TENTH MEETING OF THE

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ACCESSIBILITY

 

TOWN OF MARKHAM

Angus Glen Community Centre (Main Floor)

Meeting Room “B”

Wednesday, December 15, 2004

 

MINUTES

Members                                                                                  Regrets

Robert Hunn (Chair)                                                                 Sharon Prasow

Connie Weber                                                                          Vito Bigioni (Vice-Chair)

Carole Robertson                                                                     Sherry Setnyk

Dr. John White                                                             Martha Shultz

William Broger                                                             Regional Councillor Jack Heath

Sam Jhangiani

 

Staff

Yvonne Hurst, Committee Clerk

 

The meeting convened at the hour of 7:00 p.m. 

 

The meeting was preceded by a tour of the Angus Glen Community Centre with Alan Wolfe, Project Management Consultant and Bud O’Connor, Recreation Supervisor – Facilities, Town of Markham. 

 

The tour included the twin ice pads and dressing rooms, the gymnasium, the new library, swimming pool and seniors centre.

 

The Committee were impressed with the facility and noted that many accessibility issues have been addressed.  It was also noted that the design and finishings in the accessible washrooms were to be commended.   The size of the doorways into each area were also noted as suitable for wheelchair access. 

 

A few issues that the Committee suggested might be addressed were:

      -     include Braille on signage;

      -     begin to incorporate standardized signage throughout the Town;

      -     application of decals on the glass to assist the visually impaired in realizing that the glass was there;

      -     include a handle on the back of the washroom door;

      -     consider a colour change to the signage (e.g. the A, B, C, etc. are very difficult to see); suggested darker colour on a lighter background or reverse;

      -     put something under the base of the drinking fountain so that any visually impaired person with a cane would hit it and realize that something was in their way;

      -     there should be more than one pool chair as the chair would be required for a person to enter and exit the pool;

-         all accessible washroom should have the ‘wheelchair’ accessible symbol on the exterior signage;

-         the hooks in the accessible change rooms in the ice area should be lowered to assist wheelchair persons to reach them;

-         consider the installation of strobe lights in each area to assist the deaf if an alarm was sounded;

-         include a pull handle on the doors of the cubicles in the accessible washrooms;

-         suggest that a map of the facilities be installed near the main entrances to assist in directing visitors to the appropriate area.

-         have sufficient handicap parking spaces been included in close proximity to the main entrances?

-         The ramp from the ice arenas to the meeting rooms/library/pool presents a challenge to those in wheelchairs when they have to return up the ramp to the entrance doors in the ice area.

 

Other areas that were visited by the Committee were the seniors’ room with ramp access and a door to the outside; a children’s area in the library with seating for story time; and changing facilities for the pool and gymnasium that include a men’s, women’s and family change room.

 

The Committee further discussed the issue of signage and restated their recommendation that the Town implement a standardized signage program with contrasting colours to assist the visually impaired.

 

Alan Wolfe requested that a copy of the above suggestions be provided to himself and Bud O’Connor for review and, where possible, implementation.

 

 

1.         MINUTES OF NINTH MARKHAM ACCESSIBILITY COMMITTEE MEETING IN 2004 HELD ON NOVEMBER 17, 2004

           

            THE TOWN OF MARKHAM ACCESSIBILITY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT the minutes of the Town of Markham Accessibility Committee meeting held on November 17, 2004, be adopted.

 

CARRIED.

 

 

2.         “ACCESS TO MARKHAM GUIDE”

 

The Chair, Robert Hunn, indicated that the item “Access to Markham Guide” will be placed on the January agenda for discussion.

 

 

 

3.         REPORT ON YORK REGION MEETING – DECEMBER 9, 2004

 

The Chair, Robert Hunn, advised that he attended a meeting on December 9th to discuss York Region accessibility issues. Representatives from both staff and Accessibility Committees were in attendance.  Many ideas were put forward for discussion and will be recommended for inclusion in the next Ontarians with Disabilities Report if found to be feasible to implement.

 

           

4.         MEETING DATES 2005

 

The Chair, Robert Hunn, noted that a list of meeting dates for 2005 have been included with the agenda.  The Committee has been scheduled to meet on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m.

 

It was requested that a list of member names, addresses, phone numbers and email

addresses be provided to the Committee to facilitate contact between the members.

 

 

5.         ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

 

            No issues were discussed.

 

 

6.         NEXT MEETING

 

The next scheduled meeting of the Accessibility Committee is on January 19, 2005.

 

 

7.         ADJOURNMENT

 

            The Advisory Committee on Accessibility adjourned at the hour of 8.25 p.m.