National AccessAbility Week celebrates “Building a Strong, Accessible Canada”

Kawartha Lakes – From May 31 to June 6, people across Canada will celebrate National AccessAbility Week. This week recognizes the efforts of people, groups, and organizations working to create a more accessible and barrier-free Canada.

National AccessAbility Week highlights the important contributions of people with disabilities and the work being done to improve accessibility and inclusion in communities across the country. This year’s theme, “Building a Strong, Accessible Canada,” reminds us that everyone benefits when all people have equal opportunities to take part in community life and reach their full potential.

“Disabilities can be temporary, such as a broken leg, or permanent,” said Elizabeth Peeters, Chair of the Accessibility Committee. “A person can be born with a disability or develop one at any time in life. According to Statistics Canada, about 30 per cent of Canadians over the age of 15 live with at least one disability, and this number does not include children.”

Kawartha Lakes is proud to celebrate this important week through its Accessibility Awareness Recognition Awards, now in its 18th year. These awards honour individuals, businesses, community groups, and City staff who help make Kawartha Lakes more accessible by finding, removing, and preventing barriers.

Community members are invited to watch the official recognition of this year’s award recipients during the Committee of the Whole Meeting on Tuesday, June 2 at 1pm. The ceremony will celebrate people who are making a positive difference in the community.

Residents are encouraged to join the celebration and recognize the many people of all ages who help make Kawartha Lakes a more welcoming and inclusive place to live, work, and play.

Our world is not fully built for people with disabilities, and we all need to do our part to change that. Learn more about how you can help make your community more accessible for everyone at the National AccessAbility Week website.