Technical committee for outdoor spaces
Role
The role of the technical committee for standards for outdoor spaces is to:
- identify where persons with disabilities may face barriers in the outdoor environment
- develop a national standard or standards that will try to remove or prevent these barriers
This standard or standards will apply to all private and public sector organizations in the federally regulated sector.
Compensation for individual members
We are adopting Canadian and international practices to develop accessibility standards. We will recruit experts from various backgrounds. These are volunteer roles as most members will represent organizations. If an individual with a disability is not paid by an organization, we will compensate them for their role as an expert on a technical committee.
Travel directive
If members need to travel, Accessibility Standards Canada covers expenditures, as per the Government of Canada travel directive.
Areas of focus
A few areas where persons with disabilities may face barriers in outdoor spaces include:
- outdoor paths:
- recreation trails
- paths to beaches
- sidewalks and walkways
- lack of accessible parking
- outdoor public use eating areas
- outdoor play spaces
- services (for example service counters)
- maintenance (fixing things)
Committee members
Find below our technical committee members, title, and organization, grouped by stakeholder category.
Chairperson and Vice Chairperson
Chairperson: Haley Flaro (full information: name number 13 below)
Vice Chairperson: Isabelle Ducharme (full information: name number 14 below)
Academic and research bodies
1. Dr. Patricia Longmuir, Senior Scientist, CHEO and CHEO Research Institute
2. Dr. Alison Novak, Scientist, KITE Research Institute, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute – University Health Network
3. Dr. Tilak Dutta, Scientist, KITE Research Institute, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute – University Health Network
Public interest
4. Dr. Nicole Yantzi, public interest member
5. Ms. Aasiya Hussain, CEO & Executive Director, Ecohesian Inc
Standards users
6. Ms. Shira Standfield, Visitor Experience Advisor, Accessibility and Inclusion, Parks Canada
7. Mrs. Ivy Smith, Associate Landscape Designer, LEES+Associates Landscape Architecture and Planning
8. Mr. Andrew Ashby, Member, Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee (MAAC) for the City of Kingston
Government and authorities having jurisdiction
9. Mr. Yoland Charette, Chef - architecture de paysage et design industriel, Commission de la capitale nationale (CCN-NCC)
10. Mr. Robert Lipka, Principal Urban Designer, City of Edmonton
Non-governmental Organizations
11. Ms. Haley Flaro (Chairperson), Executive Director, Ability New Brunswick
12. Ms. Isabelle Ducharme (Vice Chairperson), Présidente du conseil d'administration, Kéroul
13. Mrs. Marnie Courage, member/rep, Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT)
Standards Development Organizations
14. Ms. Stephanie Singh, Project Manager, CSA Group