THE JOINT PEEL- CALEDON

ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Jeff Payne, Legislative Co-ordinator - Presided

1. CALL TO ORDER

Jeff Payne, Committee Clerk for the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) called the meeting to order at 2:05 p.m. and welcomed everyone present.

2. ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR

a. Election of the Accessibility Advisory Committee Chair

RECOMMENDATION AAC-6-2005:

That Glenn Barnes be appointed Chair of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee for a term ending December 31, 2005

Unanimously Carried

Maureen Tymkow advised the AAC committee members that she is not seeking to serve another term as the Vice-Chair of the AAC. She thanked the members of the committee for their support during her term as Vice-Chair and expressed her pride in what the AAC has accomplished thus far.

b. Election of the Accessibility Advisory Committee Vice-Chair

RECOMMENDATION AAC-7-2005:

That William Goursky be appointed Vice-Chair of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee for a term ending December 31, 2005

Unanimously Carried

Glenn Barnes, assumed the Chair to preside over the remainder of the meeting.

On behalf of all of the members of the AAC, Glenn Barnes recognized the contributions made by Maureen Tymkow in her role as Vice-Chair of the AAC and thanked her for her hard work and dedication to the committee.

Glenn Barnes extended greetings on behalf of the AAC to City of Brampton Councillor Sandra Hames, City Councillor for Wards Seven and Eight.

Glenn Barnes explained that as a result of recent changes to the Terms of Reference for the Joint Peel-Caledon AAC, requested by AAC Committee Members, membership now includes elected representative from all three area municipalities in Peel. Councillor Hames was nominated by the Council of the City of Brampton and appointed by Regional Council Resolution 2005-135 to serve as the Brampton representative on the Joint Peel-Caledon AAC.

Councillor Hames expressed her thanks for the welcoming remarks and stated that she is looking forward to being a member of the Joint Peel-Caledon AAC. She also noted that currently she is a member of the City of Brampton AAC.

¨R. Paterak departed at 2:20 p.m. due to other municipal business

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Minutes of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting held on February 15, 2005

RECOMMENDATION AAC-8-2005:

That the minutes of the February 15, 2005 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting be approved.

4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

RECOMMENDATION AAC-9-2005:

That Presentation Item 6a be deferred to a future meeting of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee;

And further, that the agenda for the March 1, 2005 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting be approved, as amended.

5. COMMUNICATION ITEMS

a. Cheri Cowan, Clerk, Town of Caledon, Letter dated January 17, 2005, Adopting Peel Resolution Number 2004-1236 Extending the Terms for Non-Elected Members of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) to November 30, 2006 and Requesting an Additional Elected Member from the City of Brampton be Appointed to the AAC

Received

b. Diana Simpson, Accessibility Coordinator, City of Mississauga, Letter dated February 23, 2005 Attaching City of Mississauga Resolution 0031-2005, Regarding Recommendations to the Standing Committee on Social Policy of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario Pertaining to Bill 118, being the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2004

Received

Members of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) discussed the importance of establishing strong links with the City of Brampton and the City of Mississauga Accessibility Advisory Committees, resulting in the following recommendation;

RECOMMENDATION AAC-10-2005:

That the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee extend an invitation to the City of Brampton and the City of Mississauga Accessibility Advisory Committees to meet at least twice annually with the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee to improve communication and explore areas of common accessibility concerns.

c. News Release: Transhelp, "Setting the Standard for Para-Transit: Driving Beyond Expectations", Announcing an Initiative to Improve the Service Provided to Clients and Explaining the Invitation Process to Participate in Surveys and Focus Groups

Received

d. News Release: ConnecTions 2005, 6th Annual Resource Fair for Persons with Disabilities, May 7, 2005, Ste. Famille Secondary School, 1780 Meadowvale Blvd., Mississauga

Received

William Goursky suggested that the Joint Peel-Caledon AAC members investigate the feasibility of showcasing a booth or table at the "ConnecTions Resource Fair". William Goursky undertook to coordinate this effort, confirm the cost of participation, and to explore linkages with Regional departments and area municipal AACs.

e. News Release: Access Ontario II Conference, June 13 and 14, 2005, Burlington, Ontario, Pre-Conference Questionnaire and Registration Form

