By Emily Stonehouse

Haliburton County strives to be a place where all are welcome, supported, and seen. And through the multi-year joint accessibility plan, spanning between 2023 to 2027, initiatives mapped out aim to do just that.

During a regular meeting of county council on Jan. 14, Sue Tiffin, the director of community outreach, presented an outline of accessible projects that have been completed across the county in recent years. Tiffin was seeking approval from council to move ahead with the document created alongside the joint accessibility committee, and allow for the piece to be published online to meet legal obligations around the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

“Throughout Ontario, approximately 2.6 million people – or one in four citizens – have a disability,” opens the document. “We know that in Haliburton County, as our population ages, the number of people with disability in our society will increase. It has always been important to work toward a more accessible and inclusive community by identifying, removing, and preventing barriers for those of us with disability and for those of us who will experience a disability in the future.”

The report noted that the County of Haliburton is committed and guided by the four core principles of accessibility, including dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity. It also noted that the organization supports the full inclusion of persons with disabilities, as set out in the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005.

The document goes on to list a number of completed projects in all four municipalities, seen below:

County of Haliburton:

• Expanded access to council and committee meetings by integrating system components to broadcast a hybrid model of in-person and online livestreams

• Together with member municipalities, implemented internet and/or telephone voting capabilities for municipal and school board elections

• Created a policy to enforce only accessible PDFs posted on both iCompass and the County website

• Incorporated accessibility standards into the County’s Procurement Policy

• Rebuilt the County website to be fully accessible

Algonquin Highlands:

• Built new washrooms and entrance way with automatic door openers and accessible ramp at municipal office

• Built new accessible washroom at Stanhope Fire Hall

• Created new website with focus on improved content, communication and accessible content

• Installed new accessible outdoor privies, pathways and pavilion at Oxtongue Lake Community Centre

• Installed accessible picnic tables throughout township-owned parks

Dysart et al:

• Built fully accessible Welcome Centre with universal and accessible washrooms

• Built new skateboard park and increased accessible parking in parking area

• Built new accessible port-a-potty at parks and community centres throughout township

• Installed new solar lighting along pathways and improved trails in compliance with the Design of Public Spaces Standards

• Installed accessible beach mat at Rotary Beach

Highlands East:

• Constructed a washroom with shower to be barrier-free at the Cardiff pool change house

• Installed automatic door openers at Gooderham and Cardiff libraries

• Installed new section of concrete sidewalk at Lloyd Watson Centre and the municipal office, sloped for accessibility

• Installed a ramp and widened door at Cardiff storage facility

• Stabilized the roadway at Cardiff ball diamond

Minden Hills:

• Designed accessible access during renovation of Minden Hills Community Centre

• Installed accessibility signage at Minden Hills ballpark washrooms

• Adjust serving counter height in kitchen of Minden Hills Community Centre to meet accessibility requirements

• Installed automatic door push button at Cultural Centre Gallery Building

• Completed assessment of walking trails, boat ramps, playgrounds

These initiatives are in addition to regular and ongoing accessibility improvements.

And the list continues. Tiffin provided a number of opportunities the county has to incorporate accessibility into training, procurement, and procurement. At the end of the document, a list of ongoing projects is highlighted in yellow, with barriers identified, the reasoning behind the barriers, and the plan of action to move ahead.

The document is active for another year, with standards mandated by the AODA. New builds must incorporate these considerations in any future developments. “As we incorporate the expertise and knowledge of people with personal experiences with disability into policies,” reads the document, “programs and services and include the Joint Accessibility Committee in the development and evaluation of strategy initiatives, the County of Haliburton is determined to continue achieving greater accessibility in our community.”

County council approved the document to allow it to go live online, and to be shared with the lower-tier municipalities.