Morris, Lac du Bonnet receive provincial accessibility funding

The Town of Morris and the RM of Lac du Bonnet have each received funding that will address accessibility issues.

The province has invested more than $800,000 in 37 organizations across the province to remove barriers and improve accessibility.

“Our government is committed to making Manitoba more accessibly for everyone and I’m proud of the many groups across the province who have stepped up to join us in this work,” said Families Minster Nahanni Fontaine, who is responsible for accessibility.

“The Manitoba Accessibility Fund helps make sure a wide variety of organizations can take on a wide variety of projects to remove barriers and enhance access for the people they serve.”

Funded projects must fulfill one of three objectives: raise awareness about the prevention and removal of barriers; develop tools, resources and training to support compliance with legislated standards; or to remove barriers to information and communication electronically, in print, and in person.

The Town of Morris received $49,749 to update its website and make it more accessible for all residents including those with disabilities.

“Residents, including those with disabilities, will experience a more user-friendly and accessible interface for accessing Town of Morris Information and services,” said CAO Brigitte Doerksen.

Doerksen said the town has always focused on improving accessibility in physical spaces and services so now those efforts have been extended to the digital realm.

Doerksen estimates it will take about seven months for the new website to be up and running.

Also receiving funding was the RM of Lac du Bonnet. The municipality received $24,648 to hire a consultant to audit the accessibility of the RM’s administration building, public trails and parks, its six boat launches, 10 public washrooms, the public works office, and its transfer station which has more than 30,000 visitors a year.

“Accessibility is more and more in the forefront of people and we do have a accessibility plan and we just thought we would go to the next step. We had a funding opportunity that we applied for and we were granted money and that money is being used for the consultant. We’re looking forward to any recommendations that they might make,” said CAO Sandra Broek.

Broek said the assessment will take place early in the new year and then it will go to council for approval based on what the needs are and financial considerations.

“It probably will be done in phases,” she said.

Also receiving funding was the RM of Ste Anne, Blackstack Plumbing in Steinbach, and Menno Home for the Aged Inc. in Grunthal.

This is the third year that the province has funded accessibility projects through the fund. Since it’s inception, almost $2.5 million has been awarded.