The Town of Grand Falls-Windsor believes that investing in accessibility is key to shaping a brighter future for the community. By fostering an inclusive and equitable environment, the town aims to enhance the quality of life for all its residents.
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador enacted the Accessibility Act in December 2021. This legislation mandates that all public entities, including municipalities, develop and publicly share their accessibility plans by December 31, 2023.
Holly Dwyer, a Councillor with the Town of Grand Falls Windsor, feels the town has made many changes to live up to the Act’s mandate, and some projects are ongoing.
“We've made significant strides in making our town more accessible, even in this short period.”
In February 2024, the Town of Grand Falls-Windsor established an Accessibility Committee. While the committee meets quarterly, communication remains ongoing. The committee's primary aim is to maintain a continuous flow of communication between its members and the residents.
“We had a consultant come in to help us develop our strategy. We looked at our goals and what we have been doing as a community. We then took all the identified information, including barriers to accessibility and developed a plan.”
Part of this consultant process involved also working with groups in the community.
“We have residents in our community with physical disabilities, hearing, visual impairment, and mental and cognitive disabilities. Their expertise goes a long way in helping us identify barriers that we otherwise probably wouldn't know about.”
In addition, the town recognized the value of having committee members with disabilities meet directly with business leaders to share their personal experiences and accessibility challenges within the community.
“We offered our committee members with disabilities because they have lived diverse experiences. They are the experts here. We allowed businesses to tell them what they could do to make their businesses more accessible. Some of them have taken up the offer and made significant changes. And it's great to see because it means that the work that we're doing is making a difference.”
Some accessibility improvements include adding closed captioning to the town’s website to support individuals with hearing and visual impairments. A new ramp at the Gorge Park gazebo has been installed, enabling people with disabilities to access and enjoy park activities and gatherings.
This area also includes a kayak launch, the first community in the province to have one, constructed and installed last fall. The paved walkway along the perimeter of Church Road Park, where concerts and weekly events are held, was widened, and a designated viewing area for wheelchairs was added.
At one of the town's main intersections, Pinsent Drive and Cromer Avenue, the town installed audio signals for safer crossings for the hearing and visually impaired, which was identified as necessary. The town installed a lift at the YMCA pool, allowing disabled residents to access the hot tub. The most recent installation was a new lift at the Town Hall.
The town applied for grants for new accessibility additions, such as the kayak launch, which cost about $60,000.
Dwyer said that when attracting people to live in Grand Falls Windsor, accessibility is not something you think about afterward.
“It's about being proactive. It's a shared responsibility that enriches the entire community. So, when budgeting now, we must remember that we have priorities to make our town more inclusive. We want to be accessible and inclusive because attracting new families, residents, and businesses to Grand Falls Windsor improves everyone's quality of life.”
Dwyer said Accessibility Committee members have discussed taking it further by working with the GFW Chamber of Commerce to create a new award to recognize businesses that took positive steps to make their businesses more accessible and inclusive.
The joy of being part of an Accessibility Committee is seeing positive change in the community, which makes it all worthwhile.
"Being part of this committee makes you feel like you're making a difference. Everyone on the committee is engaged and focused on making our community more accessible. It's impactful to hear directly from those facing everyday barriers and collaborate to find solutions. It is the plan moving forward."
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