The Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF), RBC and RBC Foundation are awarding forty grants of up to $40,000 to municipalities, schools and community groups across the country for accessibility improvement projects.
RBC Barrier Buster Grants Program aims to remove barriers for people of all ages and abilities. The announcement coincided with the 40th anniversary of Rick Hansen’s Man In Motion World Tour and the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, 2025.
“Accessibility isn’t just about removing physical barriers — it’s about creating opportunity, independence, and belonging for everyone,” said Rick Hansen, the RHF’s founder. “Over the past four decades, RBC has been a steadfast champion of accessibility and inclusion in Canada, and we are incredibly grateful for their ongoing leadership and commitment. Together, we’re continuing the spirit of the Man in Motion World Tour by creating awareness of the potential of people with disabilities and helping realize it by identifying and removing barriers.”
One in four people in Canada have a disability and that number continues to grow as the population ages.
“Over half of buildings in Canada are either not accessible or only partially accessible,” added Andrea Barrack, senior vice president, sustainability and impact, at RBC. “Through the RBC Barrier Buster Grants Program, RBC and RBC Foundation are proud to support the Rick Hansen Foundation in equipping communities with the tools and resources needed to help reduce physical barriers, enhance accessibility and foster greater inclusion in communities across Canada.”
Potential projects may include:
- Accessible play spaces;
- Improved parking and exterior access;
- Interior accessibility improvements for community facilities and workspaces;
- Elevators and lifts;
- Accessible washrooms and showers;
- Accessible kitchens, cafeterias and eating spaces;
- Emergency response and safety improvements; and
- Improvements to parks, trails and marine access
Grant applications are open until March 15, 2026. Forty recipients will be announced in May/June 2026 during National AccessAbility Week.
