At the Monday, June 24, 2024 Council meeting, the Accessibility Advisory Committee presented its annual awards to four members of the community.
Mark and Sara Popieul, of No Frills Wallaceburg, were presented with the Dr. Veronica Vaughn Accessible Business Award.
The committee says the Popieul’s “go above and beyond to make sure people with disabilities can shop safely, assisting them in finding items and providing detailed information about products, and do a wonderful job of creating an including and supportive shopping experience.”
The Dr. Veronica Vaughn Accessible Business Award is presented to a business that stands out as providing an accessible facility and/or accessible customer service, Municipal officials say.
Abigail McFadden, presented with the Sheila Lindsey Powers Accessibility Advocate Award, is a student ambassador at Ursuline College Chatham who helped facilitate the first-ever Disability Awareness Day at UCC and joined the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Patient Experience Advisor to help make CKHA more accessible and patient-centred.
The Sheila Lindsey Powers Accessibility Advocate Award is presented to an individual in this community who stands out as an advocate for the inclusion of people of all abilities.
Shelby Emery, presented with the Sid Ebare Perseverance Award, is a community advocate for persons with disabilities through her work at New Beginnings Acquired Brain Injury Association teaching arts and crafts, volunteers with Come Together CK as well as giving motivational talks in the community, in the hopes her story will help others.
The Sid Ebare Perseverance Award is presented to an individual who stands out as a person who perseveres beyond their limitations to participate in community life.
“Recognizing and celebrating people and businesses that are going above and beyond to make our community accessible is one of the highlights of our committee work every year,” said Sara Ebare, Chair of the Accessibility Advisory Committee, in a press release.
“The more accessible we can make Chatham-Kent, the more welcoming and inclusive we are for everyone. It’s good for business and it’s good for our society. I’d like to thank everyone who submitted nominations and congratulations to Abigail, Paul & Sara from No Frills Wallaceburg, and Shelby, for being such fantastic advocates for accessibility in Chatham-Kent.”
The opening of nominations for the 2025 Accessibility Advisory Committee Awards will be announced in early 2025.
Accessibility Advisory Committee meetings are held monthly September to June and open to the public.
