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A blog-style documentary of Access4All, its beginnings, and our journey thus far.
Edited March 1 by Hearther Nguyen
March 2025 - The Spark
March 2025 - The Spark
Access4All was born from the time we spent working with the special needs classes at our high school during the 2024-2025 school year.
We saw firsthand the barriers the students face every day, making us realize how inaccessible not only our school, but also the surrounding community was. Our attention was drawn to the playground at 144 Pinewind, where the slide was undersized and did not accommodate children of all ages, safety issues were reported with the seesaws, and the entire park was inaccessible to wheelchair users.
This sparked in us a sense of passion and responsibility to create an inclusive space for Pineridge.
Photo by Hearther Nguyen (2025)
May 2025 - The Problem
May 2025 - The Problem
Our class soon contacted the City of Calgary through letters to Ward 10 and discovered that, despite there being no inclusive playgrounds in Pineridge, such as the ones in Forest Lawn and Applewood, playgrounds like 144 Pinewind were deemed not a priority for renewal.
Our experience raised the question: Why do barriers persist in our community despite Canada's many accessibility laws?
Camayang (2025)
The Accessible Canada Act (ACA) aims to create an inclusive nation by 2040 by establishing accessibility standards for major sectors across the board. Although these standards have been developed, they must be turned into regulations to be enforced, a process that can be slow and bureaucratic, resulting in large gaps between legislation and lived experience.
Additionally, the ACA only applies to the federal government and federally regulated organizations, leaving many areas to provincial and municipal governments, where accessibility legislation is uneven. For example, provinces like Alberta do not have a comprehensive disability act, while provinces such as Ontario and Manitoba do, but with limited enforcement and implementation of standards.
Overall, these factors have contributed to the gap between ideal standards and reality.
Designed by Camayang (2025)
September 2025 - The Access4All Solution
September 2025 - The Access4All Solution
During the summer of 2025, the idea came to start a community initiative to revamp the park ourselves.
In doing so, we hope to inspire residents and students within Calgary to start their own projects and advocate for inclusivity.
Moving Forward - Fundraising
Moving Forward - Fundraising
We plan to raise a total of $75 000 through grants and fundraisers. Please support!
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