Walking down the streets of Collingwood — a quaint town nestled on the shores of Georgian Bay — you will notice a unique mix of heritage and progression.

What you may not notice right away is Collingwood’s commitment to accessibility, but you can be sure it is embedded into the community. Collingwood wants to make sure every resident and visitor — regardless of age or ability — has an equal place.

“To enable everyone to enjoy our community and all that it has to offer, everything needs to be accessible and Collingwood has been on that path for a number of years,” says Mayor Chris Carrier.

From A to B: The Collingwood Trails Network

One of the most prominent accessible parts of Collingwood is the trail system — a network that encompasses about 70 km of beautiful landscape. The trails are open to people of every ability.

Trail surfaces consist of concrete walkways, wooden boardwalks, and crushed stone and dirt paths. This allows everyone, including people using mobility devices and parents with children in strollers, to access the trails with ease.

The trails connect various parts of Collingwood, including the downtown core, and provide an alternate way to get around the community.

Collingwood’s trails advisory committee helps the town to identify potential upgrades to the trails, including enhancements that will improve accessibility. The committee works with people who have disabilities to make sure everyone’s needs are met.

“There is a need to interact with as many groups as you can, because if you don’t have a particular disability, it’s difficult to know what the proper solution might be,” says Lindsay Lyall, member of the trails advisory committee.

And the trails have had a profound impact on community members.

“I got my independence back,” says Sherrill Ann Monahan, a trail user who has multiple sclerosis and requires a scooter to get around. “With the trail, I can get out on my own and enjoy the world.”

The Station

The Station, which houses Collingwood’s Museum and Welcome Centre, is another accessibility highlight. The Station is a hub for visitors, so it is essential that its doors and services are open to everyone.

“Tourists to our community could be anyone and we want to offer Collingwood and its amenities to the entire population,” said Karen Cubitt, Manager of Arts and Culture, Information Centre and Special Events. “It’s about being universally accessible and we want to be welcoming to everyone.”

Accessibility features at the Station include:

• entrances with automatic door openers
• exhibit signage with large fonts
• brightly lit and clutter-free floor space
• lowered service counters
• helpful and trained staff.

As Karen and her team at the Station know, accessibility is a journey, not a destination. They rely on the expertise of groups like the Collingwood Accessibility Advisory Committee to help them continue breaking down barriers.

Expert advice

The Accessibility Advisory Committee has been a driving force to help make Collingwood more accessible.

The committee, which is made up of people with diverse backgrounds and a variety of abilities, works within the community to identify and remove obstacles. They provide recommendations and support to help improve accessibility throughout Collingwood.

“Our goal is to maintain and enable the life and opportunity of the residents of Collingwood now and in the future,” says Wilma Davies, member of the Accessibility Advisory Committee and Chair from 2002 to 2009.

Wilma and her committee are backed by a Town Council that is willing to take action.

At the recommendation of the committee, the town enacted a policy that will allow the town to register and investigate concerns about barriers in the community. The committee assists staff in developing solutions to concerns and, once barriers are removed, achievements are celebrated.

As well, the town created an accessible municipal information phone line. Through this service, citizens — including those with varying vision and literacy abilities — can call and listen to ads placed in the local paper.

As Collingwood is quickly discovering, accessibility is a win/win situation.

“Give us an opportunity,” says Wilma, who has a vision disability, “and we can contribute and be a worthwhile part of society.”

Bridging tradition with progress

So, what’s next for accessibility in Collingwood? The town is currently undergoing plans to revitalize its downtown core with a multi-million dollar infrastructure investment from every level of government.

Because heritage buildings pose obstacles in many Collingwood businesses, Mayor Carrier is making sure that accessibility is incorporated into this landmark investment.

This funding provides an opportunity for the town to improve accessibility and help businesses remove barriers, Mayor Carrier says.

And with the number of people with disabilities on the rise, Mayor Carrier motivates businesses by asking “what is the price tag of not having an open society that is barrier-free?”

For Collingwood, the business and social benefits are simply too lucrative to ignore.

“In today’s society, we need to be inclusive and open. We’re a better society and a stronger community for it,” says Mayor Carrier.