THE JOINT PEEL- CALEDON

ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Glenn Barnes, Chair - presided

1. CALL TO ORDER

Glenn Barnes, Chair of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) called the meeting to order at 1:40 p.m. and welcomed everyone present.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Minutes of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting held on January 18, 2005

RECOMMENDATION AAC-3-2005:

That the minutes of the January 18, 2005 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting be approved.

3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

RECOMMENDATION AAC-4-2005:

That at the request of Glenn Barnes, Chair of the Joint Peel-Caledon AAC, a discussion regarding the number of accessible taxi cabs in the Region of Peel be considered for a future AAC meeting and be added to the agenda for review under Other Business as Item 9a;

And further, that Councillor Paterak requested that the review process of site plans for mechanical rooms by the Joint Peel-Caledon AAC be added to the agenda for discussion under Other Business as Item 9b;

And further, that Meenu Sikand, Accessibility Planning Co-ordinator, Region of Peel, requested that a presentation from the Social Services Accessibility Working Group (AWG) representative regarding a staff awareness event be added to the agenda under Other Business as Item 9c;

And further, that the agenda for the February 15, 2005 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting be approved, as amended.

See also Other Business - Items 9a, 9b and 9c

4. COMMUNICATION ITEMS

a. Region of Peel Pathways Story, Dated January 12, 2005, Applauding the Success of the First International Day of Disabled Persons at the Region of Peel, and Recognizing the Numerous Volunteers and Event Organizers

Received

b. News Release: The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), dated February 1, 2005, Detailing the Highlights of the AMO Presentation on Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) to the Standing Committee on Social Policy on Bill 118

Received

c. News Release: City of Mississauga, dated January 31, 2005, Introducing the Mississauga City Parking Permit Exempting Residents with Disabilities from the Three-Hour On-Street Parking Restriction

Received

d. Leisureways, Your CAA Member Magazine, February-March 2005, Article titled "Accessible Cruising", authored by Cathy Stapells, Offering a First Person Account of Holland America Cruise Company's Awareness of the Needs of People With Disabilities

Received

*P. Saito arrived at 1:50 p.m.

5. PRESENTATIONS

a. Lolly Prinzen, Regional Co-ordinator - Central Canada, Rick Hansen Wheels In Motion, Presenting the Rick Hansen Wheels In Motion Event

Received

Lolly Prinzen, Regional Co-ordinator - Central Canada, Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion, provided an update on the plans for 2005 events in the Region of Peel. The Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion Event will be held on Sunday, June 12, 2005. She requested the support of the Joint Peel-Caledon AAC in enlisting community volunteers to contribute to the success and build on past event accomplishments in Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga. Lolly Prinzen introduced Catherine Rogers, Regional Coordinator - Central Canada, and noted that she will be the primary contact for the events in Peel. Further information is available from the organizations website at www.rickhansen.com.

Glenn Barnes noted that the Access Ontario II Conference will be held in Burlington on June 13 and 14, 2005 and that linkages between the events should be explored.

Meenu Sikand requested that the organizers of the 2005 Wheels in Motion Event be cognitive of accessibility needs including access to parking at the event staging areas, access to the event stage, route consideration and ensuring persons with disabilities are in position at the start line of the event when it commences.

b. Heather Savage, Manager of Program Development, Recreation Department, Town of Caledon, Regarding Integration in the Town's Community and Recreation Services

Received

Heather Savage, Manager of Program Development, Recreation Department, Town of Caledon briefed the members of the Joint Peel-Caledon AAC on the various accessible programs being provided by the Recreation Services department. She highlighted the Brampton-Caledon Community Living Partnership; the Reach for the Rainbow Partnership; grants from the Partnership in Play Committee; and the Community Leisure Integration Committee. These partnerships assist the Town of Caledon in the provision of integrated and accessible programs.

Marlow Horn inquired why the Town of Caledon Recreation Guide did not identify certain facilities as accessible or differentiate between facilities that are fully accessible and those that are partially accessible. Heather Savage indicated that this feedback was appreciated and the next publication of the Recreation Guide will be corrected to identify where facilities are partially accessible, detailing to what extent the facility is accessible.

Marlow Horn stated that the pool at the Bolton Wellness Centre, the only pool that is fully accessible in the Town of Caledon, does not address the need of persons with disabilities requiring hot water therapy. Further, it is regrettable that the Centre does not offer any pool based accessible programs at this time. Heather Savage confirmed that at this time there are no accessible pool based programs, but that staff was attempting to provide swimming lessons for youth with disabilities.

Glenn Barnes expressed the importance of clearly identifying what accessible services are available at the various facilities and he suggested reviewing guides used by hotels to identify the level of available accessible services.

Councillor Paterak expressed input from a group such as the AAC would have been advantageous at the time the Bolton Wellness Centre was constructed.

