The Thumbs Up for Access Project was based on the Thumbs Up model which began in St. Thomas Ontario several years ago. The objective of Thumbs Up is to promote better accessibility to business and retail stores in the community. Businesses demonstrating a good level of accessibility are recognized with a certificate and a Thumbs Up decal.

The MLPD obtained funding from the Winnipeg Foundation to replicate the St. Thomas model in downtown Winnipeg. A small advisory committee was formed to guide the four month project.

Letters of introduction were prepared and distributed throughout the downtown area. While there was a disappointing response to the invitation to participate, a dozen businesses were surveyed and given a Thumbs Up recognition certificate and decal.

A Helpful Hints hand out was developed for the project, outlining a wide range of access considerations. This handout was also distributed throughout the downtown retail zone. This was perhaps the most significant aspect of the short summer project that went a long way to educating businesses about the meaning of full access.

The project also included a Thumbs Up Users Kit, which is available to others who wish to carry out a similar project in their community.

Derek Legge & Daniel Halechko
Co-Coordinators