Council Endorses 2020 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan Report

RICHMOND HILL – Richmond Hill Council has approved the 2020 Accessibility Status Report, showcasing the progress made to date on the City’s efforts to create an accessible and inclusive community.  

The City made significant progress on the measures outlined in the 2018-2022 Multi Year Accessibility Plan while responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights include:

• Reimagining the Main Municipal Offices, centralizing services on the ground floor to increase safety and accessibility for residents by removing the need to travel between multiple floors 
• Partnering with the Township of King and All Sports All People to offer various recreation programs for individuals with disabilities and their families
• Delivering over 1,500 library items to homebound customers who, due to disability or illness, could not visit their local Richmond Hill Public Library branch in person
• Conducting a thorough review of Richmond Hill’s website content and initiating an accessibility remediation project, including introducing additional staff training to ensure document accessibility moving forward
• Constructing and reconstructing several outdoor spaces, including David Hamilton Park, Thomas Miller Armstrong Park and the Lake to Lake Cycling Route and Walking Trail, with accessibility as a key consideration throughout the projects

An 11-member citizen Accessibility Advisory Committee guides the City’s accessibility work. The Committee meets regularly throughout the year to review site and construction plans for new and existing municipal facilities, provides comments on policies and procedures, and discusses opportunities to improve accessibility at the City for residents and visitors.  

The full report is available online at RichmondHill.ca/Accessibility. 

Quotes

“I would like to thank our staff for their hard work and dedication to bringing greater accessibility to Richmond Hill. Despite the many challenges we faced in 2020, we did not lose focus on the importance of accessibility and our commitment to making Richmond Hill a place where everyone has the opportunity to participate fully in their community.” - Joe DiPaola, Acting Mayor

“It’s exciting to see this plan coming to fruition year after year! I know our City staff and committee members work hard to help remove barriers for all. I’m proud of what we have achieved so far and how we are building an inclusive community that values every person equally.” - Ward 5 Councillor Karen Cilevitz, Chair – Accessibility Advisory Committee

Media Contact
Patti Enright, Communications Advisor
patti.enright@richmondhill.ca