This newsletter/update is to keep members of CAN, or interested parties, up to date on our monthly meeting, what we discussed, what our plans are for the upcoming month, and any other pertinent information covered during the meeting. We understand that not everyone is able to attend a monthly meeting and hope that this will keep those interested in CAN in the loop. Please let us know if you have any questions or comments concerning our meetings and/or this update by e-mailing us at info@canbc.org, or by phoning (604) 466-8771.
Thank you for you interest. Your ideas, suggestions, and input will help to create positive change in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. Together we CAN!
April has been a very successful month for Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods. In addition to the progression of ongoing projects CAN has been asked to participate in two new, exciting, projects.
CAN has been working with getmenus.ca to create accessibility reviews for the restaurants listed on getmenus. In previous months we completed the checklist that will be used to review the restaurants. This month we completed some samples of templates that getmenus.ca could use for their web site. The staff at getmenus are currently reviewing these and in the following month we will work with them to polish the look of the reviews. Once this has been completed volunteers from CAN will go to the restaurants to review them and have a simple template to follow for submitting the reviews to getmenus. The initial process of creating the checklist and the template for the web site is time consuming but once these two are complete we will be able to create an easy way for those with disabilities, mobility impairments, or special needs, to check to see if a restaurant is accessible to them or not. If you are interested in helping with this project once we get to the reviewing stage please contact Heather at (604) 466-8771 or e-mail her at info@canbc.org.
Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods has been involved in the creation of adaptive sports in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. There is currently a Power Soccer team in Maple Ridge, The Ridge Rockets, which practice weekly. Power Soccer is soccer played by people who use power wheelchairs. Recently CAN has received funding to continue Power Soccer in Maple Ridge thanks to the Rick Hansen Foundation. Each year the Fraternal Order of Eagles put on a Rick Hansen Wheel in Motion Event in Maple Ridge. Half of the money raised is used for spinal cord research. The other half of the money is used for "Quality of Life Projects" within the community. CAN put in a proposal for the money raised at last year’s Rick Hansen event to be used for the Power Soccer team and for the start-up of adaptive Boccia in Pitt Meadows in the fall. We are pleased to say that we were approved and that both adaptive sports programs have found funding through the money raised at last year’s event.
The Wheels in Motion Event is happening again this year on June 11th. If you are able to support the event by attending, or by pledging someone who is attending, please do so. Half of the money raised is spent within the community it is raised in. The adaptive sports program is excited to be approved for the funding as it allows the athletes and coaches to concentrate on the sport as opposed to the finances.
The Power Soccer team is still looking for new players. If you know of anyone in a power wheelchair, or if you yourself are in a power chair, and are interested in getting involved in soccer please contact us at (604) 466-8771.
The adaptive Boccia will be starting in the fall. We hope to have the team practice in Pitt Meadows. Adaptive Boccia is played indoors with lighter, easier-to-grip, balls, and with chutes for those who are unable to use their hands. The team is currently looking for anyone interested in playing, coaching, or volunteering. The team will need help setting up the court during each practice. Adaptive Boccia is a sport that can be played by any person with a disability. People with wheelchairs and scooters play, and those who are unable to stand for long are allowed to sit in chairs to play. We hope to have some demonstrations during the summer to show people in the two communities what adaptive Boccia is and would appreciate anybody willing to volunteer.
Both adaptive sports are part of the annual Disability Games. In 2008 Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows will be hosting these games. CAN is excited to be part of bringing adaptive sports out of Vancouver to Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. It will be great to have a strong presence at the 2008 games when our athletes are able to compete within their own community.
CAN thanks the Fraternal Order of Eagles for their hard work in putting on the annual Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion event, and the Rick Hansen Foundation for recognizing adaptive sports as an important component of quality of life for those with disabilities in our two communities.
Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods has been working on creating, and maintaining, an up-to-date web site that is accessible for all internet users. One of CAN’s goals is to increase access to information. It is very hard for people with disabilities to get information about support groups, organizations, or programs in their communities. The best way to get information is often by speaking with others in similar situations. CAN hopes to lower the frustration level of accessing information by listing support groups, organizations, and programs on our web site. This past month we have doubled the listings of local organizations. We have also quadrupled the listings of support groups. In addition to increasing the listings we have categorized the various listings for easier use. We have received a lot of positive feedback from organizations, support groups, and users.
