I was reading through one of my usual e-newsletters yesterday and I had one of those, “ Ohh That’s why!!!!” moments. Over the past month I have been reading articles and information on disability and travel. I have been collecting data, so to speak. One article stated that Vancouver was the most accessible/ disable friendly city in Canada. I would have to agree just from the few times I have taken public transit there. Much better than in Calgary. Sorry for any bus drivers out there. Really, I appreciate you. I would not want your job for all the massages in the world. Calgary is not an easy city to get around at the best of times let alone with any type of disability.

Well, the Olympics in Turin are wrapping up and the mayor from Vancouver is traveling there to receive the flag to bring back to Vancouver.


In reading the article in this e-newsletter, it was brought to my attention that the mayor of Vancouver is a wheelchair user. I don’t really know any mayor from other cities so it isn’t really a surprise since I didn’t even know who he was. The epiphany was that this is why Vancouver is so accessible. I am sure it started before Mr. Sullivan, but it is quite obvious that his influence is to make it accessible- period. Not just disable friendly, but also there for everyone…lets say universal design …my favorite catch phrase. He sounds like that kind of person, since he also learned Italian and speaks Cantonese to communicate with others.


By the way, the girls kicked some excellent butt over there…Yeah Canada!!!!