National AccessAbility Week is upon us – with it, comes an opportunity to reflect on our responsibility to design communities that are inclusive and accessible for everyone.

One of my first projects as a young architect was the award-winning Walnut Grove Aquatic Centre in Langley, B.C. I remember the pride I felt when it opened in 1999; the palpable joy my daughter radiated during her first dip in the pool.

Shortly after, I received a letter from a fellow parent. She congratulated me on the successful completion of the pool but lamented that her own daughter could not use the facility due to the specific nature of her disability.

Through more carefully-considered design, this would not have been the case. It was a crushing epiphany – that, despite following all the Building Codes, I hadn’t done nearly enough to ensure meaningful accessibility.

It’s something I’ve worked hard to change ever since.