Last week, MPP Paul Vickers met with representatives at Habitat for Humanity Grey Bruce’s Owen Sound location to celebrate the accessibility upgrades that were made since receiving a $13,000 Capital grant from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). The six-month long grant, awarded last summer, enabled the group to install automatic door openers at its Owen Sound, Hanover, and Port Elgin ReStores, significantly improving accessibility and enhancing the shopping experience for all customers.
“Investments in accessible infrastructure are important. But while they are important, they also come at a cost,” said Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Paul Vickers. “By helping with the costs associated with installing accessible doors for the three Re-Store locations, the OTF has helped this organization, and in turn its clients, significantly.”
The new automatic door openers have been designed to remove physical barriers and ensure the ReStore is welcoming and accessible to all customers including people who use assistive devices, and families with strollers. And when it came time to cut the ribbon on the new doors, Habitat for Humanity invited Anne Bartlett to be in attendance for the ceremony as she was the ReStore customer whose experience helped inspire the project.
“This funding allows us to make a meaningful improvement that aligns with our values of dignity, inclusion, and community,” said Greg Fryer, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity Grey Bruce. “Accessibility is essential. We’re grateful to OTF for recognizing the impact small capital improvements can have on people’s everyday lives and non-profit charities like Habitat for Humanity Grey Bruce.”
The inspiration for the funding application came directly from a real customer experience. One of Habitat Grey Bruce’s regular ReStore shoppers, who was temporarily confined to a wheelchair following surgery, visited the Owen Sound ReStore with her husband, as they often do. Upon arrival, they experienced difficulty entering the store due to the lack of automatic door openers. Habitat staff assisted them inside and immediately raised the concern with management. When the opportunity to apply for OTF funding arose, Habitat Grey Bruce acted quickly — and the application was approved.
Habitat for Humanity Grey Bruce invites media, partners, and community members to join in celebrating this milestone and the positive impact of community-driven solutions supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province. Last year, OTF invested nearly $105 million into 732 community projects and multi-sector partnerships. Projects aim to enhance economic well-being, foster more active lifestyles, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
People in this community and all over the world partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and purchase their home with a no-down payment, no-interest mortgage with payments set at 25 per cent of their income. Not only does this provide affordable housing for families in need, it also enables them to build assets, reduce their dependence on other forms of social assistance and contribute to the community through paying property taxes.
As an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity Canada, Habitat for Humanity Grey Bruce has served 91 families including 141 adults and 220 children since 1987. A partnership with Habitat for Humanity gives homeowners the opportunity to thrive, enabling them to build a better life for themselves and their children. To learn more about how you can help create a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live visit their website: habitatgreybruce.ca.
