Kamloops Council adds accessibility projects to annual budget talks

“There’s a lot of recommendations that are already in place but there’s not necessarily the funding to support those recommendations,” Hunter said. “For me, it’s just really about being intentional and making sure that the funding is going to be there to make sure those projects happen.”

One of the recommended action items contained in the May 2018 City of Kamloops Accessibility and Inclusion Plan is to prioritize, design and implement curb letdowns throughout the city.

“Right now, there’s only $20,000 per year in the Civic Operations budget to do curb letdowns around the city, so for your standard intersection that would take four years to do all of the curb letdowns,” Hunter said. “You can imagine that that could take 30 years if we’re going around trying to do all of them. I mean, a lot of intersections do have them, but as we continue to grow, and we add new sidewalks, and new infrastructure then we need to be mindful about having the budget and the financial capacity to do those projects.”

People in Motion advocates and provides programs for people with diverse abilities. Executive Director Deb DeLyzer says accessibility challenges go beyond limited mobility.

“Those who don’t have mobility issues necessarily still have accessibility issues in that they maybe have autism and so they need to have a better understanding of bus routes and how quickly the bus can get them from point A to point B and safely and so on,” DeLyzer said. “So there’s a lot more to it and it doesn’t just mean people in wheelchairs, people using walkers or canes and moms using a stroller.”

DeLyzer adds People in Motion is working toward bringing a program back to Kamloops that informs businesses how they can become more accessible.

“As we move forward with it, I’m wanting to work with our woodworking groups in town, our construction people with TRU, with the NorKam kids in the Senior Secondary School to talk about how they can help support that,” she said. “But, it’s a matter of getting funding for this as well.”

DeLyzer is working to secure a government grant and hopes the city will cooperate with People in Motion in its pursuit of the initiative.

While there are still improvements to be made, DeLyzer says she is impressed by the awareness of accessibility issues throughout the community.

“I think people in the community are very aware of it and we’re all very supportive of it, it’s just that we now need to move forward in a positive way and get it done.”

Accessibility can also be a challenge to the blind and visually impaired.

Todd Harding served on the Mayor’s Advisory Committee for 24 years and says he has seen the city take great strides toward a more accessible Kamloops.

These include audible announcements of bus stops and audible traffic signals.

“That’s a huge benefit to people who are traveling with a disability, especially those of us who are blind,” Harding said. “That tells us when the light is green and it also tells us what street we’re on and that it’s okay to cross.”

Harding and Les Nolin, manager of the Kamloops office of the CNIB, say there is a need to improve inclusivity by providing accessible recreation, affordable housing and career supports for the disabled.

“Blind and partially sighted there’s anywhere between a 20-30 per cent employment rate,” Nolin said, “so generally when you lose your vision there’s a good chance you’re going to either be unemployed or have a low-paying job. So, having low-cost housing for somebody with a disability is a real plus.”

With Hunter’s motion now passed, city staff will bring forward accessibility project proposals to be voted on for the 2020 budget.

by Jill Sperling

Kamloops Council adds accessibility projects to annual budget talks

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