Whereas under the Accessible Canada Act 2019, c. 10 (Section 133), throughout Canada each year, the week starting on the last Sunday in May is known as National AccessAbility Week. It is an opportunity to promote accessibility and inclusion across communities and workplaces, to celebrate the contributions of Canadians with disabilities, and to be inspired to break down barriers further; and

Whereas National AccessAbility Week was first established following Paralympian Rick Hanson’s Man in Motion World Tour in 1987; and

Whereas individuals with disabilities are impacted daily by barriers to accessible information, independent access to facilities, employment, transportation, and accessible communication supports. Such barriers often affect an individual’s ability to participate in community life fully. National AccessAbility Week is an opportunity to celebrate accessibility and increase our efforts to achieve our goal of becoming an accessible community by eliminating barriers in Town of Innisfil facilities, programs, and services; and

Whereas the Town of Innisfil Council and citizens of Innisfil are committed to working to make Innisfil an inclusive community in which all persons can independently exercise their civil, political, social, and cultural rights on an equal basis and ensuring that everyone has the right to live in conditions of dignity, respect, and peace; and

Whereas on behalf of the Town of Innisfil we extend our recognition to all persons with disabilities and offer our support and appreciation to the Innisfil Accessibility Advisory Committee in opening the door to opportunities by making our Town an inclusive community.

Therefore, on behalf of the Corporation, I, Mayor Lynn Dollin, proclaim May 26 to June 1, 2024, as National AccessAbility Week and encourage everyone to support equality of access, opportunity, and outcomes for persons with disabilities.