For people without a disability, accessibility can be all too easy to overlook. Those with barriers to mobility, sensory deficits, or cognitive issues, however, often need to ask questions others take for granted—will I be able to experience a destination as intended? Will supports be available if needed? For that matter, can I even get inside? It’s our mission at Kawarthas Northumberland to encourage as many people as possible to get out and enjoy the region, so in honour of National AccessAbility Week we’re putting the spotlight on accessibility and attractions with robust offerings for visitors with disabilities.
It’s a big subject, so we reached out to local experts for insight. Cody McIntyre is the chair of the Council for Persons with Disabilities (CPD) in Peterborough, and a passionate advocate for accessibility. Since 1989, his organization has focused on creating a barrier-free society so that everyone can enjoy equal access to the city.
That goal has many facets, from physical ones like retrofitting older buildings with ramps, to sensory ones such as making sure websites are accessible to people using screen readers. Then there’s customer service training, such as making sure staff know how to interact with people accompanied by guide dogs. McIntyre says the CPD deliberately leaves some goals open-ended, the better to adapt to changing generational needs. The aging community faces limitations on mobility, sight, and hearing, for example, while new challenges crop up constantly.
“Education’s an evolving thing, right? It never ends,” he says, pointing to the COVID pandemic as an example. Attempts to impose safety regulations risked leaving some people with disabilities at a disadvantage, often in seemingly small but impactful ways. “In Peterborough, we went to almost a thousand different organizations and businesses downtown and on the main street. We pointed out some no-cost things that they could do to make their business accessible and work for people with disabilities.”
Socially distant checkout lanes are one example. “With the arrows on the floor, somebody that’s visually impaired could not see that. But if they put a string or something underneath the tape, somebody with a cane could feel it. So now it becomes tactile. You know, having your sanitation station at the front—just by putting a red tablecloth or a balloon there, it draws your eyes to it immediately. Putting a chair or a bench in when somebody comes into the store so if they’re elderly or have mobility issues they could sit down and don’t have to stand in line to wait. It’s simple things like that, right?”
The CPD’s mandate extends well beyond tourism, but where travel is concerned, McIntyre has high praise for the Canadian Canoe Museum. “From the beginning, they reached out to us when they were starting the planning to make sure that the full experience for the user is 100% accessible. So that includes the creation of the path outside to the way the exhibits were set up inside.”
The Canoe Museum was fortunate to be able to design from the ground up, thanks to its new location that opened in spring of 2024. A prime example is the way accommodations have been made to be able to offer outdoor education as well as accessible exhibits. “They’ve done amazing work with their trails to make sure that as you go from the building down to the water there’s actually no steps onto the dock. Somebody that’s in a wheelchair or has a walker could go right onto the dock, get into a canoe and experience what it’s like to go out on Little Lake.”
The Canadian Canoe Museum is one of the region’s marquee destinations, so it’s encouraging to see it setting an example. Peterborough Musicfest is another strong option, and plenty of other spots have made strides—McIntyre describes Peterborough’s Riverview Park and Zoo as “exceptional” as well. This free attraction boasts a playground with wheelchair-accessible swings, the only equipment of its kind in Ontario. The beloved miniature train ride also has a wheelchair-friendly cart, while “touch tables” provide other sensory means to experience the zoo beyond viewing the animal enclosures.
When it comes to parks and beaches, McIntyre mentions the accessible beach mat that reaches to the water’s edge at Cobourg’s Victoria Beach, meaning assistive devices won’t get stuck in the sand; a similar option exists at Presqu’ile Provincial Park. Centralized and comprehensive accessibility listings aren’t available, however, so McIntyre suggests anyone with concerns visit a destination’s webpage or contact them with questions before heading out.
For those wishing to learn more, get involved, or just have a good time, McIntyre recommends the annual Capable Con event. Taking place on June 7 in 2025 from 10am to 2pm at the Venture North parking lot (270 George Street N, Peterborough), he describes the CPD-run event as a celebration of inclusion, accessibility, and diversity. Expect entertainment, giveaways, educational activities, and more, offered completely free of charge.
He also suggests checking the CPD website for events further down the road, such as the September Poker Run, aimed at car and motorcycle enthusiasts. Where education is concerned, he highlights Time in My Shoes, a hands-on program run by volunteers with lived experience that walks participants through a series of realistic simulations. It can be an enlightening experience for anyone who hasn’t fully considered the importance of barrier-free access—and a step towards making the region even more inviting for all.
