Regina Accessibility Plan gives hope to longtime advocates

Regina City Council passed a new plan that has one mother and daughter duo optimistic for the future.

The Regina Accessibility Plan lays out 60 actions over the next 10 years, with a focus on infrastructure, transportation and employment.

Long-time advocate, Sarah Turnbull has had to watch her daughter be left behind at places like playgrounds that are currently inaccessible for wheelchair users. Turnbull’s daughter Blake brought wood chips to council last week to show how materials like sand, stones, or wood chips make parks inaccessible.

“We want the park to be full of rubber,” said Blake. “Wood chips stick on my hands. The rubber is softer and I won’t get ‘owies’ on my hands.” Blake said she has one goal, “I want to make all parks for everyone.”

Sarah Turnbull has been advocating for her daughter Blake for years. She is happy to see the Regina Accessibility plan passed. (Gillian Massie/980 CJME)

Turnbull hopes these guidelines will be implemented. “The big ask is, you’ve got this great plan in place, but now what we need them to do is put the budget towards it,” said Turnbull. The proposal has money allocated to increasing accessibility with priorities given to snow removal and sidewalk repairs. Turnbull loves that the city has identified a third priority of the built environments and accessible parks.

Turnbull said it’s difficult to watch Blake struggle. She wishes they could take things for granted like everyone else. “It would be nice to be like, ‘Yes, I can go to that event without calling ahead to see if they’re accessible.’ It would be nice that we can just go to a park,” she said.

Turnbull added even with council having these new solutions, they still need to rely on fundraising. “It sucks that our solutions are GoFundMe solutions when we still contribute and pay as much taxes and are part of the community just as much as anyone else.”

Right now, this is a win for Sarah and Blake. But there’s more work to be done. “We’ve had to do two years of studies and advocating,” said Turnbull. “We’ll celebrate today and work hard tomorrow.”

— With files from 980 CJME’s Gillian Massie