Fostering an inclusive, equitable and accessible city

June 2, 2021 1:30 p.m.
​City of Vaughan recognizes National AccessAbility Week with a virtual event


The City of Vaughan is dedicated to advancing accessibility. Through a variety of diversity and inclusion initiatives, the City is fostering an inclusive, equitable, accessible and accommodating community for all. As a reflection of this, the City celebrated National AccessAbility Week today through a virtual event. 

Recognized this year from Sunday, May 30 to Saturday, June 5, National AccessAbility Week honours the valuable contributions of Canadians with disabilities and the efforts of individuals, communities and workplaces that demonstrate exemplary commitment towards advancing accessibility. 

Participants who attended Vaughan’s virtual event heard from Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua and Members of Council, members of the Vaughan Accessibility Advisory Committee and past winners of the Vaughan Accessibility Champion Awards who shared what an accessible Vaughan means to them. The virtual celebration was held earlier today – the event video stream can now be viewed on the City’s YouTube channel and is also available with closed captioning. Learn more about the event at vaughan.ca/accessibility. 

The City recognizes the importance and value of inclusion in the community and the role everyone plays. In addition to recognizing National AccessAbility Week, the following diversity and inclusion initiatives support several priorities outlined in the 2018-2022 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan, including enhancing citizen experience, contributing to an active, safe and diverse community, and city-building that fosters community well-being in public spaces: 

2019-2022 Multi-year Accessibility Plan

Vaughan Council recently approved the City’s 2019-2022 Multi-year Accessibility Plan, which identifies how the City will create a barrier-free community with universal access to its programs, services and facilities. The City’s goal is to create an accessible community by 2025 – and this plan will help achieve that by ensuring people of any age and ability are treated in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. It does this by outlining the various activities and initiatives the City will undertake to support accessibility, including implementing new programs and services, creating accessible play spaces, using accessible technology, implementing accessible employment practices and achieving additional Rick Hansen Gold Accessibility Certifications. 

Rick Hansen Foundation Gold Certification

In recognition of the City’s efforts taken towards accessibility, the Rick Hansen Foundation has awarded multiple City facilities with Gold Certification for accessibility. They include Vaughan City Hall, Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service firehalls 7- 4 and 7-10, Vaughan Civic Centre Resource Library, and the North Thornhill Community Centre and Pleasant Ridge Library as a combined facility. Various accessibility enhancements, such as automatic door openers, tactile walking surface indicators at stair areas and accessible seating, have contributed to reaching this milestone. 

Other awards the City has received for its accessibility efforts include the Ontario Municipal Social Services Association Accessibility Award and the David C. Onley Award for Leadership in Accessibility. 

Diversity and Inclusion Task Force

The Diversity and Inclusion Task Force serves as a forum of discussion and helps guide the City in developing policies that promote fairness, mutual respect and an undoubted sense of inclusion among the diverse individuals, communities and groups that live, work and play in Vaughan. The goal is to identify ways to further engage all communities in City programs and services and provide more opportunities for these groups to network and co-ordinate efforts with each other and with the City. In August 2020, the City underwent public recruitment to add 19 citizen members to this task force. All committee meetings are posted to the City’s meeting calendar at vaughan.ca.   

New Diversity and Inclusion Officer

Following a successful public recruitment process, the City hired Zincia Francis as of January 2021 to fill the new role of Diversity and Inclusion Officer. In this senior-level, full-time position, Ms. Francis leads the organization’s diversity, equity and inclusion strategic development and implementation and provides strategic guidance, advising on policies, processes and procedures related to diversity, equity and inclusion. Reporting directly to the Chief Human Resources Officer and supported by the existing Accessibility and Diversity Co-ordinator, she also helps facilitate a renewed mandate for the Human Resources department, attends meetings of the City’s Senior Leadership Team and supports the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force. 

Accessibility Advisory Committee

The Vaughan Accessibility Advisory Committee was established to help guide the City in removing and preventing barriers in policies, practices, programs and services in a way that meets the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. The committee assisted in creating Vaughan’s Accessibility Plan and helps to identify accessibility opportunities and challenges within the community. All committee meetings are posted to the City’s meeting calendar at vaughan.ca.   

Accessibility Champions Awards

Established in 2019 by the City’s Accessibility Advisory Committee, the award recognizes businesses and individuals fostering inclusivity and advance accessibility throughout the city. Vaughan Accessibility Champions can be nominated in four categories – as an individual, a small business with fewer than 20 employees, a medium or large business with 20 or more employees or an individual with a disability. In 2020, the City presented this award to four deserving individuals and businesses who advocate for accessibility and inclusion and provide goods or services to people with disabilities within the Vaughan community. 

Inclusive Design Standards

Created in consultation with the City’s Accessibility and Diversity Co-ordinator and Facility Management department, the Inclusive Design Standards allow the City to advocate for any new development in the community to be inclusive and accessible for all. These standards allow the City to demonstrate market leadership from an inclusive design perspective. In addition to ensuring that Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Ontario Building Code requirements are met, these standards go beyond legislative requirements. These standards outline examples and best practices to make buildings and other areas, like play spaces, washrooms, trails, service counters, office environments and places of worship, as inclusive as possible. 

QUOTE

“During National AccessAbility Week, we celebrate and recognize the people, communities and organizations that are actively working to improve accessibility and promote inclusion. In Vaughan, our mission is to foster a barrier-free community today and for generations to come. We remain focused on achieving our goal of becoming a completely accessible city by 2025 through Vaughan’s 2019-2022 Multi-year Accessibility Plan. We are collectively working to create an equitable, inclusive and welcoming city where people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds can thrive. That is because we firmly believe that everyone should have the right to access any service, program or location they choose. City-building is truly a team effort, and, by working together, we will define and shape a more promising future for everyone.”

-        Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua 

QUICK FACTS

  • Recognized this year from Sunday, May 30 to Saturday, June 5, National AccessAbility Week honours the valuable contributions of Canadians with disabilities and the efforts of individuals, communities and workplaces that demonstrate exemplary commitment towards advancing accessibility.         
  • The City of Vaughan celebrated National AccessAbility Week on Wednesday, June 2, through a virtual event. A video recap of the event can be viewed on the City’s YouTube channel.
  • The City’s diversity and inclusion initiatives support several priorities outlined in the 2018-2022 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan, including enhancing citizen experience, contributing to an active, safe and diverse community, and city-building that fosters community well-being in public spaces.
  • Vaughan Council recently approved the City’s 2019-2022 Multi-year Accessibility Plan, which identifies how the City will create a barrier-free community with universal access to its programs, services and facilities. The City’s goal is to create an accessible community by 2025.

LEARN MORE

 

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