did have a good friend who had some different challenges, and we would see those roadblocks,' Hurst said. 'So I just didn't want other people to have to face those if they didn't have to.' Hurst explained the kind of work the Accessibility Advisory Committee does around the city. 'We come to different community events and try to have communication with different community members, and we want to get as much feedback as we can from them,' Hurst said. 'What their personal experiences are, good things, challenges, things that we can work with.' 'Then we provide input and feedback to different city [staff] members and different departments,' Hurst continued. Hurst gave a recent example of the city doing a renovation of a major Burlington park. 'They came to our meeting and brought their plans, and then we gave our input and feedback on things that they've done really great and suggestions about other changes that might be helpful,' Hurst said. Hurst said that many people at the event were unaware of the many programs available throughout the city with accessibility options. 'That speaks to [the fact that] maybe we're not communicating or sharing all of the great things that we do have in the city,' Hurst said. Hurst said that access to parks and further accommodation at intersections were also repeated concerns. 'Making sure that all of our intersections have the proper grading so that you're not just flying off of the curb, as well as the texture [of paving], so that if you have sight impairment, you can use your accessories and tools to be able to safely cross the street,' Hurst said. 'And when you push the button, the sound is there so that you know it's safe to cross.' Hurst said that the city is making strides in the right direction and is working to implement these changes at all intersections. Annie Webber, education coordinator at the AGB, was representing the gallery at the event. Webber said that the AGB is able to make the majority of events accessible with advance notice and help from community partners. Webber spoke about what the AGB hoped to gain from the event. 'We're here today to learn how we can improve our setup so that we have passive programming that's accessible and more regularly occurring programs that are accessible,' Webber said. 'We're looking to build our audience and our network of colleagues who have more expertise than we do in the field of accessibility.' Webber spoke about why having more accessible programming is so important. 'We want to welcome everyone, and we want people to feel cared for, thought of, and considered,' Webber said. 'We're happy that we can get in touch early enough to put those supports in place, but we also want people to be able to come in intuitively and experience the place in a way that's meaningful to them.' Webber said that the event was very useful for networking with other organizations, as well as making community members aware of what is already available. Attendees could also enter a raffle for prizes available at a table in the front entrance. Prizes included t-shirts, a life jacket, and safety gear for sailing. Prizes were all donated by the vendors present at the fair. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CTV News
26-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Accessibility flag raised at Essex County building to mark National AccessAbility Week
A locally designed accessibility flag was raised Monday at the Essex County administration building to mark the beginning of National AccessAbility Week. The flag features the word 'Accessibility' beneath a stylized figure in a wheelchair facing right, with seven chevrons pointing in the same direction — representing the county's seven local municipalities moving forward together on accessibility. 'We are raising this flag to raise awareness about the importance of inclusivity and accessibility in our region,' said Essex County Warden Hilda MacDonald, who is also mayor of Leamington. 'It acknowledges that we've made much progress but still have considerable work to do.' Accessibility flag Accessibility flag raising in Essex County, Ont., on Monday May 26, 2025. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor) MacDonald praised the Essex County Accessibility Advisory Committee for its efforts, including the launch of the inaugural Accessibility Fest-for-All event last year in Colchester. The festival is returning this fall, on Sept. 12, at the Libro Centre in Amherstburg. 'Fest-for-All is an incredible event that brings accessibility advocates and organizations together in common cause,' MacDonald said. 'It's an opportunity to learn and inspire, and a chance to connect communities and champion inclusivity.' Dennis Sanson, chair of the accessibility committee, said the county wasn't just raising a flag Monday — but raising awareness. 'Any kind of visibility, any kind of public event — especially in the age of incessant media — it's an important part of what we do,' Sanson said. Flag raising Accessibility flag raising in Essex County, Ont., on Monday May 26, 2025. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor) Sanson encouraged Essex-Windsor residents to take part in Red Shirt Day of Action for Accessibility and Inclusion on Wednesday by wearing red and sharing photos using the hashtags #RedShirtDay and #RedForAccessAbility. He noted the committee's ongoing work, particularly in the areas of barrier-free building and outdoor inclusion — from accessible trails to better fishing and hunting access for people with disabilities. 'There are still lots of opportunities to engage different parts of the community,' he said. 'It's been interesting to see more people come forward who want to help build those connections — especially in outdoor recreation.' Sanson said the flag-raising was also a chance to connect with the public, away from screens. 'It's an opportunity for people to come together and take time out of the work schedule. person to person, as opposed to of seeing something that's online,' he said. 'Every time we host something like this, I meet new potential partners.' Sanson explained, 'It's an opportunity for us to make accessibility more accessible.' Sanson gave the region's accessibility efforts a 'B+ and moving right along,' praising the work of his committee colleagues, including Vice-Chair Debbie Alexander, Kingsville Deputy Mayor Kimberly DeYong, Julie Miles, Rachel Jewell, Diana Kirkbride and Sherrie Currie. MacDonald said it's important municipalities recognize and act on the need for more inclusive communities — particularly as populations age and accessibility needs grow. 'We want everyone to feel that they're welcome and included,' she said. 'To be aware of barriers and to do something about them — I think it's incumbent on us.' MacDonald also acknowledged recent discussions around flag-raising policies in neighbouring Windsor. The city is reviewing its current process amid debate over which flags should be flown at city hall. 'In the Municipality of Leamington we've always had a policy where we've limited the flags to certain ones, and here at the county, same thing,' she said. 'We do upper levels of government, we do Indigenous flags, we do the Pride flag and we do the accessibility flag. Those decisions were made by administration. They were not political decisions, and I think that has served us well.' While flag policies vary across jurisdictions, MacDonald said consistency helps municipalities avoid controversy and remain focused on messages of unity. 'There's always that fear of not being inclusive, and yet sometimes certain flags create controversy in our community. So perhaps it's just best not to have too wide of a policy that you get into trouble.' The Accessibility Fest-for-All event is free for individuals, organizations and accessibility-minded businesses to attend or participate in. Those interested must fill out an online registration form by June 5 at
CBC
22-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Longtime Edmonton city councillor Andrew Knack to run for mayor
Ward Nakota Isga Coun. Andrew Knack will run for mayor in this fall's municipal election after previously announcing he would not be running for city councillor. "Edmonton is a hard-working city, and it deserves a hard-working mayor so we can continue to build up as we grow exponentially," Knack said in a news release Thursday. Knack said in the news release he has submitted his nomination papers to the City of Edmonton to declare his candidacy. Knack has served on city council for 12 years and has spoken out against the inclusion of political parties in municipal elections in Alberta. He is currently the longest-serving member on Edmonton city council, first elected in 2013 for then-Ward 1 in the west end. "We've accomplished a lot. But we continue to face significant challenges," said Knack. "Many of us are worried about higher costs, and some don't feel as safe as they used to; others don't know when they will get access to some of the basic amenities that others in Edmonton have. "We also face a time where people don't always feel heard in a world that feels more divisive and chaotic than before." Knack is known for advocating for more accessible and affordable public transportation, and has pushed to expand the city's bike lanes and multi-use paths. He sat on the Accessibility Advisory Committee, City of Edmonton Youth Council and Edmonton Transit System Advisory Board. In September, Knack has said he did not want to pursue a mayoral run after opting not to for a fourth term as city councillor. Knack's official campaign launch for mayor is scheduled for June.
