National AccessAbility Week and PAL Place

ATTENTION Artists and Arts Workers With Disabilities - we have some wonderful news to share!

This week is National AccessAbility Week - a week to highlight and celebrate the valuable contributions and leadership of persons with disabilities in Canada, ongoing efforts to become a more accessible and inclusive Canada, and more.

With this in mind, we here at PAL Ottawa wanted to take a moment to highlight a really important part of PAL Place. Not only will PAL Place be FULLY accessible, but it offers 20% of the 86 affordable housing units designated for artists and arts workers with disabilities who are capable of independent living.


If you know an artist or arts worker with a disability who may be interested in the opportunity to live at PAL Place, please share this news with them!
 

While PAL Place is set to open in 2025, we encourage artists to plan for the future by getting on the list TODAY.  If you consider the option of one day living at PAL Place, APPLY NOW. PAL Ottawa intends to accept residents who are 55 years of age and older; however, we encourage any artists and arts workers with a disability to apply.

Residents of PAL Place will benefit from Creative Spaces and affordable housing within an artistic and caring community. Creative Spaces is designed to facilitate sustained artistic creation, presentations, exhibitions, workshops, and more to benefit both the residents and the neighbourhood. 

The building has a Passive design pursuing net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and will be situated in the beautiful and culturally rich, Corso Italia District, at 305 Rochester Street. Many ‘green’ design elements will keep additional living costs, like heat, very low for residents.

This month, we spoke with Liz Winkelaar, an award-winning dance artist, who lives and dances from her wheelchair, is an applicant for PAL Place. She knows the opportunity that this affordable live-work space can provide to artists like her. (Read more about Liz below!)

Photo by Andrew Balfour

To apply to live at PAL Place, click here.

Visit our FAQ section within our ‘Apply’ dropdown menu to answer common questions.

Feel welcome to send other questions to info@palottawa.org. 

ABOUT LIZ WINKELAAR

Liz Winkelaar is an award-winning wheelchair dance artist who has lived in Ottawa for twenty-two years. By dancing in the Propeller Dance Company for 15 years and serving as Artistic Lead for the last 5 years, Liz has made a significant contribution to the art of contemporary integrated dance locally, nationally, and even internationally. Her work involves dance, choreography, and teaching. Having used a wheelchair for mobility for over 40 years, Liz has worked tirelessly for the rights and dignity of people with disabilities. Liz’s philosophy has been to create communities and understanding. She is an alumni of Carleton U and Ottawa U; a proud member of the local dance community; a mother and grandmother. Liz’s other passions are sailing, kayaking, and attending live music events locally.