Received

Charlotte Gravlev, Regional Clerk, confirmed that conference costs would be provided for by the Region and requested that those members interested in attending the "Access Ontario II Conference" in Burlington contact Meenu Sikand so that interest could be gauged and any resulting arrangements co-ordinated. Meenu Sikand, Accessibility Planning Specialist, requested that members interested in being presenters at the conference should review the various topics for discussion listed on the Access Ontario II Conference page available on the City of Burlington Website: www.burlington.ca.

f. News Release: Learning Disabilities Association - Mississauga Chapter, Staff Presentations Regarding Learning Disabilities on March 22, 2005 at Millcreek and Coventry Road Locations

Received

6. PRESENTATIONS

a. Terri LeRoux, Executive Director, Learning Disabilities Association of Mississauga, Presenting an Awareness Session on Learning Disabilities

Deferred to the April 12, 2005 Joint Peel-Caledon AAC meeting

b. Nita Bawa, Diversity Coordinator and Wafa Murra, Outreach Manager, Telecare Distress Centre Brampton, Explaining the New Telecare Diversity Project - Reaching Out to South Asians and Six Other Languages in the Next Five Years

Received

Wafa Murra, Outreach Manager, Telecare Distress Centre Brampton, provided a brief history of the organization and an overview of the services provided. She detailed the training volunteers receive, the hours of operation for the distress line and current efforts to expand multi-lingual services. Detailed information is available by accessing the following website: www.telecarebrampton.org.

Nita Bawa, Diversity Coordinator, Telecare Distress Centre Brampton requested input and suggestions from the members of the AAC regarding new services being offered as of May 26, 2005 to persons with disabilities, especially those facing both physical and cultural barriers. Naz Husain offered to be a resource to the organization and suggested that the Coalition for Persons with Disabilities would be able to provide a presentation to the distress line volunteers.

Maureen Tymkow inquired if the organization intended to set up an office in Caledon, to not only better serve the community but also to expand upon the potential volunteer base. Wafa Murra noted that the possibility of locating an office in Caledon is being considered, as well as the possibility of telecommunication solutions that would allow volunteers to work from home.

c. Anita Bischof, Office Services Supervisor, Ontario Works, and Heather Montgomery, Interior Designer, Region of Peel, Housing and Property, Outlining the Interior Renovation Project to Create a More Secure, Private, Flexible, Accessible, Client-Friendly Environment for Clients and Staff

Received

Michelle Bidlofsky, Policy Analyst, Ontario Works, Social Services introduced Anita Bischof, Office Services Supervisor, Ontario Works, and Heather Montgomery, Interior Designer, Region of Peel, Housing and Property. An overview of proposed interior renovations to the Millcreek Ontario Works site was provided. Members of the Joint Pee-Caledon AAC sought clarification regarding the scope of the project and provided suggestions for improvements to staff using references from the Joint Peel-Caledon AAC Facilities Audit Tool.

d. Drew Goursky, Housing Development Policy Coordinator, Region of Peel, Housing and Property, Inviting the AAC to Tour a New Senior's Building Located at 1745 Dundas Street East, Mississauga, on April 1, 2005 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Received

Drew Goursky, Housing Development Policy Coordinator, Region of Peel, Housing and Property extended an invitation to the members of the Joint Peel-Caledon AAC to tour Summerville Pines Senior Rental Apartments located in Mississauga. He noted that the tour is not intended to be an audit but rather an opportunity for Regional staff and the builder to listen to the Committee and to consider their feedback in the design of future projects. He noted that the members will be requested to complete a survey as part of the tour.

Meenu Sikand thanked Drew Goursky and the Housing department for a very well thought out comprehensive tour plan, project progress updates and the provision of information regarding accessibility initiatives to the AAC and the Regional Accessibility Planning Office.

7. REPORTS FROM THE ACCESSIBILITY PLANNING COORDINATORS

a. Eric Schuppert, Manager of Customer Service, Town of Caledon

Received

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

Received

Meenu Sikand provided a summary of the Universal Design Workshop that she attended on February 28, 2005, in addition to the information contained within the written report provided to the AAC.

8. REPORT OF THE ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIR

Received

Glenn Barnes provided an update regarding the number of accessible taxis in the City of Mississauga. He noted that he has been in contact with the Mississauga Taxi Licensing Commission and Mississauga Councillor Pat Saito. Glenn Barnes noted that a future meeting of the AAC will focus on the issue of accessible transportation in the Region of Peel, including issues related to accessible taxis.

9. OTHER BUSINESS

10. NEXT MEETING

Tuesday, April 12, 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 4:15 p.m.