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From YouTube: FEB 14 2023 Statements Ben Stewart
Description
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
4th Session
42nd Parliament
A
Member
for
Kelowna
West,
thank
you.
Mr
Speaker
I
want
to
talk
today
about
Julia's
Junction.
It's
an
inclusive
play
space
for
all
abilities
planned
for
the
West
Bank
Town
Center
Park.
It
is
the
vision
of
Melissa
Grassman,
whose
daughter
Julia
was
paralyzed
by
a
blood
cut
at
17
months
old
and
requires
a
wheelchair
to
get
around
honorable
speaker.
People
with
disabilities
represent
5500
residents
in
our
community.
That's
one
in
six
people
in
West
Kelowna,
including
the
families
and
friends
of
people
with
disabilities.
A
There
are
close
to
17
000
affected
by
the
lack
of
fully
inclusive
playgrounds.
Julia's
Junction
will
be
a
destination
play
space
for
people
of
all
ages
to
enjoy,
regardless
of
their
physical
or
cognitive
ability
or
mental
diagnosis.
It
will
include
features
such
as
a
wheelchair,
accessible
play
structures,
multi-sensory,
Play
Elements,
as
well
as
a
sheltered
area
with
picnic
tables
and
a
water
feature.
This
safe
inclusive
of
space
will
include,
or
will
provide
children
with
an
opportunity
to
engage
in
diverse
play,
experiences,
build
relationships
and
develop
their
skills
in
a
fun
and
meaningful
way
without
barriers.
A
A
total
of
seven
hundred
and
fifty
thousand
dollars
needs
to
be
raised
to
build
this
playground.
So
far,
667
628
has
been
raised
with
an
expected
construction
date
to
begin
this
April
this
meaningful
and
important
project
is
getting
closer
to
becoming
a
reality
by
the
day.
I
look
forward
to
construction
of
Julia's
Junction
and
the
opening
of
a
place
where
nobody
is
excluded
from
play
because
of
their
disability
and
for
our
community
to
come
together
to
make
connections
through
play.
Thank
you.