The Accessibility Committee was established in 2024 in Accordance with the Accessible Canada Act and to support the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District and the City of Port Alberni in developing an Accessibility Plan and to outline actions and strategies to identify, remove, and prevent barriers faced by people with disabilities. It is a standing ACRD Committee that will work cooperatively to advance accessibility options throughout the region. The committee is made up of nine voting members who have lived experience of disabilities, individuals who identify as Indigenous, one Council member for the City of Port Alberni, and one ACRD director appointed by the Board. The committee members will serve for a three-year term.

This Accessibility Plan outlines how the City of Port Alberni will improve its efforts to remove barriers and increase awareness of disability and accessibility within the City. This Plan contains 42 recommendations covering improvements to accessibility in the following areas at the City: emergency services, information and communications, employment, buildings, infrastructure, and public spaces, transportation, public education and awareness, and procurement. The accessibility plan is intended to be a living document which will evolve over time.

Definitions

• Impairment means a physical, sensory, mental, intellectual or cognitive impairment, whether permanent, temporary or episodic.
• Barrier means anything that hinders the full and equal participation in society of a person with an impairment.
• Disability means an inability to participate fully and equally in society as a result of the interaction of an impairment and a barrier.

If you would like more information, please contact:

Heather Zenner

Manager of Administrative Services
Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District
3008 Fifth Ave,
Port Alberni, BC V9Y 2E3
250-720-2700
hzenner@acrd.bc.ca

Danielle Leurebourg

Director of Corporate Services
City of Port Alberni
3008 Fifth Ave,
Port Alberni, BC V9Y 1V8
250-723-2146
Corp_serv@portalberni.ca