Municipalities, not-for-profit organizations and Indigenous governing bodies across Ontario are receiving funds through the Enhancing Access to Spaces for Everyone (EASE) Grant to improve accessibility in public spaces.

The provincial government committed over $2 million to support more than 40 projects that help seniors and people with disabilities to fully participate in community life.

Through the program, recipients can access up to $60,000 for upgrades to building entryways, ramps, elevators, sidewalks, and parking areas. The grant also covers accessible washrooms, signage, barrier removal, and other measures that make community spaces more inclusive.

Examples of this year’s funded projects include:

• Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation is receiving up to $58,000 to remove physical barriers at Baxter Conservation Area, allowing seniors, people with disabilities, and families to enjoy nature safely and inclusively.
• The City of Kingston is receiving more than $57,000 to create the city’s first accessible playground with a fully rubberized surface. It will provide safe, inclusive play opportunities for children and caregivers with mobility and sensory challenges.
• The Township of Champlain is receiving up to $50,000 to add accessible, age‑friendly features at L’Orignal Beach, including shaded seating, signage, and pathways.
• The Town of Deep River is receiving up to $60,000 to install an elevator at the Deep River Arena, removing a physical barrier and improving access to the upper level for older adults, people with disabilities and those with mobility challenges.
• Art Not Shame is receiving more than $33,000 to retrofit a Guelph arts hub with adjustable sinks, bariatric seating, a portable ramp, and pull-down shelving.
• The City of Waterloo will use more than $52,000 to install 20 hearing loop systems at municipal service counters and meeting rooms. These upgrades will remove communication barriers and promote equitable access for people with hearing loss.
• The Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario in Smith Falls will use more than $48,000 to pave the facility’s gravel parking lot and add three accessible parking spaces.

The full list of recipients can be accessed here.