Essex Accessibility Advisory Committee accomplishes more than its set goals in 2025

by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative

The Essex Accessibility Advisory Committee (EAAC) was able to cross-off a few important tasks off its to-do list in 2025, and accomplish more than identified in the Town’s Accessibility Plan, Essex Council heard at the March 16 meeting.

  It is outlined in the Town of Essex’s Accessibility Plan for 2024 to 2029 that the EAAC’s staff liaison will annually provide Council with an update on the status of accessibility initiatives identified in the multi-year plan.

  This is a Committee of Council that reviews Essex facilities to ensure they are accessible for everyone by bringing a broad view-point for individuals with a variety of accessibility issues, Rodney Klie, Manager of Parks and Facilities, explained.

  “We are doing walkthroughs of facilities regularly to make sure we are still meeting our accessible standards,” he added. 

  He outlined some of the EAAC’s accomplishments for Council, which included addressing barriers to employment with the Town of Essex for people with disabilities and addressing accommodation requirements of existing employees with disabilities.

  Last June, Essex Council approved up to $1320 from the Wage Stabilization Reserve to hire two summer students from Community Living Essex County’s (CLEC) Youth in Action Program, doubling the Town staff recommendation of hiring one individual. This was to accommodate four-hours a week over an eight-week period.

  Klie said the program has been pretty successful. It was carried on into the winter as a trial to see how well it would work with the current team.

  Klie noted the Town expanded its hiring practices to include a partnership with Community Living and successfully hired three staff members in various positions. Council has approved the continuation and further development of this inclusive hiring initiative into 2026.

  “It has worked very well,” he said, adding it is a good partnership to have with Community Living.

  Members of the EAAC also worked to ensure the battery for the chairlift at the Essex Recreation Complex is repaired, or that an alternate solution was completed by the end of 2024. Klie explained a grant was successfully applied for, and new chairlifts were installed for each swimming pool in 2025.

  Another accomplishment was when members of the committee attended the County of Essex Accessibility Advisory Committee’s Accessibility Fest for All event that was hosted in Amherstburg in 2025. This fulfilled its goal of attending an information sharing forum hosted by the County of Essex Accessibility Advisory Committee.

In addition to the goals outlined in the Accessibility Plan, members of the EAAC reviewed the proposed plans for the new playground at Co-An Park, installed last summer, which replaced the former infrastructure.

  Klie noted the new playground has many features to ensure a higher-aspect of accessibility, and increased accessible play options.

  The Committee also requested that the Town add an accessible access route at the Colchester Beach, from the road edge to the Mobi-Mat, which was installed in 2025. The Town also replaced 1,225 linear metres of sidewalk, increasing the width of each sidewalk to meet current code requirements and installing 19 tactile plates, the report adds.

  Other projects include partnering with the County of Essex, and through the County Wide Active Transportation System (CWATS), the Town of Essex was able to complete the paved shoulder bike lanes along County Road 50, from County Road 41 to Dunn Road, last year. The Town also installed a Level B Lighted Pedestrian Crossover across Talbot Street North, near Essex District High School. The Committee brought this initiative forward.

  Committee members also took part in a number of reviews for proposals, designs, site plans, and zoning requests, offering advice to ensure accessibility.

  Mayor Sherry Bondy asked when the crosswalk will be installed at King Street and Erie Street intersection in Harrow. Manager of Capital Works and Asset Management, David McBeth, explained a call for tender was issued earlier this year. It was awarded, with the winning bidder expected to start the project in around April. He suspected it should be completed in around a month after it is started.