When St. George's Anglican Church was built in 1881, at a cost of $12,000, it was considered one of the most beautiful churches in Ontario. But attractive as they may be architecturally, its heavy wooden doors and interior staircases are barriers to St. George's building the hospitable and accessible community space it aspires to be.
A $17,404 grant from the federal Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) is enabling the congregation to start on work this summer to replace the front entrance doors with a new power operated glass door and two flanking windows, complete with new ramped sidewalks. This is phase 1, with the next phases to install an elevator and handicapped washroom.
EAF grants totalling $138,771 will be distributed among six local groups in total, for automatic doors and ramps, adaptable indoor renovations and an accessible pool lift, improving accessibility to community spaces.
More information on the Enabling Accessibility Fund here.
