Welcome to the Town of Pictou’s Accessibility Resources page. Our municipality is dedicated to ensuring that all residents and visitors, regardless of abilities, can access and enjoy our community’s services, facilities and programs. Here, you’ll find information on accessible public spaces, support services, and initiatives designed to create an inclusive environment for everyone. Explore our resources and discover how we are working to make our community accessible to all.
Active Living
Equipment Loan Program
Pictou County offers a loan program for recreational equipment available by the various municipal units throughout the county. If there is a piece of equipment that you would enjoy, simply fill out the survey and the appropriate person will be in contact with you. Book your equipment today at Go Play. You can loan items such as adaptive life vests, hand cycles tandem bikes, hippocampe, kick sleds, walking poles, sport wheelchairs and more.
Pictou Library
Pictou Library has sensory/visual/widget kits, walking poles, downloadable or streaming eBooks, eAudiobooks & eMagazines for all ages (Tumblebooks to OverDrive, and RB Digital), to language learning programs.
Walk and Roll Program
The Walk and Roll Program is offered through Pictou Recreation and Parks.
Playgrounds with Accessible Features
Playgrounds with accessible features include Broidy Park (Skate Park, swing feature, tennis court, washroom facility) and Veterans Drive Playground (swing features being installed in 2024)
Summer Day Camp Program
There are weeklong camps in July and August. Support is provided for youth who need support to participate in programming. The Program provides participants with the opportunity to build the necessary skills for active living in a safe and supportive atmosphere. Call for details at 902-485-4372.
Pictou Fisheries Training Pool
The Pictou Pool has a hydraulic lift, aqua wheelchair and low water access by stairs. On site, there is a universal fully accessible change room with an adult change table and shower. Staff have specialized training to assist all patrons and provide support for a positive water experience. Call 902-485-5301 for more information.
Financial Support
Financial support may be available for individuals and families facing financial barriers to participate in recreation and leisure programs. Financial support is based on age, program type, family income and family size. For information please call the Recreation Manager at 902-485-4372.
Sidewalks, Curb Cuts and Audible Crossing Signals
You can help improve accessibility. Let us know of any accessibility barriers around our Town. Our sidewalk renewal and curb cut programs work to update sidewalk surfaces and curb cuts that limit accessibility.
Transportation
- Chad Transit - Rural Transportation Association (ruralrides.ca)
- Home | Pictou County Transit (pctransit.ca)
- Service Nova Scotia - Registry of Motor Vehicles - Accessible Parking Zone Permits and Plates
Emergency Planning
Learn how to prepare yourself for emergencies and be ready in case you need to survive without utilities for a long period of time. You can also download the Government of Canada's Emergency Preparedness Guide for People with Disabilities/Special Needs for more information.
Website Accessibility
The Town of Pictou has a tool to assist with digital accessibility. To access this tool, it is located on the bottom left side of the screen on the device you are using. It is a blue circle with a person in the centre of it. Click on the circle and it will bring you to a menu panel. You can change colour, contrast, saturation, highlight links, and highlight headings, there’s a screen reader and a read mode. There are also options for font scaling, height, and spacing.
Council Meetings
- Captioning is available during all Council meetings when live streaming on Facebook.
- Council Chambers, located at the CN Station, 71 Front Street has an accessible entry and parking. Facilities on the main floor are accessible. The room is equipped with viewing screens and audio.
- Please contact the Town Hall if you require further assistance with attending, viewing or listening to Council Meetings.
Accessible Facilities and Venues
Most civic events and public meetings are held in accessible facilities and venues. To inquire about the access level of an event or meeting, please contact Pictou Town Hall at 902-485-4372.
Organizations and Services
Special Olympics Pictou County
Special Olympics Pictou County is made up of a little over 115 athletes, 30 coaches and ten (10) committee members. Various sports are available throughout the winter and spring seasons across Pictou County. They include floor hockey, curling, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, bowling, track & field, swimming, softball, soccer, figure skating and powerlifting. Programs are offered in various venues and locations running from September to July depending on the sport.
Autism Pictou County
The Pictou County Chapter of Autism Nova Scotia provides support, networking, and social learning opportunities to Autistic individuals, persons with autism, and their families and loved ones. They strive to promote education about autism, and service navigation, and provide an inclusive, fun, non-judgmental atmosphere where members can participate in rewarding programs and social activities.
Highland Community Residential Services
Highland Community Residential Services (HCRS) is dedicated to the creation and growth of homes, programs, and support networks with people who have intellectual disabilities or mental health challenges.
Pictou County Early Intervention Association
Contact Person: Lisa Smith
138 Campbell Street, New Glasgow, NS B2H 5X9 | Phone Number: 902-752-1016 | Email: pcei@ns.aliantzinc.ca
Home visit program for children with developmental delay
Summer Street Industries
Summer Street is a vibrant part of the Pictou County community. They offer a full spectrum of programs and services to meet the diverse needs of the people they serve. They are driven by the desire for an equal playing field where everyone is treated with fairness and respect – including adults with intellectual disability. For more information visit Summer Street.
Funding Programs
- Business ACCESS-Ability Grant Program | Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage (novascotia.ca) (Provincial Program)
- Enabling Accessibility Fund | Official $10,000+ grant (accessiblerenovation.ca) (Federal Program)
Other Resources
Nova Scotians have trusted health information at their fingertips. Call 8-1-1, and you will have access to non-emergency health information and services. Registered Nurses give the advice and information you need and provide reassurance concerning all kinds of general health issues and questions.
A free, confidential information and referral service. It is for people from all walks of life, seeking information about community and social services in their community or throughout the Province, either for themselves or for someone else. For example, it could be used by someone seeking home care support for a senior citizen, a teenager looking for job-seeking skills, a recent immigrant needing language and employment training, or a person with disabilities determining which local or government services are available. It is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by dialling "2-1-1" to speak to a helpful staff member or by searching the easy-to-use online database at www.ns.211.ca.
- Canadian Hearing Services
- Mental Health Commission of Canada
- Rick Hansen Foundation
- CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind)
- Living with a Disability – Financial Consumer Agency of Canada – income sources, saving, education and other resources
- Accessibility Across Nova Scotia | AccessibilityNovaScotia (a list of accessibility plans for all over Nova Scotia)
Real Time Capturing
We value your feedback
Do you have a question or concern regarding accessibility in the Town of Pictou? Let us know how we can improve by emailing info@townofpictou.ca. Your feedback is important and will be forwarded to the Pictou Accessibility Committee.
