SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Accessibility in Yellowknife is getting better, but there are certain sticking points in the city that create big trouble for handicapped citizens.

Cor Van Dyke uses an electric wheelchair to get around town. But that's not always easy. - Taylor Lambert/NNSL Photo

Cor Van Dyke is a long-time resident who tries to go about his daily business on his own. He uses an electric wheelchair as a result of his battle with multiple sclerosis, and while a growing number of buildings are accessible to him, there are plenty of places with steps, stairs and manual doors.

All of the fast food joints, for instance. Or CIBC.

But one particular building that gets his goat is the Centre Square Mall.

"The issue that I have with it is, I can go up the ramp but I have to wait by the door," says Van Dyke.

Although there is indeed a ramp outside the lower section of the mall, there are no push-button door operators to allow entrance to the building. Van Dyke only has the use of one arm, so he's forced to sit and wait until some kindly passerby offers to help.

He can't even access the city library inside.

"For me, that door is inaccessible," says Van Dyke. "Centre Square is known to be inaccessible. That's just something people have learned to deal with."

The property manager for the lower mall, Shawnette MacNeil, said that while the management is considering installing door operators, there have been no complaints regarding accessibility or government orders to install them.

NWT Fire Marshal Steve Moss said that, following queries on the matter from Yellowknifer on Monday, his office went to confirm the lack of door operators. Moss said Tuesday that the matter would be addressed under the existing order to the lower mall requiring 50 percent of entrances to be wheelchair-accessible.

The upper mall management was also ordered to construct a wheelchair ramp at the Franklin Avenue entrance by June 30, but is still finalizing plans, according to the fire marshal. He expects the ramp will be completed "before winter."

Van Dyke also names Northern Frontier Visitor's Centre as a problem spot, but also points out that things are improving everywhere as time goes on. Door operators and lowered sidewalk curbs are becoming common everywhere, and design standards for new buildings are required to take into account accessibility for handicapped citizens.

"It's so great, it makes life so much easier for me."

The issue of accessibility is one that is best addressed through planning and cooperation, says Van Dyke.

"Try and make society inclusive," he says. "What you need is what I need. So how are we going to combine them?"

Van Dyke says he worries about handicapped people becoming stereotyped as complainers in the media. He believes that while it's important to draw attention to problems, it's equally as crucial to celebrate and applaude progress.

"Things are getting better. It's the rate of change that we would like to see go faster."

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