Part 1: Accessibility Committee Focused on Elections, Feedback and Long-Term Accessibility Planning — 06/15/2026
- PECConnect
- Jun 15
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 17
The County’s Accessibility Advisory Committee held what was expected to be its final meeting of the 2022-2026 term on June 15, 2026, bringing together committee members, staff, and council representatives to review recent accessibility initiatives and discuss priorities that should continue into the next council term. The meeting was focused on accessibility awareness, public feedback, municipal election planning, and efforts to build accessibility considerations more deeply into municipal decision-making.
One of the first major topics was a review of National Accessibility Week, which took place earlier this month. Staff reported that the County’s public awareness campaign generated strong engagement across social media platforms. The most successful post highlighted the Mobi-Mats at Wellington Rotary Beach and Sandbanks Provincial Park, reaching more than 33,000 views on Facebook and drawing significant public interaction. Other highly viewed posts focused on the H.J. McFarland redevelopment project and Quinte Transit accessibility initiatives.
Committee members viewed the results as encouraging, particularly because they demonstrated strong public interest in accessible recreation and tourism opportunities. Staff confirmed that National Accessibility Week campaigns have been running since 2024 and are expected to continue annually. The discussion also highlighted how accessibility improvements can benefit both residents and visitors while raising awareness about available services and facilities throughout the County.
View the entire PEC Council meeting, or continue to speaker comments and councillor votes>
Accessibility Feedback Process Continues to Grow
The committee then reviewed the County’s accessibility feedback system, which was originally recommended by the committee earlier in the term to give residents a simple way to report barriers on municipal properties and services. Staff provided the first detailed update on feedback submissions received through the program.
Several reports involved physical accessibility concerns, including requests for improvements at Delhi Park, concerns about potholes near McStevens Drive in Picton, and questions surrounding skating aids at Picton Arena. Staff explained that each concern had been forwarded to the appropriate municipal department for review.
Other feedback focused on communication barriers. One submission raised concerns about font sizes used on municipal bills. In response, staff worked with the responsible department to ensure a minimum 12-point Arial font would be used and added information explaining how residents can request alternate formats through the Clerk’s Office.
Committee members noted that the variety of submissions demonstrates that accessibility challenges extend beyond physical infrastructure and include communication, information sharing, and service delivery. The discussion also reinforced the importance of maintaining an easy-to-use reporting process so barriers can be identified and addressed more quickly.
Election Accessibility Measures Moving Forward
Staff also provided an update on preparations for the upcoming 2026 Municipal Election, with a particular focus on accessibility.
One of the most notable initiatives is the introduction of curbside voting. Under the plan, voters who prefer not to enter a polling station will be able to remain in their vehicles while election staff bring ballots and voting materials directly to them. Phone numbers will be posted outside voting locations so residents can request assistance upon arrival.
Staff also emphasized that online voting will continue to play a significant role in the election. Given the County’s strong participation rates in previous online voting opportunities, officials expect it will remain an important option for residents who may face mobility or transportation challenges.
In addition, municipal staff have been conducting accessibility reviews of polling locations throughout the County. A final round of site visits is underway to identify any remaining barriers and determine what improvements can be made before voting begins. Committee members praised the effort and noted that offering multiple voting options helps ensure residents can participate in local democracy in the way that works best for them.
Accessibility Lens Could Become Part of Every Staff Report
Perhaps the most forward-looking discussion of the evening focused on creating an Accessibility Lens for municipal staff reports.
The idea is modeled after a recently developed environmental review process that asks staff to consider climate-related impacts when preparing reports for council. Committee members discussed creating a similar framework that would require staff to evaluate how proposed projects, policies, or decisions might affect accessibility before recommendations reach council.
The conversation covered a broad range of accessibility considerations, including physical barriers, communication access, digital accessibility, public engagement, captioning, hybrid meetings, emergency communications, and access to information. Members stressed that accessibility should not be viewed solely as a building or infrastructure issue.
Rather than creating a complicated checklist, participants favored a simple series of questions that staff could answer while preparing reports. The goal would be to make accessibility considerations a routine part of municipal decision-making rather than something addressed later in the process.
The committee agreed that additional work on the concept should continue, with members volunteering to help develop recommendations for staff.
Planning Reviews and Looking Ahead
The committee also discussed several planning applications that had recently been circulated for review. Members raised questions about accessibility considerations during development reviews and explored how the committee might become involved earlier in future projects. Discussions touched on site accessibility, building design, and opportunities for committee members to participate in site visits when appropriate.
As the meeting moved toward its conclusion, members reflected on priorities they hope the next Accessibility Advisory Committee will continue pursuing. Suggestions included introducing diversity, equity and inclusion training early in the next term, expanding the use of plain language in municipal documents, continuing accessibility awareness efforts, strengthening accessibility reviews during project planning, and reviving community networking events that connect local accessibility-focused organizations.
The meeting ended on a reflective note as members thanked one another, municipal staff, interpreters, and volunteers for their contributions throughout the term. Several speakers emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum and encouraged residents to consider serving on future advisory committees or running for municipal office.
Key Takeaways
Accessibility remains a growing municipal priority. The County is continuing to expand awareness campaigns, accessibility feedback tools, and accessibility planning efforts.
The 2026 Municipal Election will include additional accessible voting options. Curbside voting, online voting, and polling station reviews are all part of the County’s accessibility preparations.
Accessibility considerations may soon become part of every council report. The proposed Accessibility Lens would encourage staff to evaluate accessibility impacts before recommendations reach council, helping accessibility become part of everyday municipal decision-making.
Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 1:10:41. Due to the length of the meeting, our team was not able to independently review the full recording in its entirety. As a result, we relied on software-generated transcription, automated summarization, and automated recognition of speakers and participants, which may not be entirely accurate. All transcriptions, summaries, and related content are prepared by our team in good faith and on a reasonable best-efforts basis. The content is provided for general informational purposes only and is intended to support public understanding of the topics discussed. While reasonable efforts have been made to present the information accurately, automated processes may result in errors, omissions, or unintended misinterpretations. This article does not constitute an official, certified, or verbatim record of the meeting, and it should not be relied upon as such. Readers are encouraged to consult original source materials, official minutes, or recordings where available for confirmation or clarification. Questions, requests for clarification, or suggested corrections may be submitted to hello@pecconnect.ca for review and consideration.
Comments