Making accessibility a reality

Eight business, organizations and individuals were recognized Sunday at the City of Belleville’s first annual Accessibility Excellence Awards ceremony.

The event, hosted by Habitat for Humanity’s Restore, was focused on putting the spotlight on those that went above and beyond in making their spaces barrier-free and fully accessible and to those providing services to the disabled in the community.

The Not-for-Profit Award Winner was Habitat for Humanity. Bayview Mall received the Commercial Award while Lisa Chesher, the driving force behind the Field of Dreams, was the Individual Award Winner.

Representing Habitat for Humanity, winner of the Not-for-Profit Award was Cynthia Windsor. She is photographed with Accessibility Advisory Committee member Jeremy Davis. (Photo: Quinte News)

The Individual Award winner was Lisa Chesher of Field of Dreams. She is flanked by Councillor Barb Enright-Miller and Mayor Neil Ellis.
A representative from Commercial Award Winner Bayview Mall was unable to attend. (Photo: Quinte News)

Honorable mentions went to Hastings Resource Centre, Loyalist Veterinary Hospital, Peter Matwyuk, Belleville Public Library, and Trenval Business Development Corporation.

Chair of the Belleville Accessibility Advisory Committee Councillor Barb Enright-Miller said it was fitting that the Accessibility Excellence Awards were being held on December 3, the International Persons with Disabilities Day.

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“Our hope in honouring those who are currently leaders in their workspace or roles in accessibility. We hope it will encourage all others in our community to look at their spaces through a lens of accessibility and inclusion.”

“Our committee and these awards help show people the little actions we can take in our everyday lives to create an inclusive environment,” said Enright-Miller.

Mayor Neil Ellis said it was an “incredibly important occasion” to get the annual awards started and to bring awareness to all businesses and
organizations that they should be working to make every resident welcome out of respect for their dignity, rights, and well-being.

Ellis said making the community fully accessible wouldn’t be quick or easy but it is crucial that all residents be able to enjoy life to the fullest, adding it would take everyone, including the three levels of government, to reach the goal.

In an eloquent and impassioned speech, committee member Jeremy Davis, who himself uses a wheelchair, said, “We all have a dream wanting to contribute and to be what we want to be. It’s so important to recognize those going above and beyond to build a better Belleville for all of us!”

Members of the Belleville Accessibility Advisory Committee are Chair Councillor Barb Enright-Miller, Councillor Sean Kelly and public members Mike Benson, Jeremy Davis, Lorna Prevost, Janet Richards, Rick Williams, Karen Kitchen, and Janna Munkittrick-Colton.

Staff members are Lori Hayward and Nicole Yantzi. The committee’s intern from Loyalist College’s Social Services Program is Lucas J. Cuddy.

left to right: Rick Williams (Committee Member), Councillor Barbara Enright-Miller (Committee Chair), Lisa Chesher, Peter Matwyuk, Amber Darling (Trenval), Cynthia Windsor (Habitat for Humanity), Trevor Pross (Belleville Public Library)
Missing from the photo: Representatives from the Bayview Mall, Hastings Resource Centre and Loyalist Veterinary Hospital. (Photo: City of Belleville)