Accessibility Advisory Committee

The Accessibility Advisory Committee works to identify and remove barriers to accessibility throughout the City of Kenora. This committee advises Council on all matters related to accessibility. In this advisory role, the Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) refers to the City's accessibility plans and policies to make Kenora more accessible for all.

Who we are

The AAC consists of 10 members including two Councillors. Meet the current members:

Mary Bawden
Chad English
Heather Bird
Peggy Whitta
Jacki Hummelbrunner
Councillor Kelsie Van Belleghem
Councillor Lindsay Koch, alternate

Terms of Reference

View the Accessibility Advisory Committee Terms of Reference for full details about the purpose and role of the Committee.

Volunteer

Contact the Deputy City Clerk for information about Committee vacancies and getting involved.

Accessibility intiatives

National AccessAbility Week

National AccessAbility Week (NAAW) begins on the last Sunday of May every year. This year, NAAW takes place from May 31 to June 6. Established in 2017, NAAW celebrates and highlights some of the important initiatives aimed at creating an Accessible Canada.

A disability can be anything that makes it harder for someone to do things that other people can do more easily. The City of Kenora’s Accessibility Advisory Committee works to identify and remove barriers to accessibility and inclusion throughout the City of Kenora. Types of accessibility include but are not limited to:

Accessibilities
Types	Tools, devices, and technology
Mobility accessibility: access for people with physical disabilities	Ramps, elevators, accessible parking
Hearing accessibility: access for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.	Captions, sign language, hearing aids
Communication or speech accessibility: access for people with speech or communication challenges.	AAC devices, text-to-speech
Visual accessibility: access for people who are blind or have low vision.	Screen readers, Braille, high contrast
Cognitive accessibility: access for people with cognitive disabilities.	Mobile apps, relaxation techniques, sensory tools

Sticker design contest

In the spirit of NAAW, the Accessibility Advisory Committee would like to invite residents in the community to participate in an art competition to design a sticker recognizing NAAW. There are no rules on the artistic rendering. We will leave the creativity up to you!

Using the Sticker Design template included in the Entry Form, submit your original artwork inspired by why Accessibility Matters to you. One design from each of the three age categories (Ages 0 to 10, ages 11 to 18, and ages 19 and over) will be selected. The stickers will be produced and handed out during NAAW.

By entering the contest, you agree to the following:

Submission period

The Contest begins on March 16, 2026. Submissions are accepted until April 7 at 5:00 p.m. CST (“Submission Period”).

How to enter and guidelines

To enter the Contest, draw your submission on the sticker design template provided. Submissions can be scanned to customercare@kenora.ca or dropped off at City Hall, 1 Main Street South, Kenora, ON.

Winning participant(s) must be resident of the City of Kenora.

Limit three entries per person.

By submitting your entry, you agree to allow the City of Kenora to use your submitted entry in a public and official capacity.

Winner(s) first name, and last name initial may be shared on social media, website, and other communications channels.

Prizes

There is a total of three prize packages to be awarded, one for each age group:

ages 0 to 10;
ages 11 to18; and
ages 19 and over.

Winners

The City will notify the winners on April 10, 2026 by email or phone.

The winning stickers will be produced and handed out during NAAW (May 31 to June 6, 2026), as well as other City of Kenora events throughout the year.

The winners first name and last name initial may be shared on social media, website, and other communications channels.

General conditions

Personal information contained on this form is collected pursuant to the Municipal Act, 2001 and will be used for the purpose of the Contest. Questions about this collection should be directed to: the Freedom of Information and Privacy Coordinator, City of Kenora, One Main Street South, Kenora, ON P9N 3X2, 807-467-2295.

Entrants understand that contest administration may include and this data may be used to verify an entrant’s identity, postal address, contact email, and telephone number in the event an entry qualifies as a winner. If an entrant does not provide the data required at registration, that entry will be ineligible.

The City of Kenora reserves the right to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest for any reason, in the City’s sole discretion.

The City will notify the winners on April 10, 2026 by email or phone.

2026 Accessibility Matters Sticker Contest Entry Form

Meetings

The Accessibility Advisory Committee meets regularly. View the meeting agenda and minutes:

Past meeting documents

View the meeting agenda and minutes:

Accessible formats

If you require an accessible format of a document or report, please contact the City Clerk. We will provide you with this within two business days of your request.