Altona is celebrating a major step toward inclusivity with the grand opening of a fully accessible washroom at Altona Park. Spearheaded by the town’s Accessibility Committee and backed by Town Council and the Richard Neufeld Legacy Fund through the Altona Community Foundation, the project marks a milestone in the community’s ongoing efforts to remove physical and social barriers for all residents.
“A great achievement”
“This is a great achievement,” said Perry Batchelor, Chair of the Accessibility Committee. “People might not think of that when they think about washrooms, but we take a lot of things for granted — that if we go somewhere, we have access to the facilities we need.”
The new facility is a barrier-free, gender-neutral washroom with full wheelchair accessibility. It includes a roll-in shower with a chair (with plans to replace it with a shower bench), accessible toilets and sinks, and a design that ensures ease of use for all park visitors.
How community input drove the project
Batchelor explained that the idea emerged from two “Walk and Roll” events — experiences that allowed participants without mobility challenges to briefly walk in the shoes of those with them.
“We did one downtown before I was on council and another one here in the park after I became Chair,” he shared. “We identified areas that needed improvement — trip hazards, lack of signage, and other mobility barriers. There’s a list of priorities, and this washroom topped the list.”
Thanks to funding from the Altona Community Foundation and the support of Town Council, the project was able to move forward. “Fortunately, they saw it as a priority, and here we are today being able to open up a truly accessible washroom,” said Batchelor.
Built for true accessibility
“What we have now is truly accessible,” Batchelor emphasized. “You can roll right in with a wheelchair. There’s a shower you can roll into as well, with a chair. This is exactly what we were after.”
He added that while the shower currently features a chair, the plan is to upgrade it to a bench once one is sourced.
The facility is also non-gendered, designed to meet a broad range of accessibility needs. For Batchelor and the committee, the goal has always been inclusivity. “Equal access is about making sure that all people feel welcome, included, and have the facilities they need.”
Next steps: signage and communication
With the washroom project complete, the Accessibility Committee is turning its focus to other critical areas — particularly signage and how information is communicated throughout the town.
“We do know that we need to improve some of our signage,” Batchelor noted. “Sarah [Cail] is working on that now. She’s been great at combing through the legislation and keeping us on track.”
This aligns with Altona’s 2024–2025 accessibility plan, which focuses on implementing the Information and Communication Standard under the Accessibility for Manitobans Act. Improvements will include clearer signage, enhanced website information, and more accessible communication practices for all residents and visitors.
A Step Toward an Inclusive Future
While the new washroom isn’t currently required under provincial legislation, the committee and community identified it as a top priority — and took action.
“It’s not actually part of the current standards,” Batchelor explained, “but it was something that was identified as a key priority to improve access to the park as a whole.”
For Batchelor, the bigger picture is clear: “Everyone deserves to feel welcome, included, and have equal access to town spaces. This is one step — and we’re just getting started.”