Ottawa, ON, June 2, 2021 – Today, Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation has announced its new Ingenium Centre has achieved a Gold rating for accessibility under the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ (RHFAC) program. Home to Canada’s science and technology collection, a research institute, and a digital innovation lab, the Ingenium Centre is a state-of-the-art facility designed to protect, showcase, and share Canada’s national science and technology collection.
Achieving a score of 86 out of 100 points, this Gold rating marks a significant milestone in Ingenium‘s continued commitment to strengthening its leadership in removing barriers and providing accessible environments and experiences for all visitors. In 2018, Ingenium achieved a Gold accessibility rating for the Canada Science and Technology Museum, one of the first sites in Canada to do so.
When Ingenium began planning for the construction of the Ingenium Centre, they knew they wanted to apply a winning formula from their experience in 2018, therefore, they engaged an RHFAC Professional early in the process to ensure accessibility was incorporated into design at every step. Across Ingenium – from the design of physical and digital spaces to programming and partnership opportunities – the corporation has set a clear priority to seek out different perspectives to provide better experiences, services, and processes that are accessible to all.
Brad McCannell, Vice President of Access and Inclusion at the Rick Hansen Foundation, said: “Congratulations to Ingenium for achieving Gold once again – this achievement is a testament to their ongoing commitment to inclusivity, and RHF is proud to work with an organization that continues to put accessibility at the heart of its building design. I hope other businesses and organizations are inspired to rethink the accessibility of their own facilities, and create a Canada that’s built for everyone.”
The Ingenium Centre has a broad range of accessibility features that led to its Gold rating including:
- Bright and spacious hallways, light sensors throughout the building, and accessible signage and wayfinding
- Accessible counter space, appliances, doors and lighting in the staff kitchen
- Even elevation throughout the exterior courtyard and main entrance
- A recessed rail in the courtyard and restoration area which was designed to reduce variations in the ground service, allowing easier navigation in these areas. The rail material used also ensures that location of the rail can be more easily identified.
- A fire alarm system including visual strobes, an audible alarm and a paging system to ensure accessibility for people living with visual impairment or hearing loss
- Gender neutral and accessible washrooms on every floor, and centralized male and female washrooms with sensor-activated washroom appliances.
RHFAC Professionals work with organizations to rate the level of meaningful access in the built environment, based on the holistic user experience of people with varying disabilities affecting their mobility, vision and hearing. To-date, over 1,300 sites across Canada have been rated through the RHFAC program.
Christina Tessier, President and CEO of Ingenium, commented: “As a national institution that represents all Canadians, it is our priority to champion physical, cognitive, sensory, and socio-economic accessibility in all the work we do. We are thrilled by this recognition from the Rick Hansen Foundation, which reflects our ongoing commitment to push the boundaries of public engagement and representation across our sites and in our collections, and to broaden our overall view of accessibility.”
For more on the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification program, visit www.rickhansen.com/RHFAC
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About the Rick Hansen Foundation
The Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) was established in 1988, following the completion of Rick Hansen’s Man In Motion World Tour. For nearly 30 years, RHF has worked to raise awareness, change attitudes, and remove barriers for people with disabilities. Visit www.rickhansen.com to learn more.
About Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation
Ingenium oversees three national museums of science and innovation in Ottawa - the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, and the Canada Science and Technology Museum— and the new lngenium Centre, which houses an exceptional collection, research institute, and digital innovation lab.
lngenium takes science engagement to the next level by co-creating participatory experiences, acting as community hubs and connectors, helping Canadians contribute to solving global challenges, and creating a collective impact which extends far beyond the physical spaces of our museums.
Ingenium is a vital link between science and society. Our engaging digital content, outreach programs, travelling exhibitions, and collaborative spaces help to educate, entertain, and engage audiences across Canada and around the world.
RHF Media Contact:
rhf@yulupr.com
604.558.1656
Ingenium Media Contact:
cclouthier@IngeniumCanada.org
613-410-5943