New elevator lifts spirits

By Janeen Yusuf

yusu0023@algonquincollege.com

A new elevator has been built on Woodroffe campus, aiding mobility impaired students and staff with access to parts of the college that were once difficult to reach.

A-building was the only multi-level building at Algonquin without an elevator. Over the summer, the college addressed this pressing need.

“We are really very pleased to have an elevator in A-building. Students with mobility impairments found it very hard to get upstairs,” said Toni Connolly, a counsellor at the Centre for Students with Disabilities.

Before the elevator, users got to the upper floors of A-building by going through B-building. With short breaks between classes, this was a problem for some students to arrive to class on time.

“Without elevators, I would not be able to get up to the second floors and get across to one of my classes…In the winter time the elevators help me get across to other buildings without having to get through the snow,” said Joshua Turnbull, a general arts and science pre-media and communication student.

Wayne McIntyre, director of student services, and a wheelchair user said, “I’ve been waiting for an elevator in A-building for 10 years. I’m a happy guy. Most students use manual chairs so distance means a lot to them in a day.”

Connolly and McIntyre noted that the elevators are of great use not only to students with mobility impairments, but students who are blind, who have strollers, and teachers with audio visual equipment.

With regards to accessibility, Connolly said “Algonquin is at the top of the province.”

“Having an elevator in each building is much better for accessibility,” said Kailyn Sheridan, a student in recreation and leisure services who uses a wheelchair to access the campus. “My experience has been pretty good and really mostly everything is accessible.”

With the long-time lobbying support of the Students’ Association, president Rob Nettleton said it was in full support of an elevator in A-building.

“Algonquin is very sensitive and accommodating to people with handicaps,” said Turnbull.

The CSD has a record of 68 students with mobility impairments on campus this academic year, and Connolly projected this number will increase as some students may notify the CSD of their disability later in the year.

Posted on walls throughout the campus are the four core values Algonquin represents; caring, learning, integrity and respect. McIntyre said Algonquin uses these core values when making decisions such as building an elevator.