The grant will support the Alexandra Hall Kitchen Accessibility Renovation and contribute to a more inclusive and accessible campus
King’s is a proud recipient of an RBC Barrier Buster Grant, presented by the Rick Hansen Foundation. The $39,391 grant will help create an accessible kitchen in Alexandra Hall by removing the everyday barriers that limit safe, independent use for all students.
Alexandra Hall houses approximately 150 students annually. This project will support not only current students but also future students and participants in camps, conferences and community programs hosted on campus. The renovation will enable students and visitors to safely and independently prepare meals, participate in shared cooking spaces and fully engage in residence life.
“Creating a space that more people can use comfortably supports inclusion and helps ensure students with disabilities can fully participate in the residence experience,” says Accessibility Officer Michelle Mahoney. “We are proud to be part of the national RBC Barrier Buster Grants Program, and the Alexandra Hall Kitchen Accessibility Renovation will play an important role in creating a barrier-free community and country.”
The upgrades to the Alexandra Hall kitchen have already begun and will include installing counters at varied heights with knee clearance, accessible appliances with front controls, lever-style hardware and adequate turning space for mobility devices. These changes will enable more students to participate in shared cooking, social activities and daily living routines.
“Accessibility is about more than removing barriers, it’s about opening doors to opportunity so that every Canadian can contribute and participate fully,” says Rick Hansen, Founder of the Rick Hansen Foundation.
The RBC Barrier Buster Grants Program was created in honour of the 40th anniversary of Hansen’s Man In Motion World Tour, to assist municipalities, schools and community groups across the country with accessibility improvement projects that help remove barriers for people of all ages and abilities.
The program is made possible thanks to the generous support of RBC, RBC Foundation, as well as National Partners McDonald’s, Permobil Foundation, and Toyota Canada, and National Media Partners Corus Entertainment, Pattison Outdoor Advertising, and The Globe and Mail. The Alexandra Hall Kitchen Accessibility Renovation at King’s is one of the 40 accessibility improvement projects across Canada made possible through the program.
