THUMBS
UP
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ANNOUNCEMENTS:
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We would like to ask for your help in making our community a safer and more accessible place for all individuals with mobility problems.
Almost 2 million Ontario residents (all ages) have mobility problems. In Elgin County, over 8,000 residents have mobility problems, half of which are 65 years or older. While these individuals make up a significant portion of the general population, many buildings are made without considering their special needs.
The “Thumbs Up” committee has developed a program that is intended to raise awareness about safety and accessibility issues concerning public buildings in our community.
The “Thumbs Up” program’s focus is to recognize businesses and services within a community, that have made an effort to be accessible, safe and user friendly for individuals with mobility problems. It is a positive and voluntary program and a “Thumbs Up” window decal is awarded after a spot check has been completed and the necessary requirements are found to be present. In order to pass the spot check, the premise inspected must meet the standard for being accessible to all who have mobility or visual problems of any kind, so as to enable them to enter, move about and leave safely. Businesses and services that have been awarded a decal are asked to place it so that it is visible to the public.
It is our hope that you will see the value in this program. As of 2025, the Ontario Government will have in place standards to make Ontario a safe, accessible Province. The coming of the new regulations make it even more important to start making changes now.
THUMBS UP PLACES
An establishment with the Thumbs Up symbol will have improved accessibility and safety. Congratulations to all of the following that have received the Thumbs Up decal:
AGENCIES/SERVICES
Closing the Gap
452 Talbot Street, St. Thomas631-9866 Elgin Military Museum
30 Talbot Street, St. Thomas633-7641 Elgin Oxford Legal Clinic -side entrance
98 Centre St., St. Thomas633-2638 Employment Services Elgin
400 Talbot St., St. Thomas631-5470 First Choice Haircutters (Walmart Plaza)
1063 Talbot Street, St. Thomas637-3492 Galaxy Theatre
Elgin Mall, 417 Wellington Street631-5777 Multiple Sclerosis Society
400 Talbot St., St. Thomas
633-3533 Raven & Shaw Chartered Accountants
460 Wellington St., St. Thomas637-3500 Shawn Jackson Funeral Home
631 Elgin Street, St. Thomas631-0570 St. Thomas Energy
135 Edward St., St. Thomas631-5550 St. Thomas Para Transit
614 Talbot St., St. Thomas631-1690 YMCA of St. Thomas-Elgin
20 High St., St. Thomas631-2418 BANKS Bank of Montreal
300 Elm Street, St. ThomasLIBRO
1073 Talbot St., St. Thomas631-6195 Royal Bank
1099 Talbot St., St. Thomas631-7369 T.D. Canada Trust
Elgin Mall, 417 Wellington St., St. Thomas633-4641 CHURCHES
Central United Church
135 Wellington St., St. Thomas631-3503 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
436 Elm Street, St. Thomas631-2641 Faith Baptist Church
345 Fairview Ave., St. Thomas633-0976 Fellowship Christian Reformed Church
641 Elm Street, St. Thomas633-4422 First Yarmouth Plains Baptist Church
6071 Fairview Road, RR4 St. Thomas633-2883 Knox Presbyterian Church
55 Hincks Street, St. Thomas631-2414 St. Hilda’s – St. Luke’s Anglican Church
185 Elm Street, St. Thomas631-0504 Salvation Army Church
380 Elm Street, St. Thomas
631-6202 Trinity Anglican Church
55 Southwick Street, St. Thomas631-7000 GROCERY STORES Foodland
20 William St., St. Thomas633-9370 Metro
Elgin Mall, 417 Wellington St., St. Thomas633-8780 Price Chopper
1010 Talbot St., St. Thomas637-8570 MEDICAL Memorial Arena
Wilson Ave., St. Thomas631-4015 St. Thomas Timken Community Centre
9rd Ave., St. Thomas633-7112 MEDICAL Action Medical
310 Wellington St., St. Thomas633-9955 Elgin Audiology Consultants
66 West Avenue, St. Thomas637-5925 Elgin St. Thomas Public Health
99 Edward St., St. Thomas631-9900 St. Thomas Cardiac/Medical Centre
204 First Ave., St. Thomas633-9200 St. Thomas Elgin OB/GYN Ultrasound
460 Wellington St., St. Thomas631-8531 St. Thomas Family Health Centre
230 First Ave., St. Thomas637-6301 Talbot Creek Midwives
460 Wellington St., St. Thomas637-2224 Talbot Trail Physiotherapy
460 Wellington St., St. Thomas637-1831 Windemere Family Medical Centre
460 Wellington St., St. ThomasPHARMACIES Health Centre Pharmacy
230 First Ave., St. Thomas631-1550 Shoppers Drugmart
204 First Ave., St. Thomas633-3070 Wellington Medical Pharmacy Ltd.
460 Wellington St., St. Thomas637-9900 Yurek Pharmacy
519 Talbot St., St. Thomas631-3330 RESTAURANTS Swiss Chalet
1014 ½ Talbot St., St. Thomas637-7280 Tim Hortons
145 South Edgeware, St. Thomas633-9559 RETAIL Canadale Nurseries
269 Sunset Drive, St. Thomas631-7624 Giant Tiger
780 Talbot St., St. ThomasHallmark Cards
Elgin Mall, 417 Wellington St., St. Thomas633-7675 LCBO
1010 Talbot St., St. Thomas631-5000 Smith Books
Elgin Mall, 417 Wellington St., St. Thomas633-4717 TSC Stores Ltd.
