The City of Swift Current and the City of Moose Jaw are combining resources on accessibility.
Together, the two municipalities are working to build a strategic community accessibility plan and to support the targeted sector support initiative joint grant application.
Nicole Spenst, general manager of community services for the City of Swift Current, explained that this undertaking is a result of the provincial government introducing The Accessible Saskatchewan Act.
"Which came into force on Dec. 3, 2023," said Spenst. "The act requires Saskatchewan Cities with populations over 10,000 to publicly post an accessibility plan by Dec. 3, 2025."
In order to complete the plan by the deadline, Swift Current and Moose Jaw will be taking steps in a jointly funded effort to construct a joint-use plan for both communities.
"By leveraging the expertise of a shared consultant and jointly applying for funding, the cities aim to maximize resources and ensure consistent, high-quality outcomes," said Spenst.
Together, they will follow these six steps.
- Hire a specialized consultant with expertise in accessibility planning to guide the project.
- Host public consultations and surveys to gather input from residents, particularly those with disabilities.
- Conduct comprehensive assessments of public buildings, parks, transportation systems, and digital platforms.
- Draft strategic plans outlining specific actions, timelines, and responsibilities for improving accessibility.
- Execute prioritized actions, such as retrofitting buildings and improving digital accessibility.
- Regularly review progress and make necessary adjustments to ensure the plans' success.
To achieve these goals, both municipalities are applying for the Targeted Sector Support grant initiative.
"This initiative uses a portion of the Municipal Revenue Sharing to support projects that strengthen municipalities' core operational capabilities through increased regional cooperation," said Spenst.