Winners of the 2021 Accessibility Awards announced

The City of Calgary’s Advisory Committee on Accessibility is pleased to announce the three winners of the 2021 Accessibility Awards.

The awards, presented December 20 by Mayor Gondek in Council Chambers, honour individuals and groups whose work has improved the quality of life for persons with disabilities by making Calgary more accessible.

“We have made great strides this past year in building a city for all Calgarians to access and contribute to,” shared Mayor Gondek. “The winners of these three awards have demonstrated innovation and exceptional commitment to creating an inclusive city."

The Advocacy Award recognizes a person or a group of people who have improved the quality of life of people with disabilities. The winner this year is the Calgary Adapted Hub powered by Jumpstart. Calgary Adapted Hub is a unique collective of local organizations passionate about providing quality sport and recreation opportunities for kids and families living with disabilities in Calgary. Not only does the Hub work closely with sport and recreation leaders to develop these critical programs, the program also invests in inclusive leadership and people development. This award recognizes the importance of people with disabilities having opportunities to be active in their communities.

The Access Recognition Universal Design Award acknowledges a recipient for improving access for people with disabilities in Calgary. The award for 2021 is being presented to Accessibility Renovations for Kids (ARK), a local charity dedicated to removing physical barriers in the homes of children with mobility limitations. Often home accessibility renovations are financially out of reach for these families, who may already be experiencing financial hardship related to caring for children with complex needs. Due to volunteer efforts and in-kind donations and discounts, ARK can complete these renovations below market value. The Advisory Committee on Accessibility is proud to present this award to ARK recognizing that kids with disabilities need a home that is safe and accessible.

The Transportation Opportunities Award acknowledges a project that goes above and beyond to create a more inclusive, customer-focused public transportation service. This years’ winner is The Safe and Accessible Pathways project. Bike Calgary partnered with the Alberta Ability Network and The City of Calgary Advisory Committee on Accessibility to identify barriers people with disabilities face feeling safe on shared pathways. The project reached out to a variety of individuals who were interested in sharing their experience. The long-term goal of the initiative is to collect information that will be used to inform Bike Calgary’s future education campaign. This project is a creative and productive collaboration that will have a real impact on the accessibility of Calgary’s pathways.

The City’s annual Accessibility Awards program started in 2006. For more details on the awards and nomination process, visit www.calgary.ca/accessibility.

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