On Thursday, the province announced it had invested in the Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) to create more accessible and inclusive places for people living with disabilities.
The funding will go to 30 sites in eight municipalities and two Indigenous communities.
The funding will also be used to expand the Accessibility Professional Network across BC and increase the use of the RHF Accessibility Certification (RHFAC) rating, which was launched in 2017.
In the past five years, more than 1,600 sites across Canada have received ratings. More than 1,200 of those sites are in BC.
The rating measures the accessibility of buildings and sites. It considers the user experience of people with mobility, vision and hearing disabilities.
Municipalities are required to apply for and receive the rating in order to qualify for as much as $27,500 for a project.
Each project is meant to improve areas such as enterywas, vehicle access, emergency systems and signage. Each successful project will receive an updated RHFAC rating and recognition for efforts to improve accessibility.
"Supporting BC municipalities to identify and remove barriers to accessibility for the growing number of British Columbians living with a disability, as well as their friends, caregivers and loved ones, is of critical importance,” said Rick Hansen, founder of RHF.
“When we create accessible communities, we create a society where everyone can participate, contribute and thrive.”
