NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release 2007EIA0005-000422 April 12, 2007	Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance
B.C. MEASURES UP TO CHALLENGE WITH $2-MILLION GRANT

KAMLOOPS – The Province is investing $2 million to support community projects aimed at increasing accessibility and inclusion for persons with disabilities, Employment and Income Assistance Minister Claude Richmond announced today.

 

“British Columbians with disabilities want to become more active and independent in their communities and the government is committed to providing the right supports to meet this goal,” said Richmond. “The establishment of the $2-million Measuring Up Accessibility and Inclusion Fund will encourage communities to do even more to increase the participation of people with disabilities.”

 

The Measuring Up Accessibility and Inclusion Fund, managed by 2010 Legacies Now, will provide approximately 70 grants of up to $25,000 in support of community projects that are aligned with the Measuring Up initiative and the 10 by 10 Challenge.

 

“This fund will make a real difference in creating a more inclusive and supportive province,” said Al Etmanski from 2010 Legacies Now’s Accessibility and Inclusion program. “Together, Measuring Up and the 10 by 10 Challenge will provide more opportunities for persons with disabilities to actively participate and contribute to our communities.”

 

The Measuring Up initiative, led by 2010 Legacies Now, focuses on creating fully accessible public spaces and promoting employment and community involvement for people with disabilities.  Similarly, the Province’s 10 by 10 Challenge is targeted at increasing the employment of persons with disabilities in communities by 10 per cent by 2010.

           

“Kamloops embraces the vision of a society that promotes and values the contributions of all its citizens,” said Kamloops Mayor Terry Lake. “As a city fully committed to the goals of the Measuring Up Initiative and the 10 by 10 Challenge, I look forward to being one of the first communities to benefit from this fund.”

 

The introduction of the Measuring Up Accessibility and Inclusion Fund is an innovative part of the provincewide Disability Strategy. It is also part of the Province’s $4-billion investment each year in disability programs to help fulfil government’s goal of building the best system of support in Canada for persons with disabilities.

 

To find out more about the Measuring Up Accessibility and Inclusion Fund, please visit 2010 Legacies Now’s site at www.2010legaciesnow.com/content/home.asp.

 

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1 backgrounder(s) attached.
Media contact:	Richard Chambers Communications Director 250 387-6489	Karen McDonald Communications Director 2010 Legacies Now 778 840-8779
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