Access ramps are getting a refresh in the Festival City, a push from the Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) that has a grassroots-feel to the roll out.
Yesterday, 16 new access ramps were loaded from the shop of the Christian Reformed Church into a volunteer’s truck, ready to be delivered to various businesses in Stratford.
The ramps were made in partnership with various people and institutions, and were built by a small group of cadets in the Stratford Cadet Club, initiated by Nathaniel DeWeerd.
Jonathan DeWeerd, the chief building official at the City of Stratford, said at the same time the City and the Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) were looking at a refresh for the previous ramps, his son Nathaniel had questions on it – questions that eventually formed into a partnership of sorts.
“That kind of dovetailed together,” DeWeerd told StratfordToday. “Having conversations with Roger (Koert, chair of the AAC), it was basically ‘can we do something?’”
Wood and other materials were sourced from other residents looking to help and Nathaniel and his dad spent a few nights prepping them. Then, Nathaniel and fellow members of the Stratford Cadet Club spent more nights getting the ramps built.
“It was really great,” DeWeerd said. “It was good for the boys to be able to do the work. They really enjoyed not just doing something but doing something that's going to be able to give back to the community and to help people.”
The DeWeerd's didn't do it alone. Jamie Adams of Allen Building Centre and Akins-Brewer lumber donated the lumber used for the ramps and Geoff and Suzy Bickell, of Bickell's Flooring, donated the paint.
The ramps came at the tail end of National AccessAbility week, a week to celebrate the contributions Canadians with disabilities have made.
Koert and Diane Sims, co-chair of the AAC, gave a presentation on the week at the last Stratford City Council meeting. They highlighted the importance of the week and what the AAC does for the city.
“We try to make this community better for everybody that lives here and owns businesses here,” Koert told council.
Among other things, the ACC helped with having accessible picnic tables at Market Square and getting a new Facility Accessibility Design Manual adopted by the City.
That manual establishes standards that apply to all newly constructed or renovated facilities owned, leased, and operated by the City.
Koert and Sims also highlighted the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As part of the 2005 legislation, the AODA sets a deadline of 2025 for Ontario to be fully accessible for all Canadians.
As Koert and Sims said, the province and the City is still a long way from reaching that goal.
“We’re nearing the accessible Ontario that was promised 20 years ago, 18 years ago,” Koert told council. “We're leaving you with a simple question of ‘do you care?’
“We represent all citizens and we’re available …. Let’s build a world for everyone, everywhere.”
