The town hall in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, is in need of renovation to improve accessibility. Antigonish town council is currently inviting proposals from firms to carry out the necessary upgrades on the 120-year-old building. Mayor Sean Cameron highlighted that the current structure lacks modern amenities and was not originally designed with accessibility in mind.
At present, the building features stone steps leading to the front entrance, with a separate accessible entrance situated on the side next to an active driveway. Additionally, there are no elevators or accessible washrooms within the premises. Patrick McKenna, chair of the town’s accessibility committee, emphasized the importance of having a single entrance for all visitors, stating that multiple entrances are outdated.
Randy Delorey, the chief administrative officer, mentioned potential changes such as installing an elevator or consolidating all offices on the ground floor to ensure universal access for meetings and events. Currently, the building’s offices are spread across three levels.
According to the 2022 Canadian Survey on Disability, Nova Scotia has the highest disability rate in Canada, with nearly 38% of residents living with some form of disability, surpassing the national average of 27%. Despite these challenges, the province aims to achieve full accessibility by 2030.
The deadline for submitting proposals for the town hall renovations is January 29. Mayor Cameron expressed hope that the renovations will set a positive example for other businesses to enhance their accessibility features.
