Tourism Tofino offers new beach mobility chairs, launches accessibility guide
Hitting the beaches in Tofino, B.C., has gotten easier for those with mobility issues thanks to new beach wheelchairs that the region is offering guests.
The chairs assemble in minutes and are stored in transportation bags that you can toss into your vehicle.
One of the mobility chairs is pictured in Tofino, B.C. (CTV News)
The chairs are loaned out for free for up to three days when you provide a deposit, and they're providing access to beaches and trails where it wasn't previously available.
"We actually had one woman who hasn’t been out on the beach with her husband for years, just because of accessibility issues of getting out on the beach," said Jody Kirk, Tofino Tourism visitor and member service manager.
"So it’s really been incredible that people can just come out here and spend time with their loved ones and so much more time [outdoors]," she said.
(Tourism Tofino)
VANCOUVER ISLAND ACCESSIBILITY GUIDES
Information on borrowing the mobility chairs, and on other accessibility tips in Tofino, can be found on the community's new online accessibility guide.
It's one of eight accessibility guides that launched in various communities on Vancouver Island last week.
"Each of the guides was put in place to help educate people on opportunities that exist in each of these communities and look for ways for people to experience this region with a bit more of a lens on equity," said Brian Cant, vice president of business impact and engagement for 4VI (formerly known as Tourism Vancouver Island).
The new guides are the first of 17 that are expected to launch in island communities, highlighting businesses and locations that are welcoming for all ages and accessibility levels.
"For example, if you need to access a beach, there are specific beach-type wheelchairs for those that need them," said Cant.
"But then if you were a senior citizen and visually impaired or hard of hearing, there are things you’d want to consider as well," he said.
The project took 10 months to complete and is a joint effort of various groups, including Spinal Cord Injury BC and Destination British Columbia.
"I think [the guide] identifies a group of people who have long been overlooked and are obviously valued as part of society," said Cant.
"There are so many people who are looking for opportunities to explore locations and technology has allowed for adaptability and inclusiveness," he said.
In Tofino, Kirk says the new mobility chairs have been a hit since they were first introduced.
"We have two of them and they were out almost every day this summer," she said.
"It's slowed down a bit now, maybe weather dependent," she said. "You can still get out here, we have had people use it in the rain, you can put on a raincoat."
The eight accessibility guides that have been released so far can be found on the 4VI website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
India's foreign minister reacts to murder charges, claims Canada welcomes criminals
India's Foreign Affairs Minister accused Canada of welcoming criminals from his country in response to the RCMP's recent arrests in a homicide that has roiled tensions between the two countries.
15-year-old boy stabbed in Ottawa on Thursday dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
'A tiny city:' Pro-Palestinian campus protesters organize for another week
Pro-Palestinian activists have set up tents at universities in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal, following a wave of similar protests at campuses in the United States linked to the Israel-Hamas war.
Lawsuit against Meta asks if Facebook users have right to control their feeds using external tools
Do social media users have the right to control what they see — or don't see — on their feeds?
A Holocaust survivor will mark that history differently after the horrors of Oct. 7
This year's Holocaust Remembrance Day, which begins on Sunday evening in Israel, carries a heavier weight than usual for many Jews around the world.
Princess Anne lays wreath at Battle of Atlantic ceremony; honours late Queen
Princess Anne saluted Canadian veterans and current forces members and honoured her late mother during separate ceremonies Sunday in Victoria as she wrapped up a three-day British Columbia West Coast royal visit.
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.