Accessibility Advisory Committee

The Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) works to identify, prevent and remove barriers to accessibility and inclusion throughout the City. Their goal is to improve the quality of life for all citizens by identifying and mitigating physical, technological, communication, and attitudinal barriers. The AAC refers accessibility standards such as the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), as well as 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 initiatives

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 winners

In the spirit of National AccessAbility Week, the Committee launched a community challenge and invited community members and students across Kenora to design a sticker around the theme “Accessibility Matters.”

The winners from each age category of the sticker design contest are:

Ella is 9 years old and her winning design in the 10 and under category is a tribute to para nordic skier Jesse Bachinsky. Ella’s design carries the message “Accessibility Guides Opportunities.”
Skyla is 17 years old and created her winning design using Procreate on an iPad. She drew inspiration from another artist’s cartoon style and the result is a vibrant, eye-catching piece.
Angel is our winner in the 18 and over category. Her design captures the breadth of accessibility by featuring the range of tools, devices, and assistive technologies that make participation in community life possible.

Congratulations! Thank you to our winners and to everyone who submitted a design!

Collect all three stickers

We encourage everyone in the community to collect all three stickers during National AccessAbility Week, May 31 to June 6, as we mark the importance of accessibility and inclusion here in Kenora. You can find them on your visits to The Muse, Moncrief Construction Sports Centre, and Lake of the Woods Discovery Centre. Free for everyone to collect!

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.