ATTENTION Artists and Arts Workers With Disabilities!
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 want to take a moment to highlight an important part of PAL Place. The 86-unit building is being designed to include units designated for artists and arts workers with disabilities.
Artists like wheelchair dancer, Elizabeth Winkelaar, will benefit from the opportunity of affordability and inclusiveness that PAL Place will provide. In speaking with Elizabeth, she said it simply, "Anyone who uses a wheelchair knows how hard it is to find an affordable and accessible apartment. Being part of PAL Place gives us that opportunity and so much more."
It is incredibly important that these units are used as they are intended, so we need your help to spread the word! Please SHARE this news with ALL artists and arts workers. Together, we can help artists like Elizabeth benefit from PAL Place.
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, low for residents.
Other accessibility features of PAL Place include:
1. All floors and amenity rooms are labelled, including in Braille
2. Elevators contain Braille
3. Audible communication will be at the building’s main entrance system
4. Elevators are barrier-free for ease of travel
5. All shared washrooms are universal
While PAL Place is set to open in 2026, 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.
To apply to live at PAL Place, click here.