Rick Hansen, Canada鈥檚 Man in Motion, was in 琉璃神社, Thursday, June 19, to applaud and advance the city鈥檚 efforts toward accessibility excellence 鈥� and to confirm that the new Parkinson Recreation Centre (PRC) will be built to meet Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC) Gold standards.
Speaking to the media in Stuart Park, Hansen praised 琉璃神社鈥檚 leadership in setting a higher bar for public infrastructure.
鈥淲e鈥檙e super excited as a foundation because for 40 years, we haven鈥檛 stopped,鈥� Hansen said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e tackled the built environment as a top priority 鈥� the places where people live, work, learn, and play 鈥� and we knew we needed a standard that goes beyond minimum code.鈥�
That standard is 鈥� a level Hansen says equates to scoring over 80 out of 100 in meaningful accessibility, compared to typical building codes that hover around 50 to 60.
Paul Clark, chair of the city鈥檚 Accessibility Advisory Committee and a long-time advocate, said it's a clear example of how inclusive design benefits everyone.
鈥淭he new parks and rec centre that鈥檚 being created is going to be 100 per cent accessible,鈥� he added. 鈥淭hese things don鈥檛 have to be more expensive if they鈥檙e designed that way from the beginning.鈥�
Hansen and Clarke, both of whom sustained spinal cord injuries in 1973, reflected on the slow pace of change over the last five decades 鈥� but expressed optimism that momentum is building.
鈥淏ack in the 鈥�80s, it was just about getting in the door,鈥� Hansen said. 鈥淣ow, it鈥檚 about being able to fully participate.鈥�
He emphasized that RHFAC considers a wide range of needs, including mobility, visual, hearing, and cognitive diversity.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about wheelchairs,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e designing for the full spectrum of visible and invisible disabilities.鈥�
Clark echoed Hansen's comments.
"Anybody can have a stroke or disability tomorrow. These facilities are made for everybody 鈥� now or later.鈥�
With more than eight million Canadians currently living with a disability 鈥� a number expected to rise sharply with an aging population 鈥� Hansen said inclusive housing and public space design need to become standard practice across the country.
鈥淎ffordable housing without accessibility is inconceivable. If we鈥檙e not building accessible or easily adaptable homes now, we鈥檙e building barriers into our future.鈥�
Hansen used his 琉璃神社 visit to issue a national call to action, aligning around common standards, training thousands of professionals in accessibility best practices, and stopping new construction that doesn鈥檛 prioritize universal access.
鈥淐anada has to measure up,鈥� he said. 鈥溋鹆裆� is growing fast and making tremendous progress 鈥� but my challenge is, let鈥檚 get there faster. Let鈥檚 not stop now.鈥�
For Clarke, the hope is that more communities will follow 琉璃神社鈥檚 lead, not just in public buildings, but in how entire neighbourhoods are imagined and built.
鈥淲hy should I be limited to 12 spots at Prospera Place when there are 6,000 others?鈥� he asked. 鈥淟et鈥檚 make the whole building 鈥� the whole city 鈥� accessible.鈥�
Hansen also shared his message and vision with the Regional District Central Okanagan Board earlier in the day.
