In Progress
100% of community event and festival organizers receive an Accessibility Package including training, resources and tools to support them to implement enhanced accessibility and inclusion at festivals and events by Q4 2027.
City of Maple Ridge Corporate Plan

Description

By Q4 2027, all community event and festival organizers will be provided with a comprehensive Accessibility Package that equips them with practical training, resources, and implementation tools to strengthen accessibility and inclusion planning for festivals and events. This key result is intended to ensure organizers have consistent guidance and support to adopt enhanced accessibility practices, reduce participation barriers, and improve the experience of attendees of all abilities across community events.

KR End Date

12/31/27

Complete?

No

Completed Date

N/A

KR Public Update

This Key Result involves three associated initiatives.

One, create a checklist and other resources for event organizers to foster accessible and inclusive event planning by community organizers. The goal of this initiative is to develop and promote an accessible event planning toolkit that equips community event organizers with practical tools and resources to plan more accessible and inclusive events and festivals. This initiative aims to strengthen consistent planning practices, reduce barriers to participation, and support events planned by community for community to be welcoming and inclusive. This item has been added to the November agenda for the Municipal Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Inclusion (MACAI).  

Two, create and disseminate Accessibility Awareness Training including recommended best practices for event planning. This project will develop a practical accessibility awareness training module for community event organizers, together with an implementation and delivery package. The training and supporting materials will provide clear guidance, tools, and best practices to help organizers identify and reduce barriers related to venue access, communications, participation, wayfinding, accommodations, and attendee experience. This is on the January 2027 MACAI agenda.

Three, explore opportunities to develop a grant program for local festivals and events to enhance accessibility at community events and festivals. The purpose of this objective is to explore the feasibility of creating a City-led grant program to help local community festival and event planners improve accessibility at local events. Initial discussion will be held at the March 2027 MACAI meeting and with Festivals and Events team with a formal funding proposal completed for Sept 2027.