The City of Williams Lake believes that public awareness about physical and attitudinal barriers will help improve the quality of life for all disabled persons, giving them the opportunity to participate in all aspects of community life.
The mission of the City of Williams Lake Accessibility Advisory Committee is to remove physical and social barriers that impede the full participation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of community life.
The Williams Lake Accessibility Advisory Committee would like to invite your nominations of groups, individuals or businesses that have made a significant contribution to improve accessibility within the City of Williams Lake.
Award Nomination Guidelines:
– The nominee has demonstrated a commitment to increase accessibility above and beyond what is required by law or regulation.
– The nominee has improved accessibility for persons with one or more of the following types of disability: mobility, agility, hearing, seeing, speaking, social and mental.
– The business or group being nominated must be located within the boundaries of the City of Williams Lake and provide a service for the people of William Lake and others.
– Businesses or groups may be nominated by any citizen or group who should provide strong evidence in support of their nominee’s commitments and contribution to improving accessibility.
– Any citizen or group wishing to re-submit or re-nominate an individual, group or business who was, or was not, selected for an Award in a previous year may do so by completing a new nomination form and providing up-to-date information in support of that nomination.
Access Awareness Award Criteria:
An award will be considered for achievements in the following areas:
1. Employing people with disabilities whenever possible.
2. Providing adequate Handicapped Parking spaces close to the main entrance to business.
3. Providing automatic door openers on heavy entrance doors and washrooms. Provide good lighting at any steps or entrance ways. Paint yellow or white strips marking the edge of any steps or lips in the flooring.
4. Provide appropriate ramps for wheelchair and stroller users for any indoor or outdoor areas. Wheelchair accessible doors must be a minimum of 36 inches wide.
5. Provide a wheelchair accessible washroom with easily opened doors.
6. Provide Braille lettering at any signs for customers to read.
7. Provide sufficient handrails beside steps in the interior and exterior of building.
8. Provide wheelchair height counters at checkouts and reception desks. Provide extra width between aisles and at the ends of aisles to allow for easier turning.
9. Provide a rest area with two armchairs or a bench with arms at each end.
10. Provide snow and ice clearing in front of business.
Nomination forms can be found online at www.williamslake.ca or https://www.williamslake.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1552/Accessibility-Award-Nomination-Form-2019, or the attached nomination form can be completed and forwarded to the Selection Committee by:
• E-Mail: cbouchard@williamslake.ca
• Fax: 250-392-4408
• Mail: Williams Lake Accessibility Advisory Committee
c/o City of Williams Lake
Attn: Cindy Bouchard, Corporate Officer
450 Mart Street
Williams Lake, BC
V2G 1N3
Application Deadline: September 10th, 2019
