The Athabasca Regional Multiplex is applying for a $100,000 grant through the federal government's Community Accessibility stream to make the Alice B. Donahue Library and Archives, as well as the Nancy Appleby Theatre, more accessible.
According to the multiplex's fundraising campaign chair Janene Kargus, who is organizing the application, people or organizations who apply for this grant usually need to demonstrate a need to improve accessibility and safety for people with disabilities and communities across Canada.
"With the grant, one of the big things was accessing community public spaces," Kargus said. "So, as wonderful as our library, archives and theatre is, they are older buildings. While they were up to code at the time they were built, there are not anymore. As things have changed, we need to make sure that all of our community members can access these facilities."
Kargus said there have a few upgrades in mind if they are approved for the grant money.
"We are not looking to put golden faucets into the washrooms," she said. "We do hope to get wheelchair buttons on all the doors, and we also need to make sure the doors are widened so wheelchairs can get through."
She added that they are also looking to add a ramp to the archive entrance, and to make the bathrooms bigger.
"Right now, anyone in a wheelchair, or a walker even, would find it extremely tricky to use a washroom over there," Kargus said. "Because right now, there simply is not enough room for them to move around."
She said that they just want to make sure that everyone who uses the space, regardless of abilities, can come use it comfortably.
"All three of those facilities really are treasures to the community," Kargus continued. "Even if we were approved for, lets say, $50,000, we would still be able to get started on some of those upgrades. But we need to get it approved, and the deadline to do so is July 1."
The library's manager, Cynthia Graefe, said she is very pleased the multiplex is trying to get the grant in place.
"Anything that will improve accessibility for the disabled or mobility challenged would be a great thing for our facility," Graefe said.
In a Facebook post dated June 21, the Alice B. Donahue Library and Archives sent out an appeal to the public to provide letters of support in order to enhance the multiplex's application.
The library added that each letter should be addressed To Whom It May Concern, and emailed to [email protected]. Due to the July 1 deadline to get the application in, they hope to see a prompt response as soon as possible.
