Debbie Kirwin recognized for her transformative work in making Huntsville more accessible

Debbie Kirwin, who tirelessly served for more than 12 years as the chair of Huntsville’s Accessibility Advisory Committee and has since stepped down, was recognized for her transformative work with a standing ovation at Huntsville’s March 25 council meeting.

Described by Huntsville Mayor Scott Aitchison as a force to be reckoned with, Kirwin will be forever credited with making this community a more accessible place for people with mobility issues.

“In many ways, not only has she changed the attitudes and ideas about accessibility and the importance of accessibility in this community, but she’s been a transformative voice on the issue of accessibility across Ontario,” Aitchison told those present.

The mayor said he got his first real education on the issue of accessibility from Kirwin many years ago at a fundraiser she was attending with her husband Ross to raise funds for the Chrysalis women’s shelter.

He said he received a call from Kirwin asking if the venue for the fundraiser was accessible. “It was, of course, the first time I’d considered such a notion, I hadn’t thought about that before,” recalled Aitchison who said he proceeded to investigate the answer.

“So I promptly went up there to the venue and the very helpful staff kind of walked me through what they could do to make it accessible and I felt the pit in my stomach get bigger and bigger.” Aitchison said the accessible entry point involved getting into the venue’s loading dock in the kitchen, wheeling past the ovens, through a small service bar area and eventually into the upper level of the dining room. “And then, of course, there was also one accessible washroom which was down a maze of hallways in one of the guest rooms.”

Debbie Kirwin, former chair of Huntsville’s Accessibility Advisory Committee, is recognized by Mayor Scott Aitchison for her tremendous work advocating for a more accessible community.

Aitchison said he thought the process that she’d have to go through in order to attend the fundraiser was “undignified” and said he felt bad about it. He said when he shared that with Kirwin, much to his surprise, she did not cancel, she was not upset and neither did she demand that the venue be changed. “She sympathized with how I felt… and said ‘I understand how you feel and I’m sorry you feel that way, but I’m also glad you feel that way because you have an inkling now of what it feels like for people with mobility issues, and other disabilities, every single day of their life’,” he said. “And I thought what a powerful way to teach somebody and change their thinking. It was a message that I’ll never forget as long as I live and it certainly changed me forever.”

Aitchison noted that while Kirwin would probably focus on the work still to be done, “on a day like today, I want you to know that I do, council, and certainly all of Huntsville [does] celebrate the tremendous progress that you have brought to Huntsville. You’ve put us on the map in terms of accessibility and we’ve all grown tremendously.”

Aitchison recently instituted a custom supported by council, where the flag at Town Hall will be replaced every month, “so we can make sure it is never tattered, but we save every flag now just like they do in Parliament Hill,” he said, and added that the flags are then presented as a gift to those who make important contributions and deserve to be honoured. He presented the flag to Kirwin who thanked current and preceding councils and municipal staff members for working with her committee.

“Together we have made Huntsville a better place to live,” Kirwin said to a standing ovation from those present.

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