AMS Webinar #4: Accessible Heritage

OBIAA has long been a champion of accessible main streets and businesses. In a new 4-part webinar series commencing on March 28th, BIAs and their business members will learn about how Ontario businesses are championing accessibility, including being more age-friendly; how BIAs can work more collaboratively with their local Accessibility Advisory Committee and municipal staff; how to remove, reduce, and prevent main street accessibility barriers; and how to tap into more tourism dollars.

These free webinars are part of OBIAA’s Accessible Main Streets Project and participants will get OBIAA’s new The Business of Accessibility Handbook which offers no cost/low cost ways that businesses and BIAs can be more accessible and inclusive.

Moderator:  John Kiru, TABIA (TBC)

Presenters

• Brent Kittmer, Town of St. Mary’s
• Julie Johnson, Chair of St. Mary’s BIA
• Matt Zawada, Accessibility Advisory, Town of Aurora + Project Advisory Committee Member

Main streets are the core of a community and making those streets and heritage properties accessible attracts people with disabilities as customers, visitors and employees, as well as their family and friends.

In this webinar we learn how the Town of St. Mary’s successfully upgraded three of its downtown blocks, within a Heritage Conservation District, and rehabilitated their heritage bridge. The Town creatively met the needs of its residents and businesses during construction by working collaboratively with their local BIA and Accessibility Advisory Committee. See how such a project can not only be done within the planned timelines and budget but also how it can strengthen the community fabric.