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BԪַWe live in an ableist society,BԪַ Victoria candidates debate how to approach accessibility

All-candidates meeting hosted by Victoria Disability Resource Centre draws unanimous conclusion BԪַ city needs to do better
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Victoria city councillor Pam Madoff stands to address the crowd during an all-candidates meeting hosted by the Victoria Disability Resource Centre Monday at the Church of Truth in James Bay. (Kristyn Anthony/BԪַ Staff)

The consensus of an all-candidates meeting hosted by the Victoria Disability Resource Centre was clear BԪַ 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.

BԪַWe live in an ableist society,BԪַ 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 BԪַdesign flaw,BԪַ said Coun. Ben Isitt.

Council hopeful Anna King agreed saying passive discrimination can occur in planning for infrastructure.

Riga Godron, who works with the VDRC, and is running for city council said the conversations would be much different BԪַif we had people on council who were disabled,BԪַ like herself.

The city currently has an Accessibility Working Group, created in 2016 to BԪַidentify barriers for persons with disabilities created by City of Victoria infrastructure,BԪַ 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.

BԪַThe city is stuck in 1985 in terms of retrofits required,BԪַ Mayor Lisa Helps said.

Council hopeful Ted Smith pointed out accessibility isnBԪַt just physical in nature. BԪַA lot of accessibility in Victoria is economic accessibility,BԪַ 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.

BԪַStigma,BԪַ she said.

Fellow candidate Marg Gardiner agreed. BԪַWe need a real change of attitude,BԪַ 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.

BԪַThis was a voice that was missing last election,BԪַ Helps said, adding she was pleased to see that change this election cycle.

The B.C. municipal election is Oct. 20.

kristyn.anthony@blackpress.ca


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