Upgrades at Keystone Centre designed to improve access

New ramps and risers have been installed in three Keystone Centre arenas, allowing for greater access in the facility.

The additions, unveiled Wednesday, are located in the Kinsmen Arena, Enns Brothers Arena and the Westoba Agricultural Centre of Excellence Show Ring.

"We are proud to help fund this project," said Tom Czerkawski, chair of the Westman Cerebral Palsy Association. "It helps enhance the lives of not only our cerebral palsy people but all people with special needs, old and young."

The project cost was approximately $30,000, which was covered by two funding sources: the Government of Canada'sEnabling Accessibility Fund ($20,000), as well as the Cerebral Palsy Association of Manitoba ($10,000).

The association's executive director, David Kron, attended the press conference where he spoke about the impact these new ramps will have.

"A simple six-inch step can be the barrier between not coming to something and coming to see it," he said. "If you're sitting in a wheelchair, you can't see over the boards if you're not elevated on a platform, and it needs to be safe and sturdy."

The new ramps create a more inclusive environment, he added.

"It'll make it so that the whole family can come see the other sibling play," he said. "It just makes life a little bit easier for everybody."

The ramps will remain in place for community use, whenever space permits, according to the Keystone. They may need to be removed for the configuration of some events held in these arenas.

The association's contribution was funded by Brandon Firefighters' Charity Fund, Manitoba Hydro's Charity Fund and the Westman Cerebral Palsy Stationary Bike Ride.

"We're always happy to work in the community," Czerkawski said. "It seems the more work and the more accessible we make the community, the more people get in touch with us ... You put it into the community, the community gives back, and Brandon's great for that."

The Cerebral Palsy Association of Manitoba has partnered in recent years with the Keystone on other accessible improvement projects which included the installation of two sets of automatic doors.

"Everyone wants to be included at their local community centre," Keystone Centre general manager Jeff Schumacher said. "We're very grateful that these funders, locally and nationally, could help us out with this very necessary project so that we could offer a more inclusive environment within our facility."

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