The flag raised outside the Bradford West Gwillimbury Leisure Centre in Sunshine Square on Sunday was designed by the Town of BWG’s Accessibility Advisory Committee.
The flag, which features the logo of the committee marks the start of National Accessibility Awareness Week.
One in seven Ontarians has a disability, according to Statistics Canada, and many people with disabilities have long faced barriers in their daily lives, employment, transportation, education, and recreation.
The Accessibility Advisory Committee, said Coun. Raj Sandhu, is committed “to breaking down the barriers.”
“We have the legislation, we have the (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities) Act,” noted Sandhu. The one piece that is missing is awareness, he said, calling on the public to report any barriers to access — from high curbs to broken sidewalks.
“This is where we need the public’s help. There are many, many issues we’re not even aware of,” he said, asking residents to contact town staff or members of the committee.
“If there’s anything broken, the mechanism is there for them to reach out to us, and get things fixed… making a barrier-free community for everyone.”
This is the second year the municipality has raised the flag for National Accessibility Awareness Week, May 28 to June 3.
The town and the Accessibility Advisory Committee are also hosting a free workshop, My Business Welcomes Everyone, at the leisure centre May 28 at 7:30 p.m., about creating more inclusive, barrier-free workplaces and businesses.
For more information about accessibility in BWG, visit the town’s website.
