The City of Kawartha Lakes will shine a spotlight on its local champions of inclusion on Tuesday (June 3), and introduce a new award named after a local disability advocate that recognizes youth who remove barriers and advance accessibility in the Kawartha Lakes.
During National AccessAbility Week in Canada from May 25 to May 31, the city has joined other municipalities in the greater Kawarthas region to acknowledge the contributions of people with disabilities and to promote efforts to create a barrier-free inclusive society.
For Kawartha Lakes, National AccessAbility Week is also a chance to highlight efforts made by allies, organizations, and communities to foster accessibility and inclusion, including by hosting its annual Accessibility Awareness Recognition Awards.
At its June 3 committee of the whole meeting, the city will celebrate individuals, groups, businesses, and municipal staff who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to removing barriers and advancing accessibility within the community.
And, for the first time in the 17-year history of the annual awards initiative, Kawartha Lakes will introduce a new Youth Accessibility Award. On May 20, council approved the creation of the new award to honour young people who demonstrate leadership and innovation in promoting accessibility and inclusion.
“National AccessAbility Week is a powerful reminder of the progress we’ve made, and the work still ahead, to create communities where everyone belongs,” said Christine Briggs, People Partner for Inclusion, Diversity and Equity at Accessibility Kawartha Lakes, in a media release. “With the introduction of the Youth Accessibility Award, we’re not only celebrating today’s changemakers, but also investing in a future where inclusion is second nature.”
The inaugural award, which will be handed out in 2026, will be named after the late Kathryn Peeters of Omemee, who raised awareness about pediatric brain tumours and visual impairments for 25 years by speaking at events and to community groups.
By her fifth birthday, Peeters had six brain tumours and, as a result of surgery to remove the tumours, became legally blind and had a seizure disorder and cognitive impairment. In 2021, she suffered a severe fall in her home that meant she had to begin using a wheelchair.
Herself a recipient of the Barbara McArthur Award of Distinction at the 2023 Accessibility Awareness Recognition Awards, Peeters passed away on April 26, 2024 at the age of 31.
“Young leaders like Kathryn Peeters show us what’s possible when passion meets purpose,” Briggs said.
By introducing the dedicated Youth Accessibility Award, the city said it hopes to “amplify the voices of young leaders and lay the foundation for a future generation that prioritizes inclusion. Recognizing youth who demonstrate leadership in accessibility and inclusion not only celebrates their efforts but also instills lifelong values that contribute to a more accessible and equitable community as they grow into adulthood.”
To meet the 2025 award winners, community members can tune into the committee of the whole meeting, which will be streamed live on the city’s YouTube channel, starting at 11:30 a.m. on June 3.
Meanwhile, in Northumberland County, the Town of Cobourg, in partnership with the Cobourg Accessibility Advisory Committee, is inviting residents to celebrate National AccessAbility Week.
Throughout the week, the Town of Cobourg said it will be sharing insights and information to engage with the community to help improve thinking and understanding of accessibility. Additionally, the Town of Cobourg, in partnership with the Accessibility Advisory Committee is calling for community input about the municipal “Multi-Year Accessibility Plan.”
The town’s 2020 to 2025 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan outlines how the municipality will remove and prevent accessibility barriers. Cobourg is currently working towards updating the plan and is seeking insights from the community “to support the continuous effort to remove barriers, creating a fair and welcoming community for everyone,” according to a media release.
“The Town of Cobourg is committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely and proactive manner and will use reasonable efforts to provide equitable access to municipal programs, goods, services and facilities in a way that respects a person’s dignity and independence.”
In the coming months, the Accessibility Advisory Committee will be working with staff to update the plan. Cobourg is encouraging residents and groups who have recommendations for the updated plan to present a delegation or share correspondence for the committee’s consideration.
“Staff will be issuing a community engagement program to educate residents on the current plan, actions taken in the last four years to improve accessibility and key priorities as identified by the committee for 2025 and beyond,” the release noted. “Residents will then be invited to provide their feedback and recommendations to help make Cobourg a barrier-free community.”
Also in Northumberland, the county and the Northumberland Accessibility Advisory Committee (NAAC) are marking National AccessAbility Week with the theme of “Challenge Your Perspective: Rethinking Accessibility.”
The county said the theme encourages everyone to reflect on how disability is perceived and to consider the impact of both visible and invisible barriers. It is a call to examine assumptions, promote understanding, and support the full participation of people with disabilities.
“Our hope is that National AccessAbility Week encourages people to pause and reflect on how accessibility is something that benefits everyone, not just those with disabilities,” Lisa Ainsworth, the county’s director of corporate services, told kawarthaNOW.
The county’s accessibility advisory committee provides advice, recommendations, and support to county council and departments on accessibility planning and policy. Its members include county residents with disabilities and representatives from community organizations dedicated to removing barriers.
To mark National AccessAbility Week, the committee launched a social media campaign to encourage people to consider small steps they can take to increase the equity, inclusivity and accessibility of the community.
“The goal is to encourage conversations that continue beyond this week, and to see more people taking simple, tangible actions that help make our community more inclusive in everyday ways,” Ainsworth said.
