Accessibility Advisory Committee

Minutes

Meeting #:
18
Date:
Time:
-
Location:
Electronic Participation
Present:
  • Chair Vania Karam, 
  • Wayne Antle, 
  • Ian Bourrie, 
  • Ana Maria Cruz-Valderrama, 
  • Matthew Eliot, 
  • Jodi Fisher, 
  • Adele Furrie, 
  • Murray MacDonald, 
  • William Van Veen, 
  • and Hannah Walhad 
Absent:
  • Vice-Chair Holl Ellingwood 
  • and David Humphries 
Present non-voting member:
  • Councillor Marty Carr 

Members of Committee and Council, City staff, media and the general public may join the meeting with this link:


Zoom meeting no. 841 1740 4398


Notices and meeting information are attached to the agenda and minutes, including: availability of simultaneous interpretation and accessibility accommodations; personal information disclaimer for correspondents and public speakers; notices regarding minutes; and remote participation details.


Accessible formats and communication supports are available, upon request.


The deadline to register to speak, or submit written comments is 4 pm on the day of the meeting.

No Declarations of Interest were filed.

Svetlana Valkova, Manager, Financial Services, Finance and Corporate Services Department, provided a presentation and answered questions from the Committee and delegations.
From the Office of the City Clerk.

Tyler Cox, Manager, Legislative Services, and Megan Richards, Program Manager of the Accessibility Office, provided answers to questions from the Committee.

A copy of the slide presentation is filed with the Office of the City Clerk.

There were four delegations from the public:

  • Richard Belzile, Executive Director, Canadian Association of the Deaf spoke to the limited funds in the Budget for accessibility concerns especially the barriers that still remain, especially communication barriers for the hearing impaired.
  • Kyle Humphrey spoke before the Committee and provided comments on the budget’s lack of in-depth approach. Specifically, how would the budget affect accessibility and transit.
  • Sally Thomas, spoke to issues of Transit and how the difficulties affect those who volunteer, especially with a high fee increase.
  • Daryl Hackett, spoke to lack of communication for the hearing impaired. He suggested an electronic bulletin system for communication. He also spoke to the particulars of the AODA not being discussed in the budget.

The Advisory Committee discussed and asked questions regarding the following topics:

  • What committees were available to address concerns with departmental budgets and why the AAC had not been consulted
  • Members spoke to the proposed increased fees for Transit

At the conclusion of discussions, the Committee received the presentation.

  • Recommendation(s)

    That the Accessibility Advisory Committee receive the presentation and provide feedback as appropriate.

     

  • Received

Sean Moore, Director, Lansdowne Park Project, Planning, Development & Building Department and Marnie Peters, President of Accessibility Simplified provided a presentation and answered questions from the Committee.

As well, Justin Kurosky, Manager, Design & Construction-Facilities of Infrastructure & Water Services Department was available to answer questions.

A copy of the slide presentation is filed with the Office of the City Clerk.

There was one delegation from the public:

  • Kyle Humphrey spoke before the Committee and provided comments on the seating and the need to avoid segregation of mobility device users from their friends.

The Advisory Committee discussed and asked questions regarding the following topics:

  • Grand staircase and accessibility
  • Live visual descriptions of events would be helpful for the visually impaired

At the conclusion of discussions, the Committee received the update.

  • Recommendation(s)

    That the Accessibility Advisory Committee receive the presentation and provide feedback as appropriate.

     

    Received

The following staff provided a presentation and answered questions from the Committee.

  • Dan Chenier, General Manager, Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services
  • Joshua Kerr, Program & Project Coordinator, Recreation, Cultural & Facility Services Department
  • Katie O’Sullivan, Coordinator, Strategic Support (BSS), Recreation, Cultural & Facility Services Department
  • Viola Rashed, Program Manager and Project Management Officer, Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services Department

A copy of the slide presentation is filed with the Office of the City Clerk.

There was one delegation from the public:

  • Kyle Humphrey spoke before the Committee and provided comments that he is happy that the language is more in tune with how we use mobility devices today.

At the conclusion of the delegation, the Committee received the update.

  • Recommendation(s)

    That the Accessibility Advisory Committee receive the presentation and provide feedback as appropriate.

     

    Received

Sarah Beriault, Corporate Accessibility Specialist of the Office of the City Clerk provided a presentation and answered questions from the Committee.

A copy of the slide presentation is filed with the Office of the City Clerk.

At the conclusion of the presentation, the Committee received the update.

  • Recommendation(s)

    That the Accessibility Advisory Committee receive the presentation and provide feedback as appropriate.

     

    Received

There were no Inquiries.

There was no other business.

Next Meeting


To be determined.

The meeting adjourned at 8:11 pm.