Burlington to Receive Inclusive Community Grant to Install Hearing Loops in City Facilities
*Please see below a news release issued by the City of Burlington.
Burlington, Ont. — April 27, 2021 — The City of Burlington will receive $59,700 from the Ontario Government’s Inclusive Community Grants program. These funds will be used to install hearing loop systems in City of Burlington recreation centres to help individuals with hearing aids and cochlear implants get clearer sound, participate more fully and enjoy their experiences in programs and activities.As part of the Burlington Active Aging Plan, the City has expanded recreational programs for older adults and seniors across the city. As this segment of the population grows in Burlington so does the demand for recreational services. This initiative will help keep older adults and seniors active, healthy and engaged in the community and offer them recreation and social programs that will enrich their quality of life. These projects are planned for completion by March 31, 2022.
"The Ontario government is committed to strengthening and building more inclusive and accessible communities. The Inclusive Community Grants Program funds up to $60,000 for projects that help improve the quality of life for older adults and people with disabilities. Funding provided to the City of Burlington will be used to install hearing loops in our community centres to better support people with hearing loss. This a great example of what we can achieve when we work together!" -- Burlington Member of Provincial Parliament Jane McKenna
The Canadian Hard of Hearing Association estimates that 4 million people in Canada have some degree of hearing loss, which works out to almost 1 in 10 Canadians. Hearing aids are an effective solution to improving hearing quality. However, hearing aids are not always effective in all environments on their own. Induction loop systems (hearing loops) are a great way of improving sound quality for individuals wearing hearing aids or cochlear implants.Many individuals in City programs rely on hearing aids. By installing hearing loops in City facilities, it will make it easier for these individuals to hear and have a more positive experience.
"As our older adult and senior population grows in Burlington, it’s important for the City of Burlington to invest in safe, accessible community spaces for individuals of all ages and abilities to enjoy. I am proud of my fellow council members for recognizing this need and investing City funding to augment this grant. This will allow the City to install hearing loops in as many facilities and spaces as possible to enhance the recreation experience for those in our community with hearing loss." -- Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte, City of Burlington
Hearing loops will be installed in areas including customer service counters, meeting rooms, multi-purpose program rooms and auditoriums in City facilities that host the majority of adult and senior programs. Initially, the City will focus on five community centres: The Burlington Seniors’ Centre, Tansley Woods Community Centre, Haber Community Centre, Mountainside Community Centre and Brant Hills Community Centre. The next phase will look at customer service counters at various City pools.MAYOR MEED WARD'S TAKE:We are excited to receive this funding to help our community centres be more welcoming, inclusive and accessible. Thank you to our Burlington MPP Jane McKenna and the Honourable Raymond Cho, Minister for Seniors and Accessibility, for offering Burlington an Inclusive Community Grant and helping make this important City service possible. The funding will help make sure more of our local facilities are inclusive and accessible for everyone to enjoy. Building an inclusive Burlington is part of our City’s Strategic Plan and grants like this help us achieve our goals towards an accessible and inclusive city.--*Posted by John Bkila, Mayor's Media and Digital Communications Specialist