Maple Ridge, B.C., July 17, 2026 – Maple Ridge’s new Accessibility and Inclusion Strategy will help guide the City’s work to identify, remove and prevent barriers so people of all ages and abilities can participate more fully in community life.
Endorsed by Council last month, the strategy establishes a long-term roadmap to make Maple Ridge more accessible and inclusive through improvements to public spaces, programs, services, communications and civic participation.
Required under the provincial Accessible B.C. Act, the strategy was developed with extensive community input and outlines 84 actions across six priority areas to help ensure people of all abilities can live, work and play in Maple Ridge.
“Creating a more accessible Maple Ridge is about building a community where everyone feels welcome, valued and able to participate fully,” said Mayor Dan Ruimy. “This strategy gives us a clear path forward and reflects what residents have told us is important — creating inclusive spaces, removing barriers and designing our community so everyone can thrive, regardless of age or ability.”
The strategy is the result of several years of collaboration involving City staff, the Municipal Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Inclusiveness (MACAI), and community members with lived experience. More than 500 residents participated in a 12-month engagement process that included surveys, focus groups, pop-up events and public feedback opportunities.
The strategy is guided by principles outlined in the Accessible B.C. Act, including inclusion, adaptability, diversity, collaboration, self-determination and universal design, while also incorporating local priorities identified through community engagement.
“Our goal is to embed accessibility and inclusion into everything we do, from the way we design parks and buildings to how residents access information, participate in programs and engage with City services,” said Petra Frederick, Coordinator, Social Wellbeing. “This strategy was shaped by community voices and lived experiences, and it provides a practical framework to help ensure accessibility is considered in future decisions and investments.”
The strategy focuses on six key areas:
- Built environment, including parks, open spaces, transportation, sidewalks and City facilities
- Civic participation and programming, including events, public art and financial accessibility
- Education, awareness and public safety
- Employment and volunteer opportunities
- Communications, information, technology and engagement
- Governance, policy development and advocacy
Of the 84 actions identified, 40 have already been initiated, completed or are ongoing, reflecting work already underway across the organization.
The strategy also fulfills legislative requirements under the Accessible B.C. Act, which requires municipalities to establish three key components: an accessibility and inclusion strategy, an accessibility advisory committee and a public feedback mechanism.
The City will continue implementing actions over time, with future initiatives considered through the annual business planning processes, existing budgets and external grant opportunities.
Residents can continue to provide accessibility feedback through the City’s online feedback form or by emailing accessible@mapleridge.ca.
Learn more about accessibility and inclusion initiatives at MapleRidge.ca/Accessibility.