A new initiative in Dawson Creek is working to make gardening more accessible for people with disabilities, with help from local partners, students, and community organizations.
David Johnston, a Service Delivery Advisor with Community Living BC, is leading the project, which focuses on building raised, wheelchair-accessible planter boxes. Johnston, who has lived experience with disability, says the project is rooted in a desire to make the community more inclusive.
“I am very passionate about making my community more accessible. I believe that everyone deserves equal opportunities to participate, connect, and enjoy activities like gardening,” Johnston said.
The project calls for two pilot planter boxes to be constructed by students in the carpentry program at Northern Lights College, using donated lumber from a local co-operative. The planter boxes are expected to be installed in Dawson Creek this summer.
Johnston says the idea came from recognizing barriers many people face with traditional gardening.
“Raised planter boxes are an inclusive gardening solution designed to make gardening accessible for people with disabilities,” he said.
Organizers have worked with local leaders, businesses, and City Council to identify possible locations, including a downtown site tied to ongoing discussions about beautification and attracting businesses.
The initiative has also brought together community partners, including the Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, and educational programs, highlighting a collaborative approach to improving accessibility in the region.
Johnston says the project is already generating strong local support.
“Everyone I’ve engaged with on this project has been supportive. It has been an awesome way to spread positivity and bring people together,” he said.
If successful, the pilot project could expand beyond the initial two planter boxes. Johnston says there are plans to work with the Dawson Creek Society for Community Living to incorporate the planters into regular programming.
For organizers, the initiative is about more than gardening, it’s about creating spaces where more people can take part in everyday activities.