August 14, 2016
More and more Parks organizations are promoting inclusion
into their mandate. As I have gotten more involved with Alberta Parks as a Push
to Open ambassador, I see similar mandates cropping up in Australia
and in Europe. Not only is the focus on camping, hiking and experiencing the
forest, but also on access to beaches and oceans.
Natural areas, whether on land or in/ around water, are
there for everyone to enjoy. It seems that governments and organizations are
becoming aware that a larger number of people have been excluded and are
interested in experiencing and enjoying these places.
In order to address the accessibility issue in and around water beach wheelchairs have become available at many beaches in Europe
and there have been boulevards built to get wheelchair users closer to the
water’s edge. In Canada, PEI and Nova Scotia have beach wheelchairs at select
beaches. This information can be found on the Parks Canada website PEI beaches
Vancouver has also listed their accessible beaches and where
to find beach wheelchairs. That information can be found here:Vancouver accessible beaches
Calgary has recently
revamped Sikome Lake and also has a beach wheelchair available. Sikome Lake info
So, you don’t
have to travel to the far ends of Canada or overseas to enjoy squishing sand
through your toes. Whether you want to stroll through a forest or enjoy the
sand, there are ways you can get out there.
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