To celebrate Access Awareness Day Saturday, June 4, the Sechelt accessibility advisory committee held a forum at the Coast Community Builders' Association Home Show with special guest Minister Stephanie Cadieux.
During the forum, Cadieux and other speakers shared their ideas regarding ways to improve accessibility and adaptability in housing and other buildings.
Cadieux (Labour, Citizen's Services and Open Government) mentioned the challenges she has finding accommodation in Victoria, where only one hotel provides the accessibility she needs with her wheelchair. She emphasised the need to improve building code and building practices.
"Government and building industry each have to do their part in making buildings more accessible," she said.
She also spoke about inclusion, and the need for our society to be aware of differences in culture, language barriers, etc.
Bill Conway, chair of the committee spoke, about his experience accessing the community with seeing eye dog Captain Midnight on his side. He urged businesses to be more accessible and to welcome seeing eye dogs and wheelchairs as they will bring in more customers. Bev Nielsen, presented the Sechelt Accessible Housing design guidelines she wrote last year.
On the Home Show floor, committee volunteers manned a booth and handed out information about accessibility in homes. For more information se www.sechelt.ca for the accessible and adaptable housing design guidelines.
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