Eight municipalities across British Columbia will receive funding through the Government of British Columbia and the Rick Hansen Foundation B.C. Accessibility Grants Program to improve accessibility for people of all abilities.
Developed to support communities across the province to improve accessibility for residents and visitors of all ages and abilities, the program will provide complimentary RHF Accessibility Certification (RHFAC) ratings, up to $82,500 in funding for accessibility improvements to existing sites within each municipality, and accessibility training for city staff.
Coquitlam, Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Port Moody, Prince George, Richmond and Whistler will participate in the program and were selected based on population and geographic representation.
“We are honoured to be able to help improve accessibility in municipalities across British Columbia, thanks to generous support from the province,” said Brad McCannell, VP access and inclusion, Rick Hansen Foundation. “Almost 50 per cent of adults in Canada have a permanent or temporary disability or live with someone who does. Many of us struggle every day to access the places where we live, work, learn, and play, facing significant barriers that others take for granted. Accessibility improvements to spaces such as community centres, libraries and arts facilities will benefit everyone across our province – parents, seniors, people with temporary and permanent disabilities, their caregivers and loved ones. Everyone has a right to real, meaningful access.”
RHF Accessibility Certification is a rating and recognition program that consistently measures the meaningful accessibility of a site based on the holistic user experience of people with varying disabilities affecting their mobility, vision, and hearing. Some of these features include accessible entranceways, vehicle access, emergency systems, accessible washrooms, and wayfinding signage.
These municipalities are following the leadership of both Surrey and Vancouver who have committed in their policies to achieving RHFAC Gold for all newly built civic buildings, the highest certification level in the program.
In addition to the eight municipal recipients, two B.C. Indigenous communities will also receive funding through the program and will be announced in the coming months.
