Windsor Tecumseh MP Irek Kusmierczyk, July 26, 2022. Photo by Mark Brown/WindsorNewsToday.ca.Windsor Tecumseh MP Irek Kusmierczyk, July 26, 2022. Photo by Mark Brown/WindsorNewsToday.ca.
Windsor

Improving accessibility: ten local projects share almost $1.9-million

Not long after the National Accessibility Week flag was raised at the Essex Civic Centre and town halls across the region, Windsor-Tecumseh MP Irek Kusmierczyk announced federal funding to remove physical barriers for those with disabilities.

Ten local projects will share $1,887,351 to install accessible ramps, doors, chair lifts, elevators, and washrooms.

The money is from the federal government's Enabling Accessibility Fund. It committed $100-million over two years to improving accessibility for hundreds of thousands of Canadians. An additional $25-million was added to the fund to ensure children with disabilities have equal access to early learning and childcare facilities.

"The EAF partners with municipalities and not-for-profits, Indigenous communities, businesses, and others to help with renovations, retrofits, and purchase of accessible technologies," explained Kusmierczyk.

Essex County Warden Gary McNamara at the Essex County Building, April 2, 2019. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.

The Town of Tecumseh will spend $68,165 to install an accessible ramp and doors at its new town hall.

"On completion of this project, the renovations now to our town hall will meet or exceed accessibility regulations," said Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara.

The Town of Kingsville also plans to buy new accessible doors for its town hall, and the County of Essex is spending its $49,424 share on a wheelchair lift and doors.

The largest grant is going to the University of Windsor. In addition to ramps and doors, the Faculty of Human Kinetics is adding a colour-contrasting vestibule, lights, and handrails. It received $722,800.

The Connections Early Years Family Centre is celebrating its home's centennial this year. For the past 37 years, it has called a church on Giles Boulevard East its home.

"Completing the centre's main entrance renovations to improve accessibility is an impactful way to support local families," said Executive Director Barb Brown.

With a grant of $657,653, it will install accessible washrooms, doors, ramps, elevators, and a chair lift.

The other organizations benefitting from funding are the Media Arts Community Centre and Museum, Peace Lutheran Church, Windsor Film Centre, Windsor Masonic Temple, Your Quick Getaway, and the Active Care Response Team.

Kusmierczyk also provided an update on the status of his government's new Canada Disability Benefit.

Bill C-22, which would provide hundreds of thousands of low-income Canadians who have a disability and are under 65, was introduced in February. It passed through the House of Commons unanimously and is entering the final stages of the process in the House and Senate.

The most recent data in 2017 said almost 917,000 working-age Canadians with disabilities live in poverty.

Read More Local Stories