Essex County Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes

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Online Attendance Only
Committee Members:
  • Debbie Alexander
  • Christine Easterbrook, Chair
  • Brad Frenette
  • Diana Kirkbride
  • Gord Queen, Vice Chair
Absent:
  • Rachel Jewell
  • Stephanie Olewski
Administration:
  • Katherine Hebert, Deputy Clerk
  • Crystal Sylvestre, Administrative Assistant, Legislative and Community Services

1.
Call to Order
 

The Chair called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM.

2.
Land Acknowledgement Statement
 

We begin by acknowledging that the land on which we gather is the traditional territory of the Three Fires Confederacy of First Nations, comprised of the Ojibway, Odawa and Potawatomie Peoples.


To recognize the land is an expression of gratitude to those whose territory you reside on, and a way of honouring the Indigenous people who have been living and working on the land from time immemorial.


We value the significant historical and contemporary contributions of local and regional First Nations and all the Original Peoples of Turtle Island.

3.
Recording of Attendance
 

The Chair and committee members attended the meeting remotely from various locations via an electronic meeting platform.

Rachel Jewell and Stephanie Olewski sent regrets.

4.
Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest
 

There were no conflicts of pecuniary interest declared.

5.
Adoption of the Minutes
This item has attachments. 

1.2022-04-14 ECAAC Meeting Minutes_UA.pdf

April 14, 2022 Essex County Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting minutes.

  • Moved ByGord Queen
    Seconded ByDebbie Alexander

    That the minutes of the April 14, 2022 meeting of the Essex County Accessibility Advisory Committee be adopted as presented.

    Carried

6.
Delegations and Presentations
 

6.1
Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA)
This item has attachments. 

1.ERCA Accessibility Multi-Year Plan-2021-2025FINAL_UA.pdf

Danielle Breault Stuebing, Director of Communications & Outreach Services, to bring information forward regarding the Essex Region Conservation Authority Multi-Year Accessibility Plan.

Danielle Steubing provided the committee with an update of the ERCA Multi-year Accessibility Plan for the years 2021-2025 outlining the goals that ERCA has identified and the progress made towards them. She explained there is a strategic plan in place for training, facility amenities, documents and website content to prevent and remove barriers to access and information.

Ms. Steubing expressed appreciation on behalf of ERCA for the partnership and collaboration in the WE Check the Trails project and expressed ERCA's ongoing commitment to the initiative with the ECAAC.

Discussion included the placement of benches along the ERCA trail system sponsored by the ECAAC in 2021 and other areas the committee has identified for improvement.

ERCA invited the ECAAC to attend the John R. Park Homestead on September 9,2022 to review the accessibility improvements made to this facility.

7.
Communications
 

  • Moved ByGord Queen
    Seconded ByDebbie Alexander

    That the items listed as Communications for May 12, 2022 be received, and any noted action taken. 

    Carried

7.1
AODA Alliance
 

What's New in Our Campaign - Latest News and Updates Online

7.2
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
 

7.3
Community Living Essex County
 

May is Community Living month - Shine a light on Community Living campaign

7.4
Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB)
 

CNIB News Update - Online

7.5
Easter Seals Canada
 

June 1, 2022 is Red Shirt Day - Wear red to support Easter Seals

7.6
CityNews - Everywhere
 

7.7
St. Catharine's Standard
 

7.8
Global News
 

7.9
CISION
 

7.10
Abilities Expo
 

About the Abilities Expo Toronto - We are back in-person in 2022

7.11
Disability Scoop
 

7.12
Ontario Premier's Office
 

8.
Unfinished Business
 

8.1
Delegation at County Council
 

The Committee discussed the order of the delegation provided to Essex County Council on May 18, 2022.

It was determined that the presenters for each section would be:

  • Introduction - Vice Chair, Gord Queen
  • National AccessAbility Week review, introduction of Accessibility Flag and WE Check The Trails initiative update - Chair, Christine Easterbrook
  • Navilens wayfinding application and promotional Video  - Brad Frenette
  • Recognition for Town of Essex for being the first Essex County Municipality to implement Navilens in their public spaces - Vice Chair, Gord Queen
  • No Barriers, No Problem Speakers Forum overview - Rachel Jewell
  • Multi-Year Accessibility Plan 2022 - 2025 update - Rachel Jewell
  • Thank you to County Council  - Chair, Christine Easterbrook

8.2
Multi-Year Accessibility Plan
 

The Multi-Year Accessibility Plan Feedback Survey was launched on the County's publics website and distributed to Essex County Departments along with internal and external stakeholders. 

