City of Winnipeg 2016-2018 Accessibility Plan highlights accomplishments, plans to address barriers

Released: June 6, 2017 at 10:10 a.m.

Winnipeg, MB - The City of Winnipeg is pleased to share its 2016-2018 Accessibility Plan on winnipeg.ca. The ideas presented in this plan are intended to identify, prevent, and remove accessibility barriers that limit a person with disabilities from participating fully in activities of daily living in Winnipeg.

“The City of Winnipeg is committed to ensuring equal access and participation for all people who live, work or visit our city, regardless of their abilities,” said John Kiernan, Chair of the City of Winnipeg Universal Design Steering Committee. “We are dedicated to treating people in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence from infancy to older adulthood. And although the City has been working toward barrier removal in many areas, we recognize that we still have a journey ahead of us. As well, we are honoured to be acknowledged by the Rick Hansen Foundation as one of three Canadian cities to receive a 2017 Accessible Cities Award.”

Key findings from the City of Winnipeg Accessibility Plan include:

  • The City of Winnipeg is a leader in removing barriers. The City has had a Universal Design Policy since 2001, and has included persons with disabilities in decision-making through the Access Advisory Committee for over 20 years.
  • The City of Winnipeg has created many accessibility award-winning facilities, including Mayfair Recreation Centre, East Elmwood Community Centre, Sinclair Park Community Centre, Bronx Park Community Centre, Charleswood Library, North Centennial Recreation & Leisure Facility, St. Vital Park Duck Pond picnic area, and the Kildonan Park play structure and outdoor pool.
  • All Winnipeg Transit buses have low-floor access.
  • Most pedestrian crossings in the City include visual, audio and countdown components.
  • The City of Winnipeg has enhanced its disability awareness staff training.
  • When sidewalks are being renewed, the City of Winnipeg now includes detectable warning panels as warnings for people with vision loss.

Winnipeg’s 2016-2018 Accessibility Plan was created in consultation and collaboration with a number of stakeholders, including community members, City Council, and the Winnipeg Public Service. The Plan also aligns with the requirements of the Province of Manitoba’s Accessibility for Manitobans Act.

For more information, please visit City of Winnipeg Accessibility Plan.

To view the May 31, 2017 Rick Hansen Foundation news release regarding the 2017 Accessible Cities Award, please visit the Rick Hansen Foundation.

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