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Tag Archives: amherstburg
Amherstburg Candidates And Accessibility: Chamber of Commerce
I appreciated Mayoral Candidate John Laframboise holding his meet and greet at the K of C Hall in Amherstburg, while several other candidates held meet and greets in locations with barriers.
I was just as disappointed that the Chamber of Commerce used the stage, with its stairs, for the Mayoral and Deputy Mayoral Candidates’ Night on October 12, 2022.
Chamber Council Candidates – Missed the Show?
The link to last night’s candidate event is available on the Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page.
It felt awkward, candidates having to switch seats, only some questions to some candidates and time wasted on candidates having to repeat lengthy questions, not to mention audio cutting out and the show being delayed.
Chamber of Commerce Councillor Candidates’ Event
Well that was interesting. The chamber erroneously advertised it as a councillor debate. Technical difficulties delayed the live feed so I missed a lot of the candidates’ opening addresses. The ‘community standards’ warning popped up about bullying and hate speech in the chat. FOR WHAT?!!
All I asked was, kids play in the streets because they can’t play in the parks? Two very hot topics, not hate speech or bullying, that the candidates were discussing.
The warning popped up again and I ignored it. Maybe it was meant for some other vocal viewers exercising their free speech.
Of course the audio cut out for a question about accessibility, which I missed but I already know what a lot of the candidates think about that.
Amherstburg Candidates And Accessibility: E scooters
I asked; none of the twenty-five Amherstburg candidates for council would make the “No E–scooters Pledge.”
The AODA Alliance wanted electors to ask candidates for City Council or mayor anywhere in Ontario to pledge not to allow e-scooters. They endanger safety and accessibility for people with disabilities, seniors & others!
Amherstburg Candidates And Accessibility: Facebook
The following candidates use Facebook, that I’m aware of, but may have issues that prevent some people with disabilities from accessing their information:
Mayoral candidates:
Michael Prue
Bob Rozankovic
Deputy Mayoral candidate:
Nancy Atkinson
Chris Gibb
Gregory Moore
Dennis Sanson
Councillor candidates:
Molly Allaire
Andrew Argoselo
Linden Crain
Tara Kearsey
Donald McArthur
Marc Renaud
Patricia Simone
Gerry Theriault
Lori Wightman
The town was to provide candidates with accessibility information.
Amherstburg Candidates And Accessibility: Twitter
Some of the candidates use twitter but can everyone access the information?
Deputy Mayoral candidate Chris Gibb’s account is used for Gibb Insurance but some town events are promoted.
The following Councillor candidates may have issues that prevent some people with disabilities from accessing information:
Linden Crain
Tara Kearsey
Holger Kretschman
Donald McArthur
Marc Renaud
Patricia Simone
Lori Wightman
Amherstburg Candidates And Accessibility: Websites
Candidates have increasingly relied on websites to generate their campaign platforms and promises of representing everyone, but can everyone access the information?
2014: only three candidates created websites – all had accessibility issues.
2018: I mentioned website accessibility issues generally.
2022: twelve candidates created websites that I’m aware of.
I found no issues with Deputy Mayoral candidate Joe Shaw’s site.
The following may have issues that prevent people with disabilities from accessing information.
Mayoral candidates:
Michael Prue
Frank Cerasa
Deputy Mayoral candidate:
Chris Gibb
Dennis Sanson
Councillor candidates:
Molly Allaire
Linden Crain
Tara Kearsey
Donald McArthur
Patricia Simone
Gerry Theriault
Lori Wightman (c 2018)
Edited: to include Dennis Sanson’s site
Amherstburg Candidates And Accessibility: Meet And Greets
The following candidates should have known better than to hold meet and greet session in these locations since the town was to provide them with accessibility information.
Downtown Espresso Cafe wouldn’t allow my comment to be posted, but it was advertising the following candidates’ meet and greets. 
Linden Crain launch July 14
Frank DiPasquale August 30 6 to 8 pm
September 27 6 to 8 pm
Lori Wightman September 13 6 to 8 pm
Molly Allaire September 22 6 to 8 pm
Patricia Simone October 2 11am to 2 pm
Donald McArthur October 3 6 to 8 pm
Gregory Moore October 5 6 to 8 pm
Holger Kretschmann October 6 6 to 8 pm
Artisan Grill
Michael Prue October 3 7 to 9 pm
Speck’s
Nancy Atkinson September 21
Accessibility Awareness And Candidate Accountability
The Downtown Espresso Cafe is advertising candidate meet and greet sessions. Out of concern that persons with disabilities may be excluded because of the step, I posted to You know you are from Amherstburg when…. a Facebook group “for all who grew up in the great town of Amherstburg, Ontario Canada!!!”
Notification: “Your comment was automatically declined based on certain criteria in this group.”
‘See feedback’ revealed: These rules come from the group admins.
1 No Promotions or Spam
Absolutely no sale posts of any kind unless you have approved it by the admin first. Certain posts will be allowed based on the discretion of the admin.
2 No Hate Speech or Bullying
Make sure everyone feels safe. Bullying of any kind isn’t allowed, and degrading comments about things like race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender or identity will not be tolerated.
3 Be Kind and Courteous
We’re all in this together to create a welcoming environment. Let’s treat everyone with respect. Healthy debates are natural, but kindness is required.
I then wrote the same comment on the Downtown Espresso Cafe Facebook page and it was deleted.
Other than ‘the candidates should know better,” everything else in the comment was quoted from the town’s information.
The candidates should know better. The step to get in can make this inaccessible. From the town’s 2022 Municipal Election Draft Accessibility Plan: “The Town of Amherstburg will provide Candidates with the Candidates’ Guide to Accessible Elections produced by the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO). The Town will also incorporate accessibility information and messaging into Candidate Information Packages and Candidate Information Sessions.”
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