Committee members were asked to share the link to the survey to their networks of people.

8.3
Social Media
 

Facebook updates have been posted regarding voting in the Provincial Election. Information will begin sharing regarding WE Check the Trails and Speaker Forum as soon as the details are confirmed.

8.4
Accessibility Flag Raising
 

Discussion regarding attendance at the May 30, 2022 flag raising event at the Essex County Civic Centre. The event will be held at 10am.

The Committee discussed which members will be available to attend the flag raising event in person. Gord, Brad, Debbie and Rachel planned to attend. 

Other Essex County municipalities are planning events as well.

Flag designer, Kristine Verbeek has been invited to join both the County and the Kingsville events.  She is a resident of Kingsville.

Coffee and refreshments will be offered to guests.

8.5
ECAAC Speakers Forum
 

Discussion regarding the name of the event and order of business. The ECAAC members were asked to come up with ideas for naming the event.

The Speakers Forum was planned for June 27, 2022 at 2:00 PM via Zoom.  The ECAAC debated the name of the event and decided on "No Barriers, No Problem".

The committee agreed to use the new Accessibility Flag as the logo in the advertising program and discuss it at the intermission.

The assignment of roles for each section of the forum were discussed and it was agreed the program would be as follows:

  • Welcome and Greetings from the ECAAC – Chair, Christine Easterbrook
  • Greetings from County Council - Essex County Warden, Gary McNamara
  • Introduction to Julie Sawchuk - Gord Queen, Vice Chair
  • Julie Sawchuk Presentation
  • Q and A will be administered by Katherine Hebert
  • Intermission Activities:
    • Accessibility Flag presentation
    • Raffle for speaker’s books using the online raffle platform, Wheel of Names
    • Stretching videos
    • Break time
  • Introduction to Michael Jacques - Debbie Alexander
  • Michael Jacques Presentation
  • Q and A will be administered by Katherine Hebert
  • Second raffle for speaker’s books using the online raffle platform, Wheel of Names
  • Closing Remarks - Brad Frenette

Each speaker is expected to speak for 45 minutes and then allow 15 minutes for questions. 

Remarks will be prepared and provided to Gord and Debbie to introduce speakers.

Katherine and Crystal will get things set up on Zoom and Wheel of Names.

9.
Reports from Administration
 

9.1
ECAAC Activities for 2022
This item has attachments. 

1.2022_ECAAC Activities_Rev20220512_UA.pdf

Timeline and Planning Document - Workplan Update 2022-05-12

Katherine Hebert provided the Committee with the update. 

In June 2022, Launch WE Check the Trails Phase 2: Communications will be preparing a communication plan that will follow the May 18, 2022 County Council Delegation.

Joint Chairs Meeting has been difficult to schedule with all of the AAC's and therefore will be foregone for this term.

Summer 2022: MYAP and Policy Review

ECAAC will continue to meet via Zoom until September 2022.

Discussion included reschedule the September 2022 meeting to September 9, 2022 to coincide with the John R Park Homestead tour where the meeting would be held in person.

  • Moved ByGord Queen
    Seconded ByDebbie Alexander

    Reschedule the September 2022 ECAAC meeting to September 9, 2022.  The meeting will be held in-person at the John R Park Homestead after the tour.

    Carried

10.
New Business
 

There was no New Business brought forward at the May 18, 2022 meeting.

11.
Next Meeting Date
 

Next meeting of the ECAAC is scheduled for June 9, 2022 at 5:00PM via Zoom.

12.
Adjournment
 

  • Moved ByBrad Frenette
    Seconded ByDiana Kirkbride

    That the May 12, 2022 meeting of the Essex County Accessibility Advisory Committee be adjourned at 5:52 PM.

    Carried
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