push to open the 2008 alberta parks access challenge push to open the 2008 alberta parks access challenge written by don carruthers den hoed 1 dedicated to jeanne lougheed and ross watson the pushing champions push to open © 2009 alberta tourism, parks and recreation parks division kananaskis country outreach all rights reserved no part of this book may be reproduced in any part without written permission for information, please contact kananaskis country outreach suite 201, 800 railway avenue canmore, alberta [email protected] www.albertaparks.ca/pushtoopen printed in canada ISBN 978-0-7785-7849-9 2 push to open everyone belongs outside 5 the alberta access challenge 7 the backcountry 9 the frontcountry 13 the water 17 open house becomes open trails 21 making it happen 23 doing more together 25 tabs 27 a lasting impact 35 you can PUSH 37 3 william watson lodge This unique barrier-free facility provides wilderness opportunities for Albertans with disabilities and senior citizens, and respite for their families and caregivers. 4 everyone belongs outside Connecting with nature is important with everyone else. The second step for the quality of life of all people. is by fostering inclusion – by making Parks provide opportunities for sure people feel they truly belong in people to be active in natural or parks and can get involved in parks, wilderness settings, to spend time nature, and recreation programs. with friends and family, and to escape busy daily routines. The People with disabilities who want Alberta Parks Division is committed to visit parks crave the same things to supporting the participation of as everyone else: to experience all people in park experiences and and be challenged by pristine and programs, regardless of ability. rugged nature. In order to ensure access without impacting the The first step to improving participa- wilderness—and to foster inclusion tion in parks is improving access. at the same time—the Alberta Parks By removing barriers in new and Division is developing and supporting existing facilities, in programs, and programs that modify the user, not in daily operations, people with the environment. Programs such as disabilities can experience nature the Alberta Access Challenge. “Inclusion, to me, is about making everyone feel like they belong.” 5 the original event poster 6 the alberta access challenge For three days in August 2008, the TrailRiders, tandem bicycles, and Friends of Kananaskis Country, outrigger kayaks. With tremendous the Alberta Parks Division, and teamwork and enthusiasm, partici- the Kelowna-based Community pants with disabilities were able to Recreation Initiatives Society (CRIS) take a three-day backcountry trip, hosted the first-ever Alberta Access hike to a mountain lake, or paddle Challenge. Based on similar events through the waves in a sea kayak. hosted by the British Columbia “This changes Mobility Opportunities Society, this The organizations and the people the way we see unique event aimed to prove that involved in the event thought they recreation - that it’s barriers could be overcome. were helping a few people with disabilities experience the back- not for the few, it’s Over the three-day event, 65 volun- country. What they didn’t know was for everyone.” teers provided over 2000 volunteer that this event impacted the lives hours showcasing accessible facili- of all the volunteers and organizers ties, such as William Watson Lodge, as well, and continues to have an the Peter Lougheed Provincial Park impact today. The 2008 Access visitor centre, and barrier-free trails in Challenge proved that by working the area. More significantly, they also together, we can provide mean- provided inclusive outdoor experi- ingful opportunities for everyone ences for people with disabilities by to connect to nature, and to each using adaptive equipment such as other. 7 “It’s like a part of my soul that I didn’t know was there is opened up now.” 8 the backcountry When the backcountry volunteers steep hills, rising creeks, windstorms, began preparing for the three-day and flat tires. Over the weekend, trip to Tombstone Campground and the three participants with disabili- the Elbow-Sheep Wildlands Provin- ties became part of three teams cial Park, it quickly became clear of humans testing their limits, that this trip would be like no other. conquering their fears, and fuelling As the TrailRider volunteers watched, their adrenaline. anxious to get on the trail, Greg, Lana, and Eliza calmly worked with On the second night, as the group CRIS Kelowna volunteers to ensure rested below towering peaks and the equipment would fit their bodies listened to wolves howl, it became and provide necessary support. The clear that this was much more than a three-hour effort seemed to drag on, backcountry trip. It was the coming but it reflected the reality faced by together of a