NEWS RELEASE
ST. PAUL'S CENTRE
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Bruce Stanton, Member of Parliament for Simcoe North, announced a grant of $50,000 from the Government of Canada’s Enabling Accessibility Fund to St. Paul’s United Church to assist in funding a universal washroom project at Orillia’s St. Paul’s Centre.
The announcement was made during a Canadian Band Association (Ontario Chapter) concert being hosted by the Orillia Silver Band at the Centre.
The project will improve accessibility for people with disabilities by renovating existing washrooms to provide a gender-neutral universal washroom accessible
by performers and audiences using St. Paul’s for community events, concerts and performances as well as for those wishing to access other programs and services offered at St. Paul’s on a regular basis.
This project will improve accessibility by:
- Allowing more individuals to access and enjoy the concerts, performances (both local and professional) and community events held in the St. Paul’s Centre's ‘Great Hall’;
- Allowing those requiring a universal washroom to assume leadership and other meaningful roles in community gatherings, lectures, programs, performances and worship services, throughout the facility; and
- Providing a safe environment for community residents attending events and programs.
The universal washroom project is final piece of Phase 1 of a major initiative to transform the St. Paul’s Centre into a space which is fully accessible to the Orillia
community.
To date we have:
- Installed a new exterior ramp door with 'push station' entry and exit hardware;
- Created a barrier-free stage with ramp access built to code;
- Installed hearing assistance technology and purchased individual receivers; and
- Removed fixed wooden pews and installed comfortable, movable seating capable of being re-arranged to accommodate wheel chairs, walkers etc.
With the assistance of funding through the Government of Canada’s Enabling Accessibility Fund, the universal washroom project helps to highlight and promote
inclusion and accessibility at the St. Paul’s Centre and thus ensure that all using the facility can participate equally and fully in our community.
Canadians with disabilities face challenges every day which prevent them from participating fully in their communities and the economy. Through programs such
as the EAF, the Government of Canada is committed to reducing these accessibility barriers and ensuring that everyone has equal access and
opportunity.
Funded projects must aim to remove barriers and increase accessibility for people with disabilities in Canadian communities, thus allowing access to community
programs and services.
St. Paul’s is deeply appreciative of support for our universal washroom project through the Government of Canada’s Enabling Accessibility Fund. We look
forward to completing the work in the summer of 2018 and having the universal washroom in place for September.
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