Accessibility

Last updated July 12, 2024

In 2021, the Province of British Columbia passed the Accessible BC Act requiring municipalities to develop a plan that addresses accessibility to municipal services, programs, and infrastructure. Everyone will experience permanent, temporary, or episodic impairments over their lifetime either personally, or through caring for someone else. By focusing on accessibility, we can work towards becoming a municipality where every person is able to participate fully and equally and is empowered to pursue the life they wish to live.

To improve accessibility to our municipal services, facilities, and natural and built environments, the District of Sooke is working with other regional municipalities to develop an Accessibility Plan. The Plan will identify and reduce challenges people experience with our:

  • Information
  • Communication
  • Technologies
  • Policies
  • Practices; and
  • Infrastructure

The Accessible BC Act identifies eight standards for inclusion in a long-term Plan. The first iteration of our Plan will focus on the first two of those standards: Employment and Service Delivery. It will take time to eliminate barriers, however the Plan is the first step in identifying how we can improve accessibility going forward.

The Plan must be reviewed and updated every three years and will incorporate information gathered through public engagement opportunities. Opportunities will be advertised on this page as they are scheduled.

An initial “Capital West Accessibility Advisory Committee” comprised of staff from partner municipalities, including the District of Sooke, will review internal practices for making information, activities, and environments sensible, meaningful, and usable for as many people as possible. Once a robust staff foundation is built, the committee composition can be expanded to reflect the Plan’s revised areas of focus to further enhance access and inclusion in the District of Sooke.

Public Participation

Meetings

Meetings will be open to the public and written feedback is welcome via accessibility@sooke.ca

Committee Meeting Agendas and Minutes will be posted here: Public Meeting Agendas & Minutes (sooke.ca)

Ongoing Feedback

A critical part of developing, monitoring, and updating the Accessibility Plan is receiving valuable feedback from people experiencing barriers. While the first term of the Plan is internally focused, public input is always welcomed and appreciated. Sharing your experiences in or interacting with the municipality will help us to identify barriers and improve accessibility for all people.
We invite your feedback in the following ways:

Email: accessibility@sooke.ca

Formal engagement opportunities will be advertised on this page as scheduled.