AccessAbility Week sparks community reflection, continued push for inclusion in Brockville

National AccessAbility Week is currently unfolding across the country, sparking widespread celebrations for the progress made toward creating more inclusive communities for all; however, while great strides have been made, there is still work to be done. 

National AccessAbility Week runs from May 25 to May 31. The theme for National AccessAbility Week this year is “Breaking barriers together: Paving the way for an inclusive future.”

At the regular meeting on Tuesday, May 27, Brockville City Council proclaimed the week as National AccessAbility Week in the City of Brockville, agreeing to have an Accessibility flag be flown at Tunnel Bay from May 26 to June 2.

“The city’s core values around accessibility, independence, dignity, integration, and equality of opportunity, underpin our decision making. Council and staff want to ensure all of our citizens can enjoy a good quality of life without barriers,” said Mayor Matt Wren in an email to Brockvilleist. “Such was the approach during this term of council when we re-established our ParaTransit service, which is now city operated and includes dedicated staff to assist with bookings.  It makes it easier for users to access the service which affordably transports thousands of riders each year.” 

Next month, the Brockville and District Association for Community Involvement (BDACI) will once again honour people and organizations in the community who have made tremendous contributions towards the ultimate goal of a barrier-free community. This will take place at their annual general meeting on June 18, 2025. 

This meeting will feature a special presentation from Al Condeluci, a public speaker and advocate in the arenas of social capital and community inclusion. 

Another community leader in the world of inclusion and accessibility in the region, the BDACI is a non-profit, charitable organization founded by families of children and adults with intellectual disabilities to support and advocate for more inclusive communities. 

For Andrea Cameron, Board Director with the BDACI, the message of striving for more inclusion hits very close to home and she’s ready to keep up the fight.

“We need our spaces to be accessible, but we also need an accessible mindset,” Cameron said in an interview with Brockvilleist. “When we plan things, when we build things, we need to think about everyone using it.”

Cameron, whose son has a disability, says the push for accessibility must go beyond ramps and automatic doors. It must include intentional planning that welcomes people with disabilities into schools, service clubs, and general community life.

“People with disabilities have so much to contribute,” she said. “I think there’s a tendency that we always think, ‘oh, someone’s better served somewhere separate’ and it’s a missed opportunity if things are not accessible, right? So if places are not welcoming, accommodating, willing to be patient, to allow someone to participate, who maybe needs support, to express themselves, to allow for that..”

Cameron acknowledges that Brockville, like many historic cities, faces physical and logistical challenges in its accessibility journey. From aging buildings to winter sidewalk clearing, Cameron said progress can feel uneven at times.

“We are a historic city, and some of that heritage presents barriers,” she explained. “But it’s not just about infrastructure—some mindsets need to change too.”

Despite the challenges, Cameron is in support of  community events and conversations like those sparked during AccessAbility Week and hopes to see the momentum continue.

“When people are excluded, it increases their vulnerability,” Cameron said. “But when we know a variety of people and are well known in our communities, it makes us safer. That’s what real inclusion looks like. Accessibility is about asking ourselves what we’re doing to include everyone—not just in theory, but in daily life.”

Brockville City Council will also host their annual Accessibility Excellence Awards in council chambers on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. ​​These awards recognize individuals, businesses, and organizations in Brockville that demonstrate a commitment to improving accessibility.