The consensus of an all-candidates meeting hosted by the Victoria Disability Resource Centre was clear B次元官网网址� the city is not an accessible place.
Of the 40 candidates running for mayor and council in Victoria, 22 participated in the event transcribed by both an ASL interpreter and a typist, onto a large monitor for viewing, at the Church of Truth in James Bay.
B次元官网网址淲e live in an ableist society,B次元官网网址� said Laurel Collins, a council hopeful running on the Together Victoria slate with Sarah Potts and Sharmarke Dubow.
Questions were submitted by local non-profits and advocacy groups including the Action Committee of People with Disabilities, Pacific Training Centre for the Blind, Transplant Rogues and Together Against Poverty Society.
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The conversation quickly became about safety, citing concerns for visually and hearing impaired residents. Building bus stops on meridians separated from sidewalks by bike lanes was a B次元官网网址渄esign flaw,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Ben Isitt.
Council hopeful Anna King agreed saying passive discrimination can occur in planning for infrastructure.
This is how you conduct inclusive gatherings, with visual and hearing aids as well as physically accessible spaces
B次元官网网址� Kristyn Anthony (@kristyn_anthony)
Riga Godron, who works with the VDRC, and is running for city council said the conversations would be much different B次元官网网址渋f we had people on council who were disabled,B次元官网网址� like herself.
The city currently has an Accessibility Working Group, created in 2016 to B次元官网网址渋dentify barriers for persons with disabilities created by City of Victoria infrastructure,B次元官网网址� according to the website.
Coun. Jeremy Loveday, who worked to put the committee in place told those in attendance the city has plans to upgrade crosswalks to include audible signals, another barrier candidates said has come up in conversations while campaigning.
Victoria has aging infrastructure, including crumbling sidewalks hard to navigate for those with mobility challenges, or who use wheelchairs.
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And with so many heritage buildings housing non-profits and social services, a lot of the vulnerable groups those resources are designed to assist, cannot access them.
B次元官网网址淭he city is stuck in 1985 in terms of retrofits required,B次元官网网址� Mayor Lisa Helps said.
Council hopeful Ted Smith pointed out accessibility isnB次元官网网址檛 just physical in nature. B次元官网网址淎 lot of accessibility in Victoria is economic accessibility,B次元官网网址� said the longtime cannabis activist.
On the topic of developmental disabilities, Coun. Marianne Alto was asked what the most pressing issue is facing that community.
B次元官网网址淪tigma,B次元官网网址� she said.
Fellow candidate Marg Gardiner agreed. B次元官网网址淲e need a real change of attitude,B次元官网网址� she said, pushing for more creative approaches to solutions.
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Roughly 75 people of all abilities packed the room to hear how candidates plan to make changes in the name of inclusivity.
B次元官网网址淭his was a voice that was missing last election,B次元官网网址� Helps said, adding she was pleased to see that change this election cycle.
The B.C. municipal election is Oct. 20.
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