Town of New Glasgow receives $44,049 towards accessible playground
Today, Sean Fraser, Member of Parliament for Central Nova, on behalf of the Honourable Kirsty Duncan Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, announced that Town of New Glasgow has received $44,049 through the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) towards construction of an accessible playground at the West Side Community Centre.
This project will see the development of all-access play equipment at the West Side Community Centre playground, improving the accessibility and safety for people of all abilities in the Town of New Glasgow. The West Side Community Center is a town-owned building operated by a volunteer board of directors. The town will be working in partnership with the West Side Community Centre and other stakeholders, striving to be a leader in providing this community service to persons with disabilities.
The project, which work is expected to begin in the spring, is estimated to cost $69,917 in total, with $13,868, coming from the West Side Community Centre and $12,000 through cash and in-kind contributions from the Town of New Glasgow.
The EAF supports community-based projects across Canada aimed at making public facilities and workplaces more accessible. In February, Minister Duncan announced the approval of approximately 600 Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) projects for a total of $15.5 million across the country. Through programs such as the EAF, the Government of Canada is taking action to build a more inclusive, accessible and resilient Canada.
Since the creation of the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) in 2007, the Government of Canada has funded over 3,000 projects, helping thousands of Canadians gain access to their communities’ programs, services and workplaces.
“Canada is at its best and all of society benefits when everyone is included, and projects like the ones approved through the Enabling Accessibility Fund do just that. I am glad to see the enthusiasm for this fund growing each year. Thanks to the projects announced today, Canadians with disabilities can fully participate in their communities and their workplaces.”
– The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities
“This is an incredible addition to an existing playground in our community, and I could not be more thrilled to see the Town of New Glasgow and the West Side Community Centre board working together to make this a place for all to enjoy. This is a tremendous development for those living in our community, and those visiting our community as well.”
– Sean Fraser, Member of Parliament for Central Nova
“The Town of New Glasgow welcomes, supports and encourages accessibility and safety for all our residents and visitors. This funding will allow the Town and the West Side Community Centre to provide a safe and inclusive playground for children of all abilities to play together in a shared environment.”
– Nancy Dicks, Mayor, Town of New Glasgow
“The Westside Community Centre is pleased to be supporting this project and working with the Town of New Glasgow in providing an accessible, safe playground with no barriers. This inclusive play space will offer the opportunity for all children to play alongside one another”
– Christy Walker, President of the Board of Directors for the West Side Community Centre
Quick Facts
• The EAF has an annual (grants and contributions) base budget of $13.65 million.
• Budget 2016 provided an additional $4 million over two years, starting in 2016–17, for the EAF’s community stream to support the capital costs of construction and renovation related to improving physical accessibility and safety for Canadians with disabilities. This has increased the EAF grants and contributions budget to $15.65 million in 2016–17 and 2017–18.
• Starting in 2018–19, the EAF grants and contributions budget will grow to $20.65 million, as Budget 2017 provided $77 million ($70 million in grants and contributions and $7 million in operational funding) over 10 years to expand the activities of the EAF and support more small and mid-sized projects, including youth driven proposals, aimed at improving accessibility in Canadian communities and workplaces.
Associated Link
Funding: Enabling Accessibility in Workplaces and Communities