Saugeen District Secondary School’s construction class, who built the temporary, portable accessibility ramps for eight businesses around Saugeen Shores. Photo submitted

Hub Staff

Thanks to The Town of Saugeen Shores Accessibility Advisory Committee, made up of local volunteers, and the construction class at Saugeen District Secondary School (SDSS), eight more doorsteps around Saugeen Shores will be accessible through the “StopGap” program.

The StopGap Foundation is a not-for-profit foundation, which creates portable accessibility ramps to accommodate a single step entrance, was started by Luke Anderson, an engineering student from Toronto who, as a result of a mountain biking accident in which he broke his neck, found himself in a wheelchair.

Related: Making Saugeen Shores more accessible

From a July 22 media release, these colourful, temporary ramps were part of the pilot project, through which the committee was hoping to make Port Elgin and Southampton businesses more accessible. The ramps were built by the “talented and dedicated students” in Bud Halpin’s construction class at SDSS.

Related: StopGap, all but approved

Generous donations and support from Martin’s Home Hardware, RONA, GW Signs and Woodward’s Custom Framing helped make the project possible.

Participating businesses in Port Elgin are George Gruetzner Law Office, Miller Insurance / Shoreline Beacon, Sutton-Huron Realty / Saugeen Shores Hub, Canadian Martial Arts Centre and Swing, Spring and Flip Club. In Southampton, Historic Saugeen Metis, Bliss and Judy Rich Law office.

For more information or to donate to the initiative, contact the Deputy Clerk at the Town of Saugeen Shores office, Tracey Edwards at 519-832-2008, extension 105.

Left to right, Saugeen Shores Councillor, Cheryl Grace; Assistant Coordinator, Historic Saugeen Metis, Carolyn Myers Boone; Accessibility Advisory Committee Member, Bill McKee; Historic Saugeen Metis Secretary Treasurer, Patsy McArthur. Photo submitted

On the left, Canadian Martial Arts Centre, Port Elgin, left to right, Saugeen Shores Councillor, Cheryl Grace, Accessibility Advisory Committee member, Bill McKee; Canadian Martial Arts Centre Director/Instructor, Stacy Kremer. On the right, Judy Rich Law office, Southampton, left to right, Councillor, Cheryl Grace; Accessibility Advisory Committee member, Bill McKee. Photo submitted