How accessibility is improving at many BC parks
These hot, sunny days are made for being on the beach. Pack the sunscreen, towels, sand toys, loads of snacks, and the whole fam is entertained for hours.
In the last few years, you might have noticed (or used) a long, roll-out track that extends from the path across the sand to the water.
Invented in the 90s by Georges-Paul Deschamps, Mobi-Mats are made from strong, lightweight materials. They’re designed so people using wheelchairs, strollers, or walkers can wheel across sand or grass on a firm, stable surface.
Did you know the Vancouver Park Board installed the first of these wheelchair-accessible beach mats at English Bay in 2017?
Here’s a quick history lesson on how accessibility is improving at many BC beaches.
The Vancouver Park Board installed the first Mobi-Mat and introduced a small number of sand-friendly beach wheelchairs at a couple of beaches. The program was a success and in 2018, the park board expanded the wheelchairs and Mobi-Mats to several more Vancouver beaches.
Since then, other parts of BC have followed suit. Christina Lake Provincial Park added a Mobi-Mat and floating beach wheelchair ahead of the 2024 summer season, while construction of a permanent accessible beach ramp at Cox Bay in Tofino began in May 2025. Many beaches have also integrated wheelchair-accessible picnic tables and pathways into their park layouts.
Beach wheelchairs are now more commonly available at lifeguard stations or visitor centres during the summer months. Some locations allow reservations by phone or online, while others offer the chairs on a first-come, first-serve basis.
(If you’re planning to use a beach wheelchair, note that most programs operate only when lifeguards or park staff are on duty and that most beach wheelchairs aren’t self-propelled.)
Much of this progress was driven by the work of disability advocates and organizations, including Spinal Cord Injury BC, Spectrum Ability, and the City of Vancouver Accessibility Committee. Disability advocates like Emma Kivisild and Jacques Courteau shared personal experiences that brought attention to the physical and social barriers wheelchair and walker users face at the beach.
Everyone should to be able to participate fully in their communities, which is why changes like these are so important. Variety contributes to making public spaces more inclusive for kids through our school grants, which help fund accessible playgrounds and adaptive equipment in learning centres across BC.
As just two examples, we helped fund an inclusive playground at Greater Heights Learning Academy in Coquitlam and an accessible bus for Take a Hike Foundation to improve outdoor access for students with disabilities.
Accessibility is complex, and certainly far from perfect. But each installation or adaptation is worth celebrating, because each one marks momentum toward fuller inclusion. And thanks to consistent advocacy over many decades, accessibility infrastructure is slowly becoming more visible in our communities.