Inverness County Partners Receive Rick Hansen Difference Maker Award

Photo: Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 11th, 2019

Inverness County Partners Receive Rick Hansen Difference Maker Award

TRURO, N.S. – During the 2019 Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities Spring Conference, the Municipality of the County of Inverness was awarded the Rick Hansen Difference Maker Award, presented in person by Rick Hansen.

The Inverness Development Association (IDA) and the Inverness Accessibility Committee in partnership with the Municipality of the County of Inverness and the community of Inverness as a whole, has been recognized nationally for its work in making the popular Inverness Beach more accessible, by building ramps, washrooms and parking spaces, installing mats along the beach, and making two beach-friendly wheelchairs available to visitors along with floating chairs that allow people to go in the water safely.

The Rick Hansen Difference Maker Award acknowledges everyday people, organizations or communities who accomplish extraordinary things. They make positive change and a difference in the lives of others. Their efforts change the world, one good turn at a time. The recipient(s) could be anyone in the community who has removed a barrier, shown great courage and determination, and who has made a difference in their community. In doing so, the recipient(s) have demonstrated leadership, determination, courage and teamwork.

The Municipality of the County of Inverness was nominated for the Rick Hansen Difference Maker Award by Gerry Post, Executive Director of Nova Scotia’s Accessibility Directorate for the development of the most accessible beach in Atlantic Canada.

“This is a great honour for the Municipality of the County of Inverness and the community of Inverness,” said District 2 Councillor Laurie Cranton, who accepted the award on behalf of the working group who coordinated the project, and who was also recently named chair of the Province of Nova Scotia’s Built Environment Standard Development Committee, which will focus on the accessibility of buildings and public spaces. “This would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of people like Councillor Jim Mustard, the Inverness Accessibility Chair Callum MacQuarrie, and the innumerable volunteers and supporters of this project. This is something everyone in Inverness and in the County can be proud of.”

“NSFM is proud to highlight the accomplishments of our members and their community partners,” said Waye Mason, president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities and Halifax City Councillor. “The Municipality of the County of Inverness exemplifies the great work Nova Scotia municipalities are doing across the province to meet the needs of our citizens. They are one of three municipalities to have been awarded the Rick Hansen Difference Maker Award at the NSFM conference in May. Halifax Regional Municipality and the Town of Wolfville joined the Municipality of the County of Inverness in being recognized as leaders across the province on accessibility and inclusion for all our Nova Scotians.”

The Municipality of the County of Inverness wishes to extend sincere congratulations to all those involved in the Inverness Beach Accessibility project and for being an accessibility leader of in Nova Scotia.

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Contact:

Karolyn Aucoin

Communications and Community Engagement Specialist / Spécialiste en communications et engagement communautaire

Municipality of the County of Inverness / Municipalité du Comté d’Inverness

375 Main Street, Port Hood, NS  B0E 2W0

Ph: 902.787.3519

karolyn.aucoin@invernesscounty.ca