News release

The Community ACCESS-ability Program in Guysborough County

Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations (Oct. 2000 - March 2014)

SERVICE N.S./MUNICIPAL RELATIONS--The Community ACCESS-ability Program in Guysborough County


The following is a feature story from Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations on grants provided through the Community ACCESS-ability program to community groups in Guysborough County.


Community activities and services in Guysborough County are more accessible to seniors and people with disabilities because of help from Nova Scotia's Community ACCESS-ability program.

Renovations to the Mulgrave Public Library, including a new wheelchair ramp, accessible doorway and washroom, will be completed by late fall. Employees in the library are looking forward to the renovations and the benefit they will provide people in the community.

"Right now, the library itself is not accessible," said David Cumby, acting chief executive officer of the Eastern Counties Regional Library. "People with disabilities can get into the library through another building, but that building isn't open all the time. On evenings and weekends, when the accessible building is closed, staff have to go unlock the door to help them get inside."

Joyce Oliver-Snair is the branch library assistant. She believes that the few services available in small communities must be accessible to everyone.

"The library is a place where people come together," said Ms. Oliver-Snair. "If community buildings are not accessible, people can't even think about using free services, like the Internet access we have here at the library."

Community ACCESS-ability was implemented to improve access to community facilities for seniors and people with disabilities. The program provides financial assistance to non-profit groups and municipalities for renovations, installations, or equipment to ensure that buildings are accessible to all Nova Scotians.

The Isaac's Harbour Baptist Church Hall received a grant to install a ramp at the entrance of the hall, renovations that have been completed.

"The ramp is really great and it's going to make a big difference," said Audrey Cook, clerk and treasurer of the Isaac's Harbour church and hall. "This was a thriving community at one time. There are lots of elderly people here now, and this is the only facility in town for community events."

The hall is used for many functions, including wedding and anniversary receptions, polling stations for elections, gospel concerts, community flea markets, dinners, bake sales and family reunions.

"There is one family who uses the hall for yearly get togethers," said Ms. Cook. "Before the ramp was installed, family members in wheelchairs stayed home because they couldn't get into the building. Now they'll be able to get in."

Under the program, the provincial government gives grants of up to two-thirds of the cost of renovations, installations and equipment. Local organizations are responsible for raising the remainder of the cost. The maximum grant available for individual projects is $10,000.

"We want to help seniors and people with disabilities enjoy equal access to places that are the heart and soul of their communities," said Angus MacIsaac, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. "These are places where local people plan, participate and celebrate as a community."

The program has been operating since May 2000. This is the third year of the four-year $1.2-million program, and all funding for this fiscal year has been committed. To date, the program has supported 139 projects, worth about $900,000, of which a third was distributed in 2002.

Information and applications are available from Access Nova Scotia centres, the Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations Web site at www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/ or by calling the toll-free number 1-800-670-4357.


NOTE: The following is a list of projects approved under the Community ACCESS-ability program for Guysborough and Antigonish counties since the program began in 2000.

Antigonish County

  • Monastery Community Ball Field, Monastery: $3,253
  • Tracadie United Baptist Church Community Centre, Monastery: $3,294

Guysborough County

  • Bickerton Community Centre, Bickerton West: $1,800
  • District of St. Mary's Lions Club, Sherbrooke: $2,062
  • Isaac's Harbour Baptist Church Hall, Guysborough: $2,359
  • Mulgrave Public Library, Mulgrave: $9,873
  • Mulgrave Volunteer Fire Hall, Mulgrave: $10,000
  • St. Luke's Parish Hall, Liscomb: $1,996