Nova Scotia June 2012
Conducted by Michelle Osgood
The Airline and the Airport
Air Transat staff provided disabled people with assistance. Disabled passengers were the first to board and disembark.
At Halifax Stanfield International Airport there are disabled toilets, ramps, and lifts all in place with plenty of staff assistance. There are lowered check in counters and accessible shuttle transportation is provided between terminals.
For more information on accessibility at Halifax International Airport, please visit the link below:
http://www.hiaa.ca/default.asp?mn=70.1.215.226
At the Hotel
Cabot Shores provides good disabled access, with accessible rooms for disabled people, disabled lodges and chalets are available. Braille found in the washrooms.
Though I did not stay in an accessible room, I would like to say that the room was spacious with plenty of space for mobility. Staff are friendly and happy to offer assistance.
Getting Around
Getting around Antigonish can be difficult as the pathways are stone chipped, but there are ramps. There is no public transport in Antigonish, so hiring a car is essential. There was free parking onsite with no need for badges or marked bays.
Attractions
The Maritime Museum is fully accessible with ramps, lifts and disabled toilets in place. However, there were no concessions provided for disabled visitors.
The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia is a large attraction with plenty of accessible features and very spacious. Please click on the link below to view the official website of this attraction.
http://www.artgalleryofnovascotia.ca/en/AGNS_Yarmouth/default.aspx
Eating Out
The Thistle and Hart Pub is accessible with everything on one level. Lighting inside the pub was generally good, but did not have a large print menu.
The Niche Restaurant is not accessible as there were steps to enter with no lifts or ramps. The lighting here was a bit dark with no large print menus provided.
Cafes, Bars and Nightlife
The Fickle Frog had tight doorways, and was a bit cramped. No disabled toilets were in this establishment. Tim Hortons was all on one level and had a disabled toilet ten feet away from the door.
Any Other Comments
We spent a lot of time in rural areas and stayed at a friend's house. When we travelled, the places we visited weren't very disabled friendly, but had some amenities with lack of signage. There are disabled toilets in many tourist attractions, but some had steps to get into.
The city of Halifax was the most disabled friendly destination throughout the trip. If you are staying in Canada and you are disabled, I would recommend you to stay in the main city areas and you will find the most friendly wheelchair access. In rural parts there is no public transport whatsoever.
For more information on access in Nova Scotia please visit the links below:
http://www.novascotia.com/en/home/planyourtrip/faqs/accessibility.aspx