HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune 18, 2025
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Minutes/Meeting Summary
Accessibility Advisory Committee
June 18, 2025
Hybrid Electronic Meeting
Main Committee Room
7:00 pm
Attendees: S. Azhar
K. Hale
C. Rudberg-Chin
D. Schick
S. Snyders
K. Sullivan
Councillor M. Brenner
Councillor M. Nagy
D. Yip, Manager, Facilities Capital Projects
I. Janton, Senior Planner – Site Planning
S. Ahimaz, Coordinator, Major Capital Projects
T. Higgins, Accessibility Coordinator
J. Currie, Legislative Coordinator
Absent: D. Currie
B. Ferguson
A. Khan
M. Shackleton
A. Topple, Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade
Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action
Items/Status
(include
deadline as
appropriate)
1. Review and Approval of Agenda
Moved by C. Rudberg-Chin
Seconded by K. Sullivan
That the Agenda for the May 21, 2025, Meeting of The
Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting be approved.
Carried
2. Disclosure of Interest
No disclosures of interest were noted.
3. Approval of Minutes
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action
Items/Status
(include
deadline as
appropriate)
Committee Members spoke to amending the minutes to note
that the draft version of the Accessibility Checklist for
Developers could be shared with the Coalition before the final
version was shared, Item 5.1.
Moved by C. Rudberg-Chin
Seconded by D. Schick
That the Minutes of the April 16, 2025, meeting of the
Accessibility Advisory Committee be approved, as amended.
Carried
Tim to
investigate
operations of
automatic door
system.
4. Presentations/Delegations
4.1 Donna Bell – Accessible parking
D. Bell, Pickering Resident, appeared before the Committee
and discussed concerns regarding limited accessible parking
spaces and relayed having personally experienced designated
parking spaces being used by non-permit holders. D. Bell
expressed concerns regarding City by-law enforcement
procedures and response times.
Discussion between Committee Members and D. Bell ensued
regarding:
• acknowledging the frustration of having limited accessible
parking available and the lack of public respect for the
designations;
• whether the property owners could be held responsible for
monitoring the use of accessible parking spaces;
• how to get by-law to respond faster;
• that City by-law staff had attended previous AAC meetings,
inviting them to a future meeting, and sharing D. Bell’s
presentation with City by-law staff; and,
• the effectiveness of increasing fines of the persons in
violation as well as property owners.
The meeting lost quorum at 8:45 pm.
The Committee took a short recess.
The meeting resumed at 8:52 pm.
4.2 Adam Ellis – Recreation Programs
A. Ellis, Pickering Resident, appeared before the Committee to
speak to Disability Justice and concerns regarding the absence
of accessible programming in the City of Pickering. A. Ellis
shared personal challenges and raised concerns regarding
challenges finding inclusive and accessible recreation and
T. Higgins to
share D. Bells
recorded
presentation
with City By-
law staff.
T. Higgins to
invite City By-
law staff to a
future AAC
Meeting to
discuss parking
enforcement.
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action
Items/Status
(include
deadline as
appropriate)
sports programming and noted that support that was available
came at a higher cost to the individuals or there were lengthy
waitlists.
Discussion between Committee Members and A. Ellis ensued
regarding:
• the lack of inclusive recreational and sports programming
within Pickering, and the additional challenge of increased
travel;
• discussions of centralized information regarding adult
programming and extending the compilation of information
to all age groups;
• encouraging private community groups to support special
needs;
• engaging with Autism Ontario and requesting Pickering
based support; and,
• the City’s obligations to build the infrastructure to support
and accommodate special needs.
T. Higgins to
share A. Ellis’s
recorded
presentation
with City Staff.
T. Higgins to
include items
regarding
inclusive
recreation and
sports
programming
and Autism
Ontario on the
AAC
September 17,
2025, meeting
agenda.
5. New Business
5.1 Canada Day Update
T. Higgins provided a brief summary of the features planned for
the Canada Day event.
5.2 Accessibility Advisory Committee 2024 year-end report
and 2025 proposed work plan update
T. Higgins provided that the 2024 year-end Report and 2025
proposed work plan were well received and approved by
Council.
5.3 Accessibility Advisory Committee Action Items – follow up
This item was deferred to the September 17, 2025,
Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting.
T. Higgins to
include this
item on the
September 17,
2025, meeting
agenda.
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action
Items/Status
(include
deadline as
appropriate)
5.4 Hidden disability Sunflower program – update
T. Higgins provided that Council had endorsed registering the
City of Pickering in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program
at the Corporate Membership Level.
Committee Members discussed whether there was time to
introduce the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program at the
Canada Day event.
5.5 Redman House - update
With the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, D. Yip, Manager,
Facilities Capital Projects, provided a brief update on the
Redman House project, highlighting concerns that were
previously raised by Committee Members.
Discussion between Committee Members and staff ensued
regarding:
• whether the smell at the Redman House would be
addressed;
• that the incorporation of the AAC recommendations into the
Redman House Restoration planning could be included in
the 2025 Annual Report as an item of success; and,
• that all concerns raised at the previous presentation of the
Redman House Restoration Project to the AAC were being
addressed.
5.6 2025 AODA Compliance Report
T. Higgins provided a brief overview of the expectations of the
ministry and noted recent audits are seeking detailed, historic
evidence of compliance.
Discussion between Committee Members ensued regarding:
• whether the report would be made publicly available;
• whether the committee could provide support through more
concrete actions through recommendations to Council; and,
• that the benefits of getting an audit could be that gaps would
be identified and could shape future goals, allowing the City
to restructure approaches accordingly.
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action
Items/Status
(include
deadline as
appropriate)
5.7 Accessibility Advisory Subcommittee update
K. Sullivan provided a brief summary of subcommittee goals
discussed including connecting with the City of Vaughan, the
City of Toronto, the Coalition, and Pickering’s Sustainability
Department to gain insight into events to inform the
Accessibility Symposium planning.
Discussion between Members continued including:
• whether there would be funding to host the Accessibility
Symposium;
• creating a network of accessibility members from other
municipalities;
• the Accessibility Checklist going to the Coalition for review,
in consultation prior to going to Council;
• contacting multiple municipalities regarding events they may
have hosted, to inform Pickering’s Accessibility Symposium
planning; and,
• the possibility of providing incentives to encourage
Developers to incorporate enhanced accessibility features.
T. Higgins to
investigate
whether there
could be a
budget for the
Accessibility
Symposium.
5.8 Pickering Multi-year Accessibility Plan 2026-2030
T. Higgins provided a brief overview of the scope of the
Pickering Multi-year Accessibility Plan 2026-2030, and
highlighted plans to draft an electronic public survey in efforts to
reach the broader community and gain a better insight into the
specific demographics of the City of Pickering, informing the
City of the variety of disabilities that exist and that require
services.
Discussion among Committee Members ensued regarding:
• providing the survey in various formats and in multiple
accessible spaces, reaching diverse audiences;
• ensuring the survey is in clear language and that invisible
disabilities are included with space to include unique entries;
and,
• whether the survey would be reviewed by Human
Resources.
6. Correspondence
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action
Items/Status
(include
deadline as
appropriate)
There were no items of correspondence.
7. Other Business
C. Rudberg-Chin noted that the City of Pickering was hosting a
public engagement event regarding housing options and
affordability. Information found at Official Plan Review | City of
Pickering.
8. AAC Member Roundtable Updates
There were no Roundtable updates.
9. Next Meeting – September 17, 2025
10. Adjournment
Moved by C. Rudberg-Chin
Seconded by D. Schick
That the meeting be adjourned.
Carried
Meeting Adjourned: 9:41 pm