Accessibility

Focus on Accessibility

In 2021, the Province of British Columbia passed the Accessible BC Act requiring municipalities to develop a plan that addresses accessibility to municipal services, programs, and infrastructure. Everyone will experience permanent, temporary, or episodic impairments over their lifetime either personally, or through caring for someone else. By focusing on accessibility, we can work towards becoming a municipality where every person is able to participate fully and equally and is empowered to pursue the life they wish to live. 

Accessibility Plan 

The District of Metchosin Accessibility Plan, developed in collaboration with the Capital West Accessibility Committee (CWAAC), was approved by Council on January 6, 2025. To pick up a paper copy of the Plan, please email accessibility@metchosin.ca or phone 250-474-3167.

Accessibility Plan

The Accessibility Plan was developed to improve accessibility to municipal services, facilities and built environments, and reduce challenges people experience with our:

• Information
• Communications
• Technologies
• Policies
• Practices; and 
• Infrastructure

The Accessibility Plan will also help to inform the planning of future activities with a long-term goal of becoming a barrier-free community. 

The Accessible BC Act identifies eight standards for inclusion in a long-term Plan. The first iteration of our Plan will focus on the first two of those standards: Employment and Service Delivery. It will take time to eliminate barriers, however the Plan is the first step to identifying how we can improve accessibility going forward.

The Plan must be reviewed and updated every three years and will incorporate information gathered through the public feedback tool accessibility@metchosin.ca or through public engagement opportunities.

Provide Feedback on the Accessibility Plan

A critical part of developing, monitoring, and updating the Accessibility Plan is receiving valuable feedback from people experiencing barriers. Public input is always welcomed and appreciated. Sharing experiences in or interacting with the municipality will help the District identify barriers and improve accessibility for all people.  

We invite your feedback in the following ways:

• Email: accessibility@metchosin.ca
• Phone: 250-474-3167
• Deliver Comments: 4450 Happy Valley Road, Victoria, BC, V9C 3Z3

If you require or would benefit from assistance in accessing or providing comments on the Accessibility Plan, please contact us at accessibility@metchosin.ca or 250-474-3167.

Accessibility Committee 

An initial Accessibility Committee comprised of staff from partner municipalities, including the District of Metchosin, will review the District's internal practices for making information, activities, and environments sensible, meaningful, and usable for as many people as possible.

The Capital West Accessibility Advisory Committee is currently preparing to transition to a citizen membership model. For more information on the Committee, please click the link below.

Capital West Accessibility Advisory Committee 

Public Engagement

In July 2024, the Capital West Accessibility Advisory Committee, with the assistance of consultants Changing Paces, conducted a series of seven public engagement sessions to receive feedback on accessibility barriers and solutions in all seven partner municipalities. A summary of the feedback, produced by Changing Paces, can be fund below. The feedback we received at theses engagement sessions will inform the development of our initial Accessibility Plan. Once completed, a copy of the Accessibility Plan will be shared on this page. 

Community Engagement Report

Two engagement surveys were conduced in 2024. Survey 1 was initiated to understand how to best engage the broader accessibility community. Survey 2 asked respondents for their accessibility experiences respecting member municipality and will inform the upcoming facility engagement sessions and assist with the development of an Accessibility Plan for the District of Metchosin. 

Survey 1 Engagement Summary

Survey 2 Engagement Summary 

Community Accessibility Resources

• Access West Shore Society accesswestshore@gmail.com (formerly IACDI)
• Accessibility Standards of Canada
• Accessibility supports and services (Government of B.C.)
• Disability Alliance BC
• Government of Canada's travel website
• Indigenous Disability Canada / British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS)
• Victoria Disability Resource Centre 
   

Capital West Accessibility Advisory Committee Meetings: