City of Lacombe staff recently participated in Chair Aware, an awareness event that gives able-bodied people the chance to experience the everyday challenges of using a wheelchair.
The event, organized by Team Jigger and founder Jason “Jigger” Lunn, invites participants to perform common tasks while using a wheelchair. The goal is to increase understanding of the limitations faced by people with mobility issues and to inspire long-term consideration of accessibility and inclusion.
On July 8, Lacombe Councilor Don Gullekson and Cora Hoekstra spent about four hours navigating downtown Lacombe in wheelchairs. They tested the accessibility of various buildings and quickly discovered how features typically seen as normal or practical can be obstacles.
“Sidewalks, especially downtown, are slanted, which seems good for drainage but isn't good for a wheelchair,” said Gullekson. “You seem to be drawn toward the curb all the time.”
He described the experience as eye-opening and said it gave him a greater appreciation for the daily challenges faced by people with limited mobility.
“I’ve always been a supporter of accessible playgrounds,” he added. “I feel that there should be at least one or two features at every playground that are accessible.”
Lacombe City Council has been in conversations with Lunn about increasing playground and infrastructure accessibility. Even after returning from the downtown experience, the two councilors identified an accessibility issue at City Hall — one that is now being addressed.
Gullekson encourages others to try the Chair Aware experience.
“It’s important for people to try — even just for a few minutes — to understand what it’s like to be in a wheelchair and realize some people are in that for life.”
More information about the program is available on the Team Jigger website.
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