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(Cumberland Village, Ontario, Tuesday, September 25, 2012) The Cumberland Lions Club have just
installed a barrier free access ramp and automatic door opener at the rear of their Maple Hall at 2552 Old Montreal
Road in Cumberland Village. The renovations will make it easier for people with disabilities and mobility challenges
to access the building whether by wheelchairs or any other assisted devices.
"The Cumberland Lions recognize that people with mobility disabilities often still do not
have equal, universal access to services or buildings that others enjoy," said Gordon Kerluke, immediate past
president and project manager for this new structure.
He went on to say that (the Lions) further recognized and accepted that the Accessibility for
Ontarians with Disabilities Act, S.O. 2005 (AODA) was passed with the goal of creating standards to improve accessibility
across Ontario. So the Cumberland Lions made it their goal to try to meet the objectives of the AODA so that those
with disabilities can access services in a manner which takes into account a persons abilities and disabilities.
Kerluke added that the current architectural design and physical features of the Maple Hall limit
access to persons with a mobility disability. To correct this shortfall, the Lions identified the services and
facilities people with disabilities rely on and considered how they could best access Maple Hall. Although there
is a ramp at the front of the Hall, there are limitations to that ramp in that it does not meet the requirements
under the Ontario Building Code.
The project was made possible with grants received from the Rural Community Building Grant Program
of Urban Affairs at the City, the Cumberland Community Association and the Lions Trillium grant surplus.
The Canaan Connexion learned that Lions members, particularly Gordon Kerluke, and a local welder,
Mike Scott, devoted extensive volunteer hours to the project. Lion Gordon was the Project Manager.
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Residents
from all over the Ottawa Valley and the Outaouais attend this event which has become a tradition for many families.
Last year, close to 1,600 meals of all you can eat pancakes, sausages and maple syrup were served. The Lions look
forward to exceeding that number this year.
