OTTAWA, October 15, 2024 — Ottawa Tourism is proud to announce the successful completion of several projects funded through its Tourism Accessibility Fund, with funding recipients taking significant steps to enhance inclusivity for all visitors to Canada’s Capital. Launched in April 2024, the Tourism Accessibility Fund provided funding to eligible visitor-facing businesses to improve the accessibility of their visitor experience. The Tourism Accessibility Fund was a pilot funding program that aims to address specific gaps in the destination’s visitor experience and increase its accessibility.
Since the launch of the program in April 2024, more than a dozen projects were funded with one-time grants of up to up to $25,000, depending on the scale of the projects, to improve or retrofit the accessibility of facilities. In total, over $225,000 were awarded across the city for projects ranging from upgrading hotel room accessibility, to improving wheelchair accessibility to facilities, facilitating American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation, and to adding accessible offerings.
Some examples of accessibility enhancements that were funded by the Tourism Accessibility Fund include:
- Electric Cargo Bike for Escape Bicycle Tours.
- Physical spaces accessibility adjustments, including seating structure, ASL interpreters, and adaptation of areas for neuro-diverse children for the Ottawa Children's Festival.
- New accessible ramps and wagons for Saunders Farm.
“It is amazing to see all these projects come to fruition and to now be able to witness the tangible results that our Tourism Accessibility Fund will have in the community,” says Michael Crockatt, President and CEO of Ottawa Tourism. “This demonstrates the collective commitment of our tourism industry to making Ottawa a more inclusive destination, where all visitors, regardless of their abilities, can experience the best our city has to offer. I am grateful for all these organizations that decided to apply and contribute to building a tourism landscape that is welcoming and accessible for everyone.”
About Ottawa Tourism
Through its values of inclusivity, trust, collaboration, and innovation, Ottawa Tourism pursues its vision to be one of Canada’s most visited, sustainable, vibrant, and appealing urban destinations, as well as the tourism authority for key economic development and city-building decisions in Ottawa. Canada’s capital welcomes an estimated 9.8 million visitors annually who spend $2.6 billion in the community.
For more information, please contact:
Jérôme Miousse
Director, Public Affairs
corporate@ottawatourism.ca
