North Bay's Olmsted Beach to become more accessible
By next week, North Bay city officials say Olmsted Beach should be completely upgraded.
Upgrades include a new playground, a wheelchair accessible beach mat, and paved pathways and parking lots.
“People will be able to wheel down on this wide path so you can be to wheelchairs side by side," said North Bay city councillor Johanne Brousseau.
"Either take the beach mat to get to the water or get to the playground or wheel towards the boat launch. They’ve added more benches, and tables and we have accessible washrooms.”
Brousseau said the upgrades are in an effort to make North Bay more accessible for everyone.
“We want to include all of our population,” she said. “At first you may think it’s just for somebody with a physical mobility issue, but we’re all going to get there. As we age, we want the city to be age friendly.”
The upgraded area is good news for members of the municipal accessible advisory committee. Barbara Smith, who sits on the committee and is also visually impaired, told CTV News the upgrades will allow for people with mobility limitations to get outdoors more often.
“If you’re a person living with a disability and you have a family now you can go to the park," Smith said.
"If you’re in a wheelchair, you can at least watch your children play in the water, you can watch your children sit at the picnic table with you and not have to be off in some other corner watching from a fair ... You’re an active participant in your community and in your family circle.”
Brousseau is confident many people will use the new area, with some people already expressing their excitement.
“I’ve had two citizens who told me they are quite excited and will be here right away they will be the first ones to wheel down that mat,” she said.
“They’ve never been able to swim in Trout Lake, so they will be here testing it out.”
City officials say the project will cost roughly $200,000 and should be complete by next week.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Lack of detention space could force CBSA to release detainees, internal memo warns
The Canada Border Services Agency is scrambling to find space to hold high-risk detainees that are set to be transferred from provincial jails in June.
BREAKING American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
BREAKING Allman Brothers Band co-founder and legendary guitarist Dickey Betts dies at 80
Guitar legend Dickey Betts, who co-founded the Allman Brothers Band and wrote their biggest hit, 'Ramblin' Man,' has died. He was 80.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
Police make arrests in grandparent scam that defrauded victims out of $739K
Ontario Provincial Police say they have 'disrupted' an organized crime group that allegedly used an emergency grandparent scam to defraud seniors across Canada out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Taylor Swift's new album allegedly 'leaked' on social media and it's causing a frenzy
A Google Drive link allegedly containing 17 tracks that are purportedly from Swift's eagerly awaited "The Tortured Poets Department" album has been making the rounds on the internet in the past day and people are equal parts mad, sad and happy about it.
Motion to allow keffiyehs at Ontario legislature fails
A motion to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh within Queen’s Park failed to receive unanimous consent Thursday just moments after Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his view that prohibiting the garment in the House is divisive.
What does it mean to be 'house poor' and how can you avoid it?
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
Calgary man charged with manslaughter in death of toddler
Calgary police say Winston Campbell, 45, has been charged in the death of a two-year-old girl in 2022.