Talking about Kamloops accessibility

KAMLOOPS — About 70 people packed Hotel540 to discuss community accessibility as part of a province-wide consultation process.

Six main themes have been common in every meeting but details vary a bit with climate and socioeconomics, says Morningstar Pinto, a spokesperson with the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation.

Pinto says people were engaged in Kamloops and offered a lot of ideas and comments on how to increase accessibility and decrease barriers. Several accessibility items are on the supplemental budget currently in front of council, including a handicap lift at Brock Arena, a family washroom at Riverside Park and converting arena space to allow for sledge hockey.

The main six themes that have been emerging in every community are innovation, housing and accessibility, work and contribution, social networks, asset accumulation and personal supports.

Aimed at people with disabilities, their families and communities, the consultation team was in Vernon last night and is heading to Kelowna. More than 20 will be held before the process is complete in March.

Those unable to attend can join more than 17,000 other people in taking part through the online consultation site. A document will be created from the consultations and will be used as the foundation of a summit on the topic in June.

To contact a reporter for this story, email jstahn@infotelnews.ca, call (250)819-3723 or tweet @JennStahn.