Cumberland, Colchester Share in ACCESS-ability Funding

SERVICE N.S./MUNICIPAL RELATIONS--Cumberland, Colchester Share in ACCESS-ability Funding

Seven community groups in Colchester and Cumberland counties will receive a total of more than $40,000 to help make their facilities more accessible to persons with disabilities. The projects include installing wider doorways, wheelchair accessible washrooms and building ramps.

The Colchester and Cumberland projects are among 41 projects worth a total of $260,000 announced today, May 23, by the Nova Scotia government under the Community ACCESS-ability program.
The program helps community groups make public buildings and other facilities more accessible for Nova Scotians with disabilities.

This brings the number of approved projects to 181 and the total investment to about $1.1 million since the program was announced in May 2000.

"These projects are vital to enable Nova Scotians with disabilities to fully participate in their communities," said Peter Christie, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. "The community organizations we are supporting are helping to make Nova Scotia a more inclusive province and we are proud to work with them."

The Truro Centennial Pool will receive almost $3,300 to buy a ladder that will assist seniors and persons with disabilities to use the pool.

"This ladder will make our pool better able to serve more of our community," said Laura Spicer, director of aquatics. "Seniors and persons with disabilities often can't make full use of recreation facilities. This project will help bring more of them to their community pool."

Community ACCESS-ability helps municipalities and non-profit organizations to make public buildings and facilities accessible to all Nova Scotians. Wheelchair ramps and lifts, accessible washrooms and automatic doors are the types of projects supported by Community ACCESS-ability in community halls, recreational facilities, municipal offices and other locations across the province.

Under the program, the province contributes $2 for every dollar raised by the project sponsor. Donations of labour and materials can be included in the sponsor's share, making it easier for municipalities and community organizations to raise their portion of the project costs.

The projects approved in Colchester and Cumberland counties are:

• Earltown Community Centre, Earltown: $1,265 (ramp)
• Sharon United Church Hall, Tatamagouche: $10,000 (lift)
• Truro Centennial Pool, Truro: $3,287 (step-in ladder)
• First Baptist Church Hall, Truro: $10,000 (lift)
• Cumberland YMCA, Amherst: $2,917 (automatic doors)
• Brookside Curling Club, River Hebert: $3,170 (ramp)
• Springhill Library, Springhill: $10,000 (ramp, doorway, automatic doors)

NOTE: Questions about specific projects should be directed to the appropriate organization.