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Semaine québécoise des personnes handicapées and National AccessAbility Week 2021 – A more inclusive society, one gesture at a time

During the Semaine québécoise des personnes handicapées and National AccessAbility Week 2021, the mayor of Pointe-Claire, John Belvedere, and the members of City Council wish to highlight the determination and resilience of persons with disabilities, particularly given the additional challenges they are facing in the context of the pandemic.

“Our daily lives have been turned upside down since the beginning of the pandemic, and for persons with limitations, this reality has been a genuine challenge,” said the mayor. “Whether it’s receiving services at home or having to get somewhere, every action has been affected over the last 14 months.”

The City of Pointe-Claire is committed to facilitating the lives of persons with disabilities, regardless of the nature of the disability, to enable them to play their full role in our community. The City is pursuing its efforts to improve access to municipal infrastructure in order to reduce barriers so that they can freely take advantage of the services and facilities on its territory.

In keeping with this, the City has identified the Navette Or service bus stops that require the addition of a bench to encourage the mobility of users and to improve their comfort. Furthermore, at the Arthur-E.-Séguin chalet, two raised bed gardens have been added to those at the Central Library so that all residents can have access to herbs, vegetables and edible flowers.

Moreover, with the goal of enriching the summer experience of children with special needs, various activities in the summer program have been modified. For example, the City is providing young people with an adapted bicycle that will enable everyone to take full advantage of Ados camp activities. In addition, Tony-Proudfoot Park, inaugurated last summer, is entirely inclusive and offers a universally accessible playground and equipment adapted for all users.

Lastly, the new Baie-de-Valois chalet will also be inaugurated shortly. It is fully accessible to persons with reduced mobility, with full wheelchair access to its rooms, terrace and the Lake Saint-Louis shoreline.