Inter-municipal Accessibility Plan

The Villages of Fruitvale, Montrose and Warfield (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.

Committee meeting agendas and minutes can be viewed by visiting the Village of Montrose’s website.

The Villages of Fruitvale, Montrose and Warfield 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

Accessibility Advisory Survey Results – Knowledge Translation/Accessibility Transition

In January 2024, a survey was made available for the residents of Fruitvale, Montrose and Warfield to provide feedback about Village accessibility. The results have been summarized and are available to view here.

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 the Inter-municipality Accessibility Advisory Committee Terms of Reference.

Fruitvale, Montrose and Warfield Inter-municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee

Elected Official Appointees

Councillor Jim Hill, Warfield
Councillor Don Berriault, Montrose
Mayor Steve Morissette, Fruitvale

Staff Appointees

Theresa Lenardon, Local Government Corporate Professional-Village of Warfield Corporate Officer
Larry Plotnikoff, CAO, Montrose
Marcus Partridge, CFO, Fruitvale

Public Volunteers as appointed by the respective Mayors

Terry Hanik, Warfield
Lynda Bouthillier, Montrose
Miruna Litcanu, Montrose
Lysa Rabinowitz, Fruitvale
Abby Verigin, Fruitvale

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 Fruitvale, Montrose and Warfield’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 Fruitvale at info@village.fruitvale.bc.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 Fruitvale, Montrose and Warfield 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?

• Accessible BC Act (ABCA)
• Accessible BC Regulation-BC Reg. 105/2022
• Disability Alliance BC (DABC)