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York Regional Council appoints members for York Region Accessibility Advisory Committee

March 02, 2023

Newmarket – York Regional Council has approved the appointment of members to the 2023 to 2026 term of the York Region Accessibility Advisory Committee (YRAAC).

The YRAAC advises Regional Council and York Regional Police on accessibility standards and on how to make it easier for people with disabilities to use programs, services and facilities.

“York Region is committed to providing strong, caring and safe communities,” said York Region Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson. “With the support and expertise of our committee members, we will continue creating welcoming and inclusive communities that foster opportunities for everyone to thrive, free of barriers and without discrimination.”

2023 to 2026 committee members:

Members of York Regional Council
  • Wayne Emmerson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Regional Municipality of York (Ex-officio)
  • Tom Vegh, Deputy Mayor, Town of Newmarket (YRAAC Chair)
  • Naomi Davison, Regional Councillor, Town of Georgina
  • Alan Ho, Regional Councillor, City of Markham
Community Members
  • Beverley Barra-Berger
  • Cheryl Davies
  • Robert DiGiovanni
  • Steve Foglia
  • Lindsey Gold
  • Lilian Hulme-Smith
  • Bryan Keshen
  • Karla Malsi
  • Ahsan Musavi
  • Vito Spatafora
  • Angelo Tocco
  • Scott Wollin

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 requires municipalities with a population over 10,000 to have an accessibility advisory committee. Committee members come from different backgrounds and most members must be people with disabilities. Members bring a lens of lived experience to this committee.
 
“Over the past several years, the committee advised on many important initiatives, including the 2022 York Region Official Plan update, the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan and the 2023-2025 York Regional Police Business Plan,” said Tom Vegh, Town of Newmarket Deputy Mayor and Chair of the committee. “I look forward to our continued work to ensure our programs, services and facilities are accessible for everyone.”
 
While ensuring compliance with the Act, the committee will provide advice on the implementation and effectiveness of Ontario’s accessibility legislation and the preparation of accessibility reports to meet York Region's long-term strategies and visions.

The committee’s first meeting will take place in April 2023. For more information on York Region’s effort to remove barriers to accessibility and the Accessibility Advisory Committee, visit york.ca/accessibility

The Regional Municipality of York consists of nine local cities and towns and provides a variety of programs and services to more than 1.2 million residents and 54,000 businesses with over 650,000 employees. More information about the Region’s key service areas is available at york.ca/regionalservices

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Media Contact:

Eman Ali, Corporate Communications, The Regional Municipality of York
Cell: 289-231-1318
Email: @email