The Villages of Warfield, Montrose and Fruitvale (the Villages) are collaborating to develop a three-year Inter-municipal Accessibility Plan (the Plan) that will guide our local governments to identify, remove and prevent barriers to individuals in or interacting with our organizations. The Plan will be developed with input from the public and an Inter-municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee (the Committee).
The Plan and the Committee are required as per Part 3 of the Accessible British Columbia Act (ABCA) and the Accessible British Columbia Regulation 105/22 (BC Reg 105/22). The final Plan will be made available to the public sometime in January 2024.
The Villages of Warfield, Montrose and Fruitvale Inter-municipal Accessibility Plan
An accessibility plan should outline how the Villages will identify, remove and prevent barriers to people in or interacting with them. The Plan must be reviewed and updated at least once every three years.
In developing and updating the Plan, the Villages must consult with the Committee and consider the following legislative principles:
- inclusion
- adaptability
- diversity
- collaboration
- self-determination
- universal design
The Villages of Warfield, Montrose and Fruitvale Inter-municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee
The Inter-municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee is a committee established under Part 3 of ABCA. The Committee membership will aspire to reflect the diversity of the three Villages. ABCA requires that to the extent possible, at least one of the members is an Indigenous person and at least one-half of the Committee members must be persons with disabilities or persons who support, or are from organizations that support persons with disabilities and who reflect the diversity of persons with disabilities in BC.
The purpose of the Committee is to provide advice and make recommendations to the Village Councils on a range of initiatives intended to make the three Villages more physically accessible.
For more information about the Village of Warfield, Montrose and Fruitvale Inter-municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee download thethe Inter-municipality Accessibility Advisory Committee Terms of Reference.
Committee Members Needed – Now Recruiting
Do you want to get involved and have a voice in helping the Villages become more accessible? We are now recruiting individuals who live in Warfield, Montrose and Fruitvale and who have personally experienced accessibility challenges and/or who have the lived-experience as a person with a disability or are a caregiver to someone with a disability to serve on the Committee. For more information, please see the Committee membership description and Committee Application Form.
How to Apply
Residents can download the Committee Application Form, request one by email, or pick it up in person at:
Village of Fruitvale:
Box 370, 1947 Beaver Street, Fruitvale, BC V0G 1L0 250-367-7551
Village of Warfield:
555 Schofield Highway, Trail, BC V1R 2G7 250-368-8202
Village of Montrose:
Box 510, 565-11th Avenue, Montrose, BC V0G 1P0 250-367-7234
Submission of Completed Application Forms
Completed application forms should be submitted to your respective municipality, either in-person or via Canada Post at the addresses noted above.
You may also submit your completed application form and any questions you may have to: accessibility@warfield.ca.
The deadline to submit applications is Friday, December 15, 2023. Committee members will be appointed by the Mayors of the Villages of Warfield, Montrose and Fruitvale. The Committee membership will be made publicly available sometime in January 2024.
Definitions
As defined in the Accessible British Columbia Act:
“barrier” is anything that hinders the full and equal participation in society of a person with an impairment. Barriers can be caused by environmental, attitudes, practices, policies, information, communications or technologies and can be affected by intersecting forms of discrimination.
“disability” means an inability to participate fully and equally in society as a result of the interaction of
an impairment and a barrier.
“impairment” incudes a physical, sensory, mental, intellectual or cognitive impairment, whether permanent, temporary or episodic.
Public input
In updating their plan, the Villages must consider comments received through its public feedback mechanism. Public input will help improve accessibility and the overall development of the Accessibility Plan.
Help us understand the barriers you face when interacting with the Villages. If you are comfortable, we want to know what barriers you, or someone you care for encounter when accessing the Villages’ facilities, buildings, infrastructure, communications, services, public parks and public spaces. For example, what, if any barriers have you experienced when accessing the Village of Warfield, Montrose or Fruitvale’s Municipal Halls, community halls, parks, sidewalks, trails, playgrounds, pools and other recreation facilities, online information and newsletters?
How to provide feedback
Email: Download the Public Feedback Form and email your completed form to the Village of Warfield Corporate Officer at corporateofficer@warfield.ca.
Please ensure that you include the following information:
- What you were trying to access
- Where the barrier happened and what the barrier was
- Any solutions you may have for recommendation
In-person: You can pick up a paper copy of the Public Feedback Form, and return it in person or via Canada Post to:
Village of Warfield:
555 Schofield Highway, Trail, BC V1R 2G7 250-368-8202
Village of Montrose:
Box 510, 565-11th Avenue, Montrose, BC V0G 1P0 250-367-7234
Village of Fruitvale:
Box 370, 1947 Beaver Street, Fruitvale, BC V0G 1L0 250-367-7551
Phone: You may also choose to contact the Villages with your feedback at the phone numbers noted above.
Why do we need feedback?
People with disabilities report that barriers make it difficult to experience full and equal participation in society. We need to be aware of the specific barriers people face to remove them. The Villages are looking for feedback about their services, buildings, facilities, parks and infrastructure to improve accessibility and to create more inclusivity.
What feedback can I provide?
We are looking for feedback and information that advises us about the specific barriers people face when they are trying to access a service, building, program or information. We are looking for descriptions of experiences and how they impact you as well as suggestions on how to remove barriers.
What happens with my feedback when I submit it?
Once all members have been appointed, the Warfield, Montrose and Fruitvale Inter-municipal
Accessibility Advisory Committee will review all feedback that is submitted. Feedback may have bearing on the Accessibility Plan, the Villages’ policies and procedures, changes that will remove barriers and increase accessibility and what needs to be done to prevent barriers in the future.
Protecting your privacy
All public feedback and information will be collected in compliance with Section 26 (c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). Personal information and all identifying information will be kept confidential.
Where can I find more information?
