The Town of Gravenhurst has approved its 2026–2030 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan, which focuses on advancing local inclusivity and identifying and removing barriers for people with disabilities.
According to staff, the town’s 2026–2030 plan aims to enhance accessibility awareness through targeted education campaigns, establish key performance indicators to monitor legislative compliance, and provide a comprehensive roadmap for continuous improvement across all municipal services and facilities.
The plan will focus on enhancing physical and digital navigation, including a Wayfinding Pilot Project at Town Hall for the low-vision community.
Further initiatives include the creation of new accessible playground structures at Muskoka Bay Park and the Wharf, the expansion of accessible trail loop routes, and the installation of specialized kayak and canoe launches at Muskoka Bay and Gull Lake Rotary Park to ensure inclusive waterfront access.
Customer service objectives include establishing comprehensive accessibility plans for the 2026 and 2030 municipal elections to ensure the Town Hall Election Centre is entirely barrier-free.
Additionally, the plan calls for the development and implementation of a ‘Recreation for All’ policy to ensure that Recreation, Arts & Culture programs are designed, delivered, and evaluated to meet the community’s diverse needs.
At the Jan. 20 meeting, Council approved the report and plan presented by Kayla Thibeault, Director of Legislative Services. The plan outlines initiatives to enhance community accessibility while maintaining compliance with provincial legislation.
“Adopting this report does not mean that these are the only accessibility projects you will do. That’s why you have the annual accessibility plan and your annual budget that’s adopted and changed and grows as accessibility needs change in communities,” said Thibeault to the mayor and council.
Thibeault said under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), municipalities are required to have in place a five-year, multi-year plan outlining accessibility needs and proposals to address them and reduce barriers in the community every five years.
According to Thibeault, the town’s previous plan expired at the end of 2025 and therefore a new five-year plan needed to be put in place.
“According to Statistics Canada, approximately one-in-seven Canadians live with a disability; a figure projected to increase to nearly 20 per cent as the population ages,” states the report.
The report also states that even though the legislated deadline for Ontario to become fully barrier-free under the AODA concluded on Jan. 1, 2025, the Town remains legislatively obligated to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to a barrier-free community.
