The Citizen, 2019-02-07, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019.
Business Directory
Free delivery in
Wingham &
surrounding area
PAUL COOK
ELECTRIC
Home, Farm &
Commercial Wiring
BELGRAVE
519-357-1537
BROWN’S PHARMASAVE
SHELVING & RACKING
519-524-1740
Lakeside
Large instock selection of pallet racking,
store shelving, display cases and more for
Industrial, Residential, Farm & Retail
www.lakesideshelving.com
lakesidemarket@gmail.com
33842 Market Rd.,
North of Goderich, off Hwy. 21
D. C. Craig
Excavating
• Snow Plowing
• Snow Removal
• Excavating
• Bulldozing
• Septic Systems
• Drainage
519-523-4966
NEW CONSTRUCTION
AGRICULTURAL
RENOVATIONS
RESIDENTIAL
Call 519-524-0253
Easy
Prescription
Transfer
Bernard
Enterprises
Authorized dealer for
Central Boiler
Classic Outdoor Wood Furnaces,
Edge Outdoor Wood Furnaces &
Maxim Wood Pellet and Corn Burners
Gasification units available
Inquire about our new edges
Carman Bernard
519-887-6405
RR #4 Brussels
centralboiler.com
Dave
Franken
CONCRETE FORMING
For All Your Concrete Needs!
COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL
• Foundations • Floor Finishing
• Circular Tanks • Sandwich Walls
FREE ESTIMATES
RR#3 Blyth ~ Fax 519-523-9604
519-523-9971
306 Josephine St., Wingham
519-357-3894
Affordable
CAR AND TRUCK
RENTALS
Large & Small Trucks
fridge carts - piano dollys-
moving blankets
Complete Selection of Cars
Our rates qualify for
insurance replacement
Passenger Vans
full size or mini
GODERICH TOYOTA
344 Huron Rd. 519-524-9381
GODERICH 1-800-338-1134
- COMPLETE MECHANICAL SERVICE -
COMPUTERIZED TUNE-UPS - TIRES - BRAKES
MUFFLERS - VEHICLE INSPECTION STATION
DAN'S AUTO REPAIR
Owned and Operated by Dan & Heather Snell
RR 3, Blyth, Ont. N0M 1H0
(on the Westfield Rd.)
DAN SNELL, Automotive Technician
519-523-4356
• 2 TANNING BEDS •
• MANICURES & PEDICURES •
• IONIC DETOX FOOT SPA •
• SHELLAC NAIL SYSTEM •
• EYELASH EXTENSIONS •
COME IN AND VISIT YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD PHARMASAVE
198 Josephine St., Wingham, Ont.
519-357-1629
Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9 - 6 Sat. 9 - 4
Rear Parking Available
Call 519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114 to book your spot today!
INSTANT FAX AS FAST AS A PHONE
Send your paperwork by FAX instantly! eg. statements, contracts,
auction ads, favourite recipes, obituaries, messages...
The Citizen has a FAX machine in our Blyth office that lets you contact
any other FAX machine in the world ... instantly.
Our FAX number is also your number so if you want to be
reached instantly — we will receive your messages
as well.
The Citizen
Call Us Today For Details 519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114
Fax: 519-523-9140
Ph: 519-529-7212 Fax: 519-529-3277
Email: info@smythwelding.com
37452 Glen’s Hill Road R.R. #2, Auburn, Ont. N0M 1E0
Snowblowers, Land Rollers, Stone Windrowers,
Sweepers, Quick Attach Buckets & Woodsplitters.
Full Machine Shop & Repair Services
www.smythwelding.com
In this monthly column, over the
past year and a half, I have told
readers about the Huron County
Accessibility Advisory Committee
(HCAAC). The last HCAAC effort
I wrote about in The Citizen was
the awards given to Blyth Cowbell
Brewing Company, Huron
Midwives, Glassier Physiotherapy,
Blyth Memorial Hall and the
International Plowing Match.
That is just one aspect of the
HCAAC. The committee is made
up of eight members of the public
as well as several county staff.
Each person has either personal or
professional experience with the
accessibility issues.
Now that municipal governments
are back up and running, each
municipality within the County of
Huron can use the free advice
offered by the HCAAC. Over the
past year, the site review
subcommittee has visited
municipalities, including North
Huron, Morris-Turnberry, South
Huron, Central Huron and Huron
East providing advice and a full
report to help create more
accessible township offices,
libraries and arenas.
If you live in one of these
locations and have noticed a
difference, then the process is
working. If you know of something
that needs to change, bring it to the
attention of your local politicians.
Ask council to refer back to the
HCAAC site review report to see
what changes can be made.
Councils should not be afraid of
what the committee has to say. It is
advice, that’s all, but good advice.
You see, buildings that were built
or renovated under previous
building codes (prior to 2015) need
only adhere to the accessibility
specifications from that time. For
example, if there were no
requirements for accessible
washrooms when the building was
built (way back in 1935) then there
is no requirement now. Having said
that, if the business or building
owner wants to be able to serve the
greatest percentage of the
population, it would be smart.
That is where the HCAAC comes
in. Advice ranges from providing
proper seating in waiting areas (like
at municipal office front counters)
to posting proper signage for
parking and changing the height
and location of waste baskets, grab
bars and toilet paper dispensers in
washrooms. None of these are
major expenses, but they will help
improve the safety of the patrons.
Of course the committee did see
washrooms that would need to be
gutted to come up to current day
standards! There are always small
changes that could make a
difference, meanwhile council can
save up for a major renovation. The
arenas built in the 1970s that have
barely seen new paint let-alone new
bathrooms? That’s where some
money could be spent! But some
are quick fixes, like changing the
direction of the hinges in order to
accommodate a wheelchair.
As municipalities (and the
county libraries) begin to make
more and more improvements to
the accessibility of their public
spaces, then other initiatives will
benefit. Take, for example, the
Goderich-to-Guelph Rail Trail
(G2G). As the development of the
trail proceeds more parking and
washroom facilities will be needed.
The flat, accessible nature of the
trail will bring people of all
abilities, all of whom need
washrooms!
Another example are the Blyth
ball diamonds and the campground.
They rely on the washrooms at the
arena. If North Huron improved the
accessibility of the washrooms,
then the number of people
visiting – even for just one game –
will also increase. The more people
who come to town, the more lunch,
coffee, sunscreen, and beer (you
get the idea) they will buy.
Stop being afraid to ask for help!
Little things can make a big
difference and don’t have to cost a
lot. Ask the HCAAC (or your local
expert, julie@juliesawchuk.ca) to
help your building come up to a
standard that is better for everyone.
If you are interested in having the
HCAAC review your site please
contact the County of Huron at
519-524-8394 ext. 3224.
Connecting with accessibility
By Julie Sawchuk
Making it accessible
Charlene O’Reilly, left, and Julie Sawchuk of the Huron
County Accessibility Advisory Committee have been
working diligently to make the county more accessible with
those who want their services. They are seen here
together at the Exeter Library. (Photo submitted)
Drop by our office in
Blyth or Brussels and
check out our wonderful
selection of books. We
have books for all ages.
541 Turnberry St., Brussels
519-887-9114
413 Queen St., Blyth
519-523-4792