qathet Region, BC – In honour of AccessAbility Week (May 28 – June 3, 2023), the qathet Regional District (qRD) would like to recognize and thank the individuals and organizations that are working to remove barriers for people with disabilities in our community. The work you do is important in creating accessible spaces and environments for people of all ages and abilities.
AccessAbility Week is also a time for us to reflect on the work that still needs to be done so that people with physical, sensory, mental, intellectual or cognitive impairments can fully participate in everyday life without barriers.
To better support those with disabilities, the qRD, City of Powell River, and Powell River Public Library are collaborating together to develop a three-year Accessibility Plan that will guide us in identifying, removing and preventing barriers for people in or interacting with our organizations.
We invite residents with lived experience, caregivers, and disability advocates to share their ideas and expertise on how we can make our services, programs and infrastructure more accessible and inclusive. Your feedback will help guide the creation of the Accessibility Plan by providing valuable insight into the environments, attitudes, practices, policies, information, communications, and technologies that act as barriers to our organizations. For more information, please visit qathet.ca/accessibility.
“We strive to provide equitable access to information and learning opportunities to keep everyone reading, including adaptive collections, technology and services to support patrons with disabilities,” said Powell River Public Library Chief Librarian, Rebecca Burbank. “I am excited that we will be partnering with the qathet Regional District and the City of Powell River to develop better tools to assess and remove barriers to improve our spaces and services for people with disabilities.”
“I look forward to celebrating AccessAbility week with our community, said Mayor Ron Woznow. “This is an opportunity for us to recognize the contributions of people with disabilities and renew our commitment to making our city more accessible and inclusive.”
“Recognizing AccessAbility Week is a fantastic opportunity for all of us to identify existing access barriers, and support those with different levels of ability in our community, said Regional Board Chair, Clay Brander. “Working together with the City of Powell River and the Powell River Public Library, our goal is to make access to public services and amenities possible for everyone.”
SHARE YOUR EXPERTISE
- Complete the online survey between May 29 – July 4, 2023. The survey is available at qathet.ca/accessibility. Paper copies are available at the qRD main office located #202-4675 Marine Avenue by request.
- Attend an open house on Wednesday, June 28th 2023 from 4:00-7:00 PM at the Powell River Public Library (100-4796 Alberni Street).
About the City of Powell River:
Located on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast, Powell River offers an amazing mixture of nature, culture and industry. The region has become a hotspot for businesses, families and retirees relocating from centres across North America and the world. The City of Powell River offers a wide range of services for residents and visitors alike from business licences, to recreation. To learn more, please visit powellriver.ca.
About the Powell River Public Library:
The Powell River Public Library has a large selection of books, films, music and games for people of all ages in addition to high-quality programmes. Meeting rooms, public computers, and lounge areas are just a few of the many amenities available at the Powell River Public Library for study, work, and play. To learn more, please visit prpl.ca.
About the qathet Regional District:
The qathet Regional District serves the rural areas from Lund to Saltery Bay including the City of Powell River, Texada, Savary and Lasqueti Islands and provides some services, through contract, to Tla’amin Nation. To learn more please visit qathet.ca.
CONTACT:
Cherise Roberts, Special Projects Coordinator
#202 – 4675 Marine Avenue, Powell River, BC V8A 2L2
Phone: 604-485-2260 | Email: croberts@qathet.ca