115 Edward St., St. Thomas637-8996 Van Pelt’s Stationery
800 Talbot St., St. Thomas631-4994 Walmart
1063 Talbot St., St. Thomas637-7100 Zellers
Elgin Mall, 417 Wellington St., St. Thomas633-4645 SENIORS Kettle Creek Gardens
58 St. George St., St. Thomas633-7647 Metcalfe Gardens
45 Metcalfe St., St. Thomas631-9393 St. Thomas Seniors’ Centre
225 Chestnut St. St. Thomas633-2850
all phone numbers are in the (519) area code unless otherwise listed
DOWNLOAD THE THUMBS UP PLACES LIST(PDF)
HELPFUL HINTS
Make Your Business Safe and Accessible for all.STAIRS - (Inside the Building)
- Ensure free from slip and trip hazards.
- Make stair edges more visible by using bright yellow coloured tape or non-skid paint to highlight edges.
- Use special lighting and warning signs to warn users of steep or irregular stairs.
- Ensure stairs are uniform – the rises should be the same height (7”)
and the tread should be the same width (11”).- Use handrails that are round with a circumference of 120mm.
FLOORS & AISLES
- Keep free from slip and trip hazards such as water, uneven surfaces.
- Wash floors before opening in morning or after closing in evening.
- Keep aisles free of clutter (boxes, merchandise, produce).
- Keep exit routes free from obstructions.
- Use slip-resistant floors to prevent falls if water or snow is tracked in from outside.
ENTRANCES & EXITS
- Provide handrails on any stairs or ramps *coming into or in the building.
- Doors to a public entrance should open easily with one hand – even for a person with limited dexterity.
- Doors should have a wide entrance* (at least 81 cm) and should not have steps that could cause trips.
- Use hydraulic springs to make heavy doors easier to open. This is a cost effective alternative to installing automatic doors.
- Use non skid mats
- Keep mats flat, clean and free of water and snow, using a mop constantly in the winter. Take mats up at night and hang to dry.
- Provide seating that is a minimum of 18 inches from the ground and have arm rests.
PARKING LOT OR STREET ACCESS
- Disabled parking space at least 12 ‘ wide and marked with a vertical sign.
- Remove snow rather than ploughing it into piles that block pedestrian travel.
- Provide adequate drainage where salt is used to melt snow, to prevent water from accumulating, freezing and creating a hazard.
- Ensure that all pedestrian routes are clearly marked and all obstacles are brightly coloured.
VISUALLY IMPAIRED
- Seniors need twice the illumination.
- Shiny floors can cause difficulties with depth perception.
- Braille signs inside of a building enable blind individuals to safely find their way around the building.
- The blind need touchable cues to warn of the presence of a staircase and the ending of a staircase.
WASHROOMS
- Locate washrooms so they are convenient, accessible and well-marked.
- Install round, slip-resistant handrails for wheel chair transfers.
- Locate hand towels near sinks to reduce the amount of water on the floor.
- Use slip resistant flooring.
SHELVES, RACKS & DISPLAYS
- Secure shelves and racks so they cannot be moved or tipped when leaned against or grasped.
- Place heavier products on lower shelves.
- Keep floors cleared of clothes hangers and racks with protruding legs.
Information provided by: STEPS Project, Victoria BC, Safe Stores: "Stores Blitz", North Bay, ON, and the 2002 Canadian Standards Association (www.csa.ca), Toronto, ON
CONTACT INFORMATION
If you have any questions or require additional information about the Thumbs Up program, please contact:
by email :
Elgin-St. Thomas Public Health:
(519) 631-9900 ext.254
Cathy Topping (519) 633-6919 To Make Your Business Safe and Accessible for all:
1. Download and print the "Thumbs Up" Checklist.
2. Download and print the "Thumbs Up" Helpful Hints brochure.
Web Links:
Elgin-St. Thomas Public Health - www.elginhealth.on.ca
City of St. Thomas, Ontario - www.city.st-thomas.on.ca
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities - www.AccessON.ca
Canadian Standards Association - www.csa.ca
Abilities Canada Guide - www.abilities.ca/agc
Community Living Elgin - www.communitylivingelgin.com
E & T Jiu Jitsu.com - www.eandtjiujitsu.com