Government Supports the Antigonish Education Centre

Finance and Treasury Board Minister Randy Delorey, on behalf of Community Services Minister Joanne Bernard, announced support for the Antigonish Education Centre, today, Nov. 2.

The school received close to $8,000 in funding from the Community Access-Ability Program to help create an accessible playground.

"The goal of our project is to build an accessible playground for all students regardless of ability," said vice-principal, Sean Barker. "We know that physical activity is vital to the mental, emotional, physical and academic growth of all children and this should not be limited by ability. The funds have gone towards helping us reach that very important goal of creating a playground for everybody."

New additions to the play area include:

• an accessible rubber surface
• a music making area and components for children with sensory needs
• a variety of climbing structures, such as a lower set of monkey bars for younger children and children using wheelchairs

Mr. Delorey says the success of this project came about as the result of strong community support.

"The community and government were able to work together toward this shared goal of improving accessibility. Every one of these small steps has a big impact."

Government has committed to introducing Nova Scotia's first accessibility legislation in 2016.

The Community Access-Ability Program offers grants to community groups for accessibility-related capital improvements, such as renovations to make entrances, doorways and washrooms accessible.

The grant covers up to two-thirds of the costs of renovations, to a maximum of $10,000. The organization must raise at least one-third of the funding, and can receive funding for one project per year.

For more information, visitwww.novascotia.ca/coms/disabilities/communityaccessability.html.