6. REPORTS

7. REPORTS FROM THE ACCESSIBILITY PLANNING COORDINATORS

a. Colleen Grant, Town Prosecutor and Solicitor, Town of Caledon

Received

Colleen Grant advised that barrier identification charts have been presented to senior management at the Town of Caledon for approval. The Town of Caledon hosted a committee fair on January 27, 2005, to highlight and encourage community participation. A similar event is planned for September 2005. Colleen Grant also brought to the attention of the AAC, a press release from David Tilson, MP for Dufferin-Caledon regarding the Centennial Flame Research Award application process.

b. Meenu Sikand, Accessibility Planning Coordinator, Region of Peel

Received

In addition to the written report submitted to the AAC, Meenu Sikand informed the members of the AAC that a report will be presented to Regional Council at the March 3, 2005 General Committee meeting that will contain the recommendations presented by members of the AAC to the public hearing on Bill 118, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. In addition, Glenn Barnes will be a delegate to this meeting providing an overview of the proposed improvements to Bill 118.

Charlotte Gravlev, Regional Clerk, advised the AAC that the York Region report and recommendations regarding Bill 118 will also appear on the March 3, 2005 General Committee agenda requesting endorsement by Regional Council. Councillor Saito noted that the City of Mississauga AAC also passed recommendations and it would be beneficial to add these to the March 3, 2005 General Committee meeting for endorsement by Regional Council.

Meenu Sikand stated that the barrier tracking tool is in the final draft stages and should be brought to the AAC for review in April or May, of 2005.

8. REPORT OF THE ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIR

Received

Glenn Barnes provided a brief overview of the presentation on Bill 118 to the Standing Committee on Social Policy. He thanked the members for their efforts and support which contributed to the success of the presentation at the public hearing. William Goursky congratulated Glenn Barnes and noted that his presentation was one of the most memorable and effective presentations made during the public hearing process.

Glenn Barnes informed the AAC of the 6th Annual "ConnecTion Resource Fair" to be held on May 7, 2005 at Ste. Famille Secondary School, 1780 Meadowvale Blvd., Mississauga. Further information will be provided with the March 1, 2005, AAC agenda.

Glenn Barnes also noted the "Access Ontario II Conference" will take place June 13 and 14, 2005 in Burlington. Further information will be provided with the March 1, 2005, AAC agenda.

9. OTHER BUSINESS

Additional Item

a. Future Agenda Item - Glenn Barnes, Chair of the Joint Peel-Caledon AAC, Requesting that a Discussion Regarding the Number of Accessible Taxi Cabs in the Region of Peel be Considered for a Future AAC Meeting

Received

Glenn Barnes discussed with the members of the AAC the listing of a future agenda item to address concerns regarding the number of accessible taxi cabs in the Region of Peel. He noted that recent information provided to him indicated that the number of accessible taxi cabs in the City of Mississauga is decreasing. Councillor Saito indicated that she was not aware of the situation described, but that she would look into it. Group discussion occurred with respect to this matter and other available accessible transit issues in the Region of Peel.

Staff Direction AAC-02-2005-01

Meenu Sikand was requested to coordinate, at a regularly scheduled AAC meeting, a discussion regarding accessible taxi cabs and other transportation used by persons with disabilities in the Region of Peel, inviting representatives from the area municipal taxi commissions, municipal transit authority staff, area municipal AAC's and Regional TransHelp staff.

See also Approval of Agenda

Additional Item

b. Clarification Regarding the Review of Plans by the Joint Peel-Caledon AAC - Councillor Paterak Requested that the Review Process of Plans for Mechanical Rooms by the Joint Peel-Caledon AAC be clarified

RECOMMENDATION AAC-5-2005:

That the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee opts not to review plans for facilities that are purely mechanical in nature, or are not publicly accessible, or do not contain Regional or Town of Caledon employee workstations.

Councillor Paterak requested that the AAC provide an indication of the types of reviews to be undertaken, so that projects for which reviews are not necessary would not be delayed. Charlotte Gravlev noted that she had communicated with a number of other municipalities in this regard, most of which had no established methods. At least one municipality provides a list to its AAC of upcoming projects so that items for review could be selected. But, currently none contacted were undertaking to review mechanical room constructions or alterations. Group discussion occurred resulting in the following staff direction and the recommendation above.

Staff Direction AAC-02-2005-02

Beyond the recommendation exempting certain facilities, Regional and Town of Caledon staff were requested to provide the AAC with periodic lists of facilities to determine which shall be reviewed.

See also Approval of Agenda

¨P. Saito departed at 3:10 p.m.

Additional Item

c. Staff Awareness Events - Social Services - Update from Michelle Bidlofsky, Policy Analyst, Ontario Works, Social Services on Plans for Organizing a Series of Information Sessions for Social Services Staff

Received

Michelle Bidlofsky, Policy Analyst, Ontario Works, Social Services provided an update on plans to provide training to department staff. She sought support from the members to assist with forthcoming events. Terri LeRoux indicated that she would work with Michelle Bidlofsky in an effort to arrange for training in March for departmental staff related to learning disabilities. Naz Husain expressed that she would assist with further accessibility awareness sessions for Social Services departmental staff in May or June.

See also Approval of Agenda

10. NEXT MEETING

The Next Scheduled Meeting will be:

Tuesday, March 1, 2005 (1:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.)
Region of Peel Headquarters
Council Chamber, 5th floor
10 Peel Centre Dr.
Brampton, Ontario

11. ADJOURNMENT

Meeting adjourned at 3:40 p.m.