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Three Vaughan facilities are the only Rick Hansen Foundation Gold Certified municipal buildings in Ontario

Municipalinfonet.com
May 26, 2020

The City of Vaughan is committed to fostering an inclusive community where people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds can thrive. To recognize the City's efforts to fulfil this goal, the Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) has awarded multiple City of Vaughan and Vaughan Public Libraries facilities with Gold Certification for accessibility - the highest achievement the foundation can bestow.

In celebration of the honour, and to further promote the benefits of an inclusive society, the City hosted a live-streamed virtual event this afternoon. During the festivities, the following facilities were officially certified gold by the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC) program: Vaughan City Hall, Vaughan Civic Centre Resource Library, and the North Thornhill Community Centre and Pleasant Ridge Library as a combined facility.

Vaughan City Hall is the first municipal building to be certified gold by RHF in Ontario. In fact, the three facilities that have been recognized are the only municipal buildings in the province that are RHF Gold Certified. Accessibility enhancements, such as automatic door openers, tactile walking surface indicators at stair areas, accessible seating and more, have contributed to reaching this milestone.

During the virtual event, celebratory remarks were shared from Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua, as well as Local and Regional Councillor Linda Jackson, who is the Chair of the Vaughan Accessibility Advisory Committee. Rick Hansen made a special guest appearance and shared congratulatory words. The event also paid tribute to National AccessAbility Week - an initiative first established in 1989 following a request from Rick Hansen after his Man in Motion World Tour.

Citizens were encouraged to tune into the celebration broadcasted at vaughan.ca/live. The video stream, titled Leading the way to AccessAbility, can now be viewed on the City's YouTube channel and is also available in closed captioning.

As the City continues to implement new response efforts to support the community during COVID-19, it is more important now than ever to recognize accessibility achievements that will be enjoyed by residents long after the pandemic has passed. This recognition further showcases the City's commitment to several priorities outlined in the 2018-2022 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan, including enhancing citizen experience, contributing to an active, safe and diverse community, and city-building that creates welcoming and inclusive public spaces. This was further reaffirmed in January when the City of Vaughan signed the Vaughan Inclusion Charter in support of the Inclusion Charter of York Region. Learn more about how the City is championing accessibility at vaughan.ca/accessibility.

To help protect the community from further transmission of the virus, many services have transitioned online - including this virtual accessibility celebration. For more information about City matters during the global pandemic, visit vaughan.ca/COVID19 or contact Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or accessvaughan@vaughan.ca. To ensure the City's contact centre is accessible for everyone, a specialized Textnet software program has been implemented enabling deaf, deafened, hard of hearing or speech-impaired residents to easily access and converse with representatives. Individuals can use the services by calling 1-866-543-0545. Access Vaughan also has an over-the-phone interpretation system - Language Line - that provides verbal translation in more than 150 languages. Residents can request this service with a Citizen Service Representative, free of charge.

Those who feel unwell and believe they have symptoms related to COVID-19 should contact York Region Public Health at 1-800-361-5653 or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000. For additional information and resources on COVID-19, including physical distancing tips and advice from Public Health officials, visit York Region's website at york.ca/COVID19.

QUOTE(S)

"I am proud to announce that three City of Vaughan and Vaughan Public Libraries facilities - Vaughan City Hall, Civic Centre Resource Library, Pleasant Ridge Library and North Thornhill Community Centre - have received Gold certification from the Rick Hansen Foundation, as part of the organization's nation-wide accessibility certification program. At the City of Vaughan, we have a mission to foster a barrier-free community that is diverse, inclusive and welcoming. That is why accessibility planning is an essential part of Vaughan's current and future growth plans, which includes our goal to create a completely accessible community by 2025. These certifications stand as a testament to our City's commitment to empowering all people to be engaged and active citizens and creating a better and more inclusive society for all. Together, we will continue moving our city forward without leaving anyone behind."

- Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua, City of Vaughan

"Vaughan Public Libraries is happy to be a contributor to the City of Vaughan's mission to creating fully accessible communities. Our library branches are a place for those of all abilities, languages, ages and skill levels. We take pride in providing inclusive resources for everyone to enjoy when they enter a Vaughan library - whether it is for learning, reading or participating in our many programs. Thank you to the Rick Hansen Foundation for acknowledging the Civic Centre Resource Library, Pleasant Ridge Library, and North Thornhill Community Centre as Gold Certified public spaces, and we hope to continue to enhance our accessibility features in the future."

- Rose Savage, Chair, Vaughan Public Libraries Board

"Congratulations to the City of Vaughan and Vaughan Public Libraries on achieving RHF Accessibility Certified Gold for three locations. Their leadership shows other municipalities across the country the advantages of developing inclusive spaces where people of all abilities can fully participate where we live, work, learn and play. Thank you for paving the way for an accessible future."

- Brad McCannell, VP, Access and Inclusion, Rick Hansen Foundation

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