Have you been wanting to explore the great outdoors but worried it won’t be accessible? Or worried about accessibility issues at a hotel or tourism attraction? SCI BC’s Access BC program was developed out of a need to improve accessible outdoor spaces and recreational and tourism opportunities in BC, and to help share information about them. The program aims to create inclusive spaces through educational workshops, universal design training, accessibility assessments, and key partnerships with tourism and government agencies throughout the province. Here’s a snapshot of some of the latest projects from SCI BC’s Access BC team:
Assessments and Virtual Tours
Ever wonder where to find accessible spots before heading out? Since 2007, SCI BC’s
Access BC team has been blazing trails to improve accessible outdoor spaces and recreational tourism opportunities in BC. We work closely with all tourism associations across the province.
We partnered with all six tourism regions and Destination BC to update hellobc.com, Destination BC’s flagship website, with accessibility information on accommodations and attractions across BC. Our team has assessed over 400 sites, including Tsawaak RV Resort (4VI), Scout Island Nature Centre (Cariboo Chilcotin Coast), Mount 7 Lodges (Kootenay Rockies), the Great West Life Mobility Trail (Northern BC), Turtle Valley Donkey Refuge (Thompson Okanagan), and the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve (Vancouver, Coast, and Mountains). Check out each location’s Hello BC listing (hellobc.com) for details on accessible washrooms, slopes, doorway widths, and more! In collaboration with our tourism partners and Jody Wall Photography , we created over 60 accessibility-focused Google virtual tours at key tourism destinations across BC. Learn more at sci-bc.ca/access-bc.
Accessible Fishing in Northern BC
Hooked on accessibility? Reel North Adventures is a guide fishing business that offers fishing trips around Terrace and Prince George. With Access BC’s support, owner Jerry Daoust launched a 20-foot accessible flat bottom boat with a custom boarding ramp. Daoust told the Northern BC Tourism Association that the boat, “allow[s] our guests to get up onto the casting deck safely and experience multiple methods of fishing from trolling, casting, fly fishing, jigging, and more.” Peer Pat Harris says, “This was a fantastic experience with Jerry, our gracious host. Not many outdoor adventure companies provide the level of accessibility as Reel North Adventures. You will catch fish!” The next project to tackle? Renovating cabins to make overnight stays just as accessible. Learn more at reelnorthadventures.com.
Training in Tofino for Indigenous Businesses
In celebration of Indigenous Disability Awareness Month, Access BC visited Tofino in November 2024. In partnership with Tourism Tofino, Tla-o-qui-aht Nation, and local Tribal Park Allies, the team provided training on sustainable best practices for collecting accessibility information. Access BC Coordinator Emily Wiebe shares, “Local businesses were engaged and enthusiastic to learn more about improving accessibility! We were encouraged by the number of business owners that were interested in having an assessment done. It was the perfect opportunity to provide hands-on training in tandem with the assessments.” However, a bomb cyclone threw the Access BC team into the eye of community emergency preparations. Tourism Tofino stepped up, sheltering locals and tourists alike. When the generators ran out, hotel staff simply donned headlamps and continued looking after guests. In the end, breaks in the weather allowed the team to finish training and produce Google virtual tours, now available on Tourism Tofino’s website.
For more Access BC highlights and accessible travel resources, head over to sci-bc.ca/travel for tips and tricks on your next adventure.
