Technical committee on 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. 

Academic and research bodies

Dr. Patricia Longmuir, Senior Scientist, CHEO and CHEO Research Institute

Dr. Alison Novak, Scientist, KITE Research Institute, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute – University Health Network

Dr. Keiko Shikako, Associate Professor, School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University

Maria-Jose Aguilar-Carrasco, Researcher, PARCOURS Project, University of British Columbia and Universitat Politècnica de València, València (Spain)

Dr. Atul Jaiswal, Research Operations Manager, Bruyère Research Institute

Government and authorities having jurisdiction 

Yoland Charette, Chief, Landscape Architecture and Industrial Design for National Capital Commission

Robert Lipka, Principal Urban Designer, City of Edmonton

Dr. Nicole Yantzi, Coordinator, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, City of Belleville

Touria Chraibi, Program Agent, Natural Resources Canada

Non-governmental Organizations 

Haley Flaro (Chairperson), Executive Director, Ability New Brunswick 

Isabelle Ducharme (Vice-Chairperson), Chair of the Board of Directors, Kéroul

Marnie Courage, Member/Representative, Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT)

Kevin Ng, Director of Technical and Program Content, Rick Hansen Foundation

Standards users

Ivy Smith, Associate Landscape Designer, LEES+Associates Landscape Architecture and Planning

Andrew Ashby, Manager, Accessibility Services, Human Rights & Equity Office, Queen's University

Peter Stapper, Outdoor spaces consultant

Denis Baribeau, Public works technician, Inventory and Planning Department, des Transports et de la Mobilité durable

Standards Development Organizations

Stephanie Singh, Project Manager, CSA Group