��������

REGINA — The T.C. Douglas Building in Regina has officially received Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC).

The building was certified on Aug. 30 following an evaluation to assess accessibility features within the facility. This is the third Government of Saskatchewan executive building to have achieved RHFAC, states a release.

The Saskatchewan Legislative Building became the first legislative building in Canada to earn RHFAC certification in 2021 and the L.F. McIntosh Building in Prince Albert achieved certification in 2023.

“These certifications demonstrate our government’s ongoing commitment to making public spaces more accessible for everyone,” SaskBuilds and Procurement Minister David Marit said in a statement. “The Government of Saskatchewan remains committed to ensuring that facilities used to deliver programs and services are accessible to the people who require them.”

While the T.C. Douglas Building already featured numerous accessible elements, minor additional upgrades were made to ensure an even more inclusive experience for all occupants and visitors. Additional improvements included wayfinding signs within the building and new logos to identify accessibility stalls in the parking lots.

Two additional facilities, the Sturdy Stone Building in Saskatoon and Cooper Place in Regina, are currently under review and expected to complete the certification process soon, the release adds. Certification is valid for five years.

The RHFAC is a national rating system that evaluates the level of “meaningful access in buildings and sites. It goes beyond building code compliance to assess how people with varying disabilities, mobility, vision, hearing and cognitive experience the built environment,” the release adds.