By Mark Squibb
The City of Mount Pearl has committed to completing a number of projects outlined in it’s Accessibility Plan 2024-2026 in this calendar year.
Projects scheduled for completion in 2025 include the creation of a fully accessible boardroom at City Hall, construction of a new website, upgrades to the Summit Centre, Glacier Arena, and T’railway, and the construction of a new accessible Community Centre.
During the January 14 meeting, Deputy Mayor Nicole Kieley spoke to her own personal experience as a person a with a disability.
“It’s no secret that I was involved in an accident that rendered me with a disability,” said Kieley. “I am an above-knee amputee. What that meant, I am still understanding and figuring out. What I can say is that the City, throughout my journey, has been along with me, side-by-side, and I think we have a lot to be proud of.”
Representation, said Kieley, is powerful.
“When we talk about what it means to be independent, what it means to have a fulfilling life, what does dignity mean, I’ve been challenged with all those things a lot over the past couple of years,” said Kieley. “It’s been difficult, but I can see so much more that I wasn’t aware of before. And I just want to say that this type of commitment from the City, and to see that it’s multi-year, and thoughtful, creates an inclusive, and all encompassing idea of accessibility. It’s incredible.”
Kieley said her all colleagues likely know someone, perhaps even themselves, who have been in a situation were they could not be accommodated.
Council adopted its first ever Accessibility Plan in 2024 with the aim of ensuring all residents can access the City’s many buildings and services.
The City completed a number of projects outlined in the plan last year, including the installation of an accessible ramp at the Reid Centre stage, upgrades to washrooms at City Hall, the replacement of wooden paths with granular stone at Branscombe Pond and Power’s Pond trails, the expansion of sensory-friendly swimming sessions at the Summit Centre, the installation of rest stops along Admiralty Walk, and upgrades to the bleachers and walkways at the Team Gushue Sports Complex.
