HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2014-07-23, Page 66 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Bridging the gap
Whitney South
Huron Expositor
For most, running a few
errands on Main Street may
not seem like much of a
hassle.
But, for some, particularly
those with mobility issues,
even the smallest step can
seem like a giant obstacle.
In an effort to help bridge
the accessibility gap, the Sea -
forth Community Ramp Pro-
ject was bom.
Partnering with stopgap.ca,
the new program is hoping to
create awareness about barri-
ers in our everyday lives that
may prevent people from
enjoying some of the shop-
ping and other businesses
throughout Seaforth's
downtown.
McKillop Ward Coun. Alli-
son Dekroon is facilitating the
project, which she says will
help fill a need in the
community, as 60 per cent of
Main Street stores have at
least one step at their
entrance.
"A friend of mine put it on
in Stratford, so when I saw it in
the paper I called him and
asked about it," she said. "I
thought Seaforth was just the
perfect community for this
because there's so many bar-
riers to the storefronts, it's
something so simple."
The idea behind the project
is to see the implementation
of removable ramps, given
free of charge to local busi-
nesses. Owners could set out,
and then remove, the ramps
based on customer need. Vol-
unteers would build the
ramps with funds raised by a
committee put together by the
Seaforth Community Ramp
Project itself.
During Huron East coun
cil's meeting on July 8, Dek
roon presented her plan
t
/--
—rill
t
—
Ft
Al
H
ovow,wa
e
ir
You are invited to attend
these area churches
ST. THOMAS CHURCH
21Jarvis St. Seaforth
Rector The Rev. Karine Snowdon
Rectory 519482-9071
Church Office 519-527-1522
Sunday, July 27th
ST. JAMES ROMAN
CATHOLIC CHURCH
WELCOMES YOU
14 Victoria Street, Seaforth
519-345-2972
Sat. Mass 5 p.m.
Sun. Mass 9 a.m.
Worship at 9:30 a.m.
EVERYONE WELCOME
ST. PATRICK'S, DUBLIN
Sun. Mass 11 a.m.
FR. CHRIS GILLESPIE
BETHEL BIBLE CHURCH
An Associated Gospel Church
126 Main St. Seaforth 519-527-0982
Pastor Mark Kennedy
SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE 10 a.m.
Tuesday Evenings
• Youth Groups - Junior & Senior High
6:30 to 9 p.m.
• Vacation Bible School
Aug. 11-15
6- EVERYONE WELCOME
EGMONDVILLE
UNITED CHURCH
Pastor Steve Hildebrand
Youth Coordinator - Laura Nakamura
WORSHIP
JULY 27th at 10:30 A.M.
Youth Sunday School at 10:30 a.m.
For more information view our web site
www.egmondvilleunitedchurch.com
and Like us on Facebook.
NORTHSIDE
UNITED CHURCH
MINISTER MARY FLETCHER
Welcomes you
Holidays
No Service
Until August
54 Goderich St. W.All
r 519-527-1449
www.cavannorthsideunited.ca El
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
59 Goderich St. W. Seaforth
519-527-0170
Student Minister
lan Marnoch
Lorrie Mann - Organist
Worship
Sunday, July 27th, 11:15 a.m.
Welcome
Nursery Provided as needed.
& Office hours: Wed. 9 a.m. - Noon
hoping for an endorsement,
which would require no
financial assistance from the
municipality. After some
debate, the motion was
passed.
Dekroon explained busi-
ness owners would also ben-
efit from the project, as the
ramps would help bring peo-
ple into their stores who may
otherwise bypass a tricky
entrance.
"Right now, probably, those
who have accessibility issues
avoid downtown," she said.
"Not everyone has someone
who can help them into a
store
And the ramps aren't only
for those with disabilities,
even mothers with strollers, or
those on crutches will be able
to benefit from a little help.
According to Ontario.ca,
one in seven people in
Ontario have a disability. Over
the next 20 years, that number
will rise as the population
ages.
Stopgap.ca's community
ramp project has been suc-
cessful in several communi-
ties, and has helped to high-
light how a simple ramp can
make life easier for everyone.
Participants have shared that
a ramped storefront is more
inviting. They state the project
has also proved business
owners are able to increase
their customer base by pro-
viding a storefront that every-
one can enter and exit. Sup-
porters of the initiative hope
that through these types of
projects communities will cre-
ate legislation of their own
instead of waiting until the
projected due date oudined in
the Accessibility for Ontarians
with Disabilities Act (AODA) -
that being 2025.
For Dekroon, the project is
an easy way to lend a helping
hand, even if it may not be a
permanent resolution to the
community's accessibility
issues.
"I knowthis isn't the perfect
solution but I believe it's a step
in the right direction," she
said. "It will not only get peo-
ple talking about this issue,
but also get people into the
doors of our local businesses."
The Seaforth Community
Ramp Project is hoping to
gather volunteers, as well as
material donations over the
coming weeks.
For more information, or to
volunteer, contact Allison
Dekroon at adekroon@huro-
neast.com.
Photo submitted