If you are aware of any organization, support group, or local program that is not currently on the web site please contact us at (604) 466-8771 or info@canbc.org
In addition to increasing the listings of organizations and support groups we have updated the CAN success page. It is encouraging to see the successes that CAN has created in the small amount of time we have been operating. Thank you to everyone for their hard work. We look forward to continuing to increase accessibility within our two communities. The next update to our web site will be the Current CAN Project page which will be done by the end of May.
Accessible transportation within our two communities continues to be a hot topic. Recently CAN heard some complaints concerning the new shuttle bus situation. There are accessibility concerns as to the proper use of shuttle buses for those with mobility aids and the accessibility of the bus stops. There are also concerns that Translink relies on the internet as their main source of information and communication for their customers. This is not a viable option for many community members who do not have computers, the internet, or for those who do not understand how to use the Translink site. Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods took these concerns to the Municipal Advisory Committee on Accessibility Issues (MACAI). MACAI will be submitting a request to both councils that a letter be sent to Translink outlining the concerns of local residents.
While we appreciate MACAI approaching council with these concerns CAN will also be writing a letter to Translink in May to question some of the recent changes. We hope to have an update of this situation by the end of May.
The mayor of Maple Ridge, Gordy Robson, has asked Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods to be involved in the design of the seniors’ area in Maple Ridge (224th Street from Dewdney to 123rd). Mr. Robson and the CAN chair, Heather McCain, have been talking about accessibility within Maple Ridge. Mr. Robson is completely supportive of accessibility and wants to consider the needs of all residents. The so-called “Seniors’ area” is a good starting point to work with a design committee to demonstrate what accessible needs must be incorporated within our municipality. We at CAN are very pleased to have been asked for our input and look forward to working with the mayor, and the committee on creating an universally accessible area in Maple Ridge that can be used as a protocol for future developments and/or upgrades.
CAN is looking for members to offer suggestions as to what makes their community accessible to them. The focus of this design committee will be on the seniors’ area so if you have specific comments about experiences within that area we would appreciate hearing them.
Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods was asked to have a representative involved in a Project Advisory Committee for an upcoming networking event put on by Social Planning and Research Council of BC (SPARC BC) at the UN World Urban Forum in Vancouver this June. The networking event is entitled "Accessible Urban Space: A Facilitated Discussion on Inclusive Communities".
The UN World Urban Forum was established by the United Nations to examine one of the most pressing issues facing the world today: rapid urbanisation and its impact on communities, cities, economies and policies. The forum is a series of more than 150 networking and training events. More than 7000 people are expected in person at forum. SPARC is creating this event for Accessible Urban Space as accessibility is a part of a sustainable environment.
The project advisory committee that CAN has been asked to be a part of is made up of eleven members from governmental- and non-governmental organisations, educational institutions, social and urban planners, and individuals interested in community accessibility around the world. The committee members are from across Canada, as well as members from Ireland and England. The committee members will use their experience and expertise in these areas to provide information that will help the project team plan and deliver a successful networking event.
SPARC BC asked CAN to be a part of this committee as we are an organization that works towards accessibility within a municipality. We are extremely pleased, and excited, to have been asked to participate in a networking event that will take place at the upcoming UN World Urban Forum. The actual networking event will have over fifty people from fifteen different countries. The event will be a live dialogue that will that will look at creating systemic change, not just a band-aid solution. Political and technical concerns will be considered to improve infrastructure. We will also be discussing socioeconomic considerations for the various countries, as not all countries that will have representation present will be developed. There will be an update concerning what was discussed during this event after the the UN World Urban Forum is held in late June.
Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods will be breaking for summer after our May meeting. We will continue with our monthly meetings in September. During the summer we will be working on creating a more visible presence for CAN in the two communities. We will also be reassessing the current meeting time. If you have been unable to attend our meetings due to the time please let us know what time would work better for you.
We, at CAN, are pleased that in the short amount of time we have been operating that we have managed to create positive change and be noticed by people such as the Maple Ridge mayor, and the staff at SPARC BC. We are also pleased with the changes, and positive feedback, that we see and hear within our own two communities. Thank you to everyone for their feedback, please keep it coming. Together we CAN create positive change!
We welcome any feedback concerning CAN’s goals, projects, and/or this newsletter. If you know of anyone interested in joining CAN, volunteering, or receiving the newsletter please let them know about our web site www.canbc.org, and pass on our contact information: e-mail info@canbc.org, phone number (604) 466-8771.
Thank you for you interest. Your ideas, suggestions, and input will help to create positive change in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. Together we CAN!
We hope to see you at our next meeting on May 15th at the Fraser Room in the Maple Ridge Library from 7:00 - 8:30 PM.
Remember together we CAN!