group of humans to people with disabilities for whom a prove that belonging, inclusion, pressure sore from an ill-fitting seat and connection are possible to find can result in serious recovery issues in today’s world. And as Greg took and for whom patience is the best an icy dip in a glacier-fed lake— tool in a world filled with barriers. something few people ever do—it became clear that cerebral palsy is Patience was simply the first lesson a mere detail for someone with the learned in a weekend filled with passionate soul of an adventurer. lana eliza greg 9 “It was inspiring to see the teams work together to get the TrailRider up the steep climb from the Tombstone Campground, over the rocky terrain and to witness one of our fearless trail riders take his first ever dip in the glacier-fed waters of a mountain lake…!” 10 11 12 the frontcountry Less than a year before the Alberta volunteers and their pilots to decide Access Challenge, Sam had a stroke. which route to take. When the group Prior to his stroke, he had been an reached the junction they quickly active and fit hiker, and one of his agreed to attempt the climb to the favourite destinations was Rawson lake. They made it. Lake in Kananaskis Country. Less than a year after his stroke, Sam was Despite an enjoyable hour spent again enjoying lunch on the shoreline at the lake resting, socializing, and of those treasured mountain waters. basking in the surroundings, this day trip was not easy for anyone involved. On that warm Saturday in August, an 300 metres of elevation gain and a enthusiastic group of friends—who return trip of 8 kilometres can tax the had been strangers just the day average hiker—let alone a group before—volunteered to pull and of people pulling two adult males push TrailRiders on a frontcountry in heavy adaptive wheelchairs. Yet, day hike with Sam and Dan. The the participants returned from the plan was simple: within 3 kilometres hike in an ecstatic mood, having of the trailhead, the flat trail along realized their goal and having had the shore of Upper Kananaskis Lake their minds opened to how barriers would meet the steeper, more can be overcome with teamwork challenging trail to Rawson Lake. It and determination. would be up to the diverse group of dan sam “Being in nature has a healing effect on all of us.” 13 “Dan just said ‘go big, or go home!’ and that impressed me a lot.” 14 “People just feel at peace with themselves when they’re outdoors and if you can provide that to any one person, I think you’re making a huge impact in their life.” 15 “When someone is in a sea kayak, they look just like everybody else” 16 the water From camping to hiking, climbing to Guided by the experienced volun- hunting, every imaginable outdoor teers of CRIS Kelowna, and aided recreation activity is being done by local volunteers, six individuals somewhere by someone with a with disabilities felt the spray of fresh disability. During the Alberta Access water on their face and the chill on Challenge, that diversity of outdoor their hands as they paddled Lower pursuits was represented by tandem Kananaskis Lake in tandem sea bicycles, a presentation by blind kayaks equipped with outrigger mountaineer Ross Watson, and by pontoons. And, rather than rely on providing adaptive sea-kayaking a team of five people to pull a Trail- trips to people with a range of Rider, the kayakers worked in pairs— disabilities. alone with their navigator and with nature. marc jessica melissa dan marjorie cecile 17 “I have yet to find anyone that hasn’t found a benefit from being on the water.” 18 19 “Physical disability or mental disability or whatever kind of disability or obstacles you might be facing really don’t have to prevent you from doing those things you might want to do or dream of doing.” 20 open house on opened trails The original plan for the Access contribution to the Access Challenge was to host an open “Some of them I’m sure Challenge. As 200 able-bodied house at the Peter Lougheed Visitor thought it was a stretcher people waited at the Elkwood Centre so members of the public amphitheatre for the evening’s inter- could learn about inclusion and evacuation. And then they pretive program to begin, a TrailRider accessibility in parks. While some realized ‘oh, they’re going up emerged from the woods, moved people did stop by to see the display through the crowd, and eventually on adaptive hiking equipment and the hill, not down.’ You could stopped on stage. Marc captivated to attend the guest presentations see them thinking ‘oh, I can this group as he spoke eloquently of by Ross Watson and Alberta Parks walk this trail or run up this his life since he broke his neck, and staff, the true open house happened of the importance of believing in on the trails and at the facilities in trail, and these people have your dreams, working together, and Kananaskis Country.