Directors at qathet Regional District meeting vote for added accessibility at Lund fire hall

qathet Regional District (qRD) directors have voted to install an accessible washroom at the Northside Volunteer Fire Department’s new fire hall in Lund.

At the June 24 regional board meeting, directors were to contemplate a motion of amending the fire service’s budget to allocate $30,000 of the COVID-19 safe restart grant funding for a washroom in the new fire hall. Electoral Area C director Clay Brander amended the motion to allocate $40,000 for the purpose of constructing an accessible washroom. He said the additional $10,000 not included in the June 24, 2021, budget amendment bylaw should be incorporated into a budget amendment bylaw to be presented to the July board meeting for first reading through adoption.

Brander said after discussions at the May 12 C3 meeting, involving the regional district, City of Powell River and Tla’amin Nation, concerning accessibility, and since the Lund fire hall is still in the construction phase, it seems to him that including an accessible washroom is the right way to go.

“We recently approved an accessible bathroom as part of renovations at the maintenance building,” said Brander. “I would like to see the concept of universal design included in all renovations and construction undertaken by the qRD. If we continue the trend, eventually all qRD facilities will be accessible.

“I’ve been told that an increase of $10,000 to the budget will more than cover the additional cost associated with these changes.”

Manager of emergency services Ryan Thoms said staff was aware this amendment might be made and it can be accommodated.

Electoral Area E director Andrew Fall said most firefighters are able-bodied but making the washroom accessible is a good policy.

“We don’t want to exclude the idea that a firefighter or member of the fire department might need an accessible washroom, but there’s also non-members who might be at a function and I’m happy to hear they could be accommodated,” said Fall.

Electoral Area D director Sandy McCormick said she wanted to add her support and that it was time to walk the accessibility walk.

“I totally agree with universal design being incorporated into every building,” said McCormick. “It’s really the way to go.”

Electoral Area B director Mark Gisborne said he is very pleased with the motion. He said he attended a function at the Malaspina Volunteer Fire Department several years ago with his father, who requires a wheelchair.

“Even though the function was on the second floor, the firefighters used their training to carry him up to the second floor of the structure,” said Gisborne. “The washroom facilities aren’t wheelchair accessible. My experience is when you have these functions, you need to be inclusive.”

Directors voted in favour of building an accessible washroom at the new Lund firehall.

Directors also voted to approve an amendment to the 2021 northside fire protection budget to recognize $90,000 from the increased value of the current Larson Road property toward the budget to complete the Lund fire hall, and to reallocate $25,000 in underspending toward costs for completion of the fire training facility.