StopGap Foundation

06/03/2026

Happy National AccessAbility Week!

This week, we celebrate the progress being made toward more accessible and inclusive communities while recognizing the work that still lies ahead.

At StopGap, National AccessAbility Week is a reminder that accessibility benefits everyone and we all have an important role in creating the change we want to see in our communities. Every conversation about inclusion, every barrier removed, every ramp installed, and every advocate who speaks up helps create communities that feel more connected and harmonious, where everyone can participate fully.

Thank you for being part of this growing movement. Your support, enthusiasm, and commitment to accessibility continue to inspire us and help create meaningful change all over Canada.
Together, we're building a future where access isn't the exception, it's the expectation.



Image description: Text reads “Happy National AccessAbility Week!” in a white stencil font over a photo of four StopGap ramps. From left to right, the ramps are painted green, blue, red, and yellow. StopGap Foundation’s logo is located at the bottom right of the graphic.

04/14/2026

StopGap Foundation is hiring for 2 part-time positions!

➡️ Operations Manager
➡️ Communications Coordinator

Location: Virtual and occasionally on-site at 192 Spadina Ave. in Toronto, ON
Application Deadline: Applications will remain open until the positions are filled
Start Date: Spring/Summer 2026 (TBC)

For more info, visit https://stopgap.ca/hiring-2026/

Please share with anyone you think might be interested and a good fit! 😊
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Image description: Graphic with an orange background. Text in the middle says "We're hiring!" in a white stencil font that has overspray around it. Below the text is StopGap Foundation's logo in white.

04/08/2026

Pushmakers is excited to collaborate with Lakeshore Arts for Wheels on Parade, supporting wheelchair users in creating functional living art out of their wheelchairs! Join us in participating in a pageant at the upcoming Mimico Arts Jam on June 20th!

Workshops:
🗓️ Saturdays, May 23 & June 6, 2026
🕕1-4PM
📍Crossroads Theatre, Weston Common (34 John Street, Unit B., York)

Final Performance:
🗓️ Saturday, June 20, 2026
🕕Time to be confirmed
📍Amos Waites Park (2441 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Etobicoke)
🔗Register now: https://lsa2422.short.gy/WoP26

Questions? Email Shay at [email protected]

All participants will receive honoraria
Both manual and power wheelchair users are welcome
Workshop location is wheelchair accessible, with accessible washrooms and PSW on site
Indoor workshops are mask mandatory, outdoor presentation is mask optional

Image Description in Comments ⬇️

03/04/2026

Kite Creates has teamed up with TMU to present an Adaptive Fashion Panel Discussion: Advancing Adaptive fashion In Canada: A Shared Conversation – Connecting Research, Design and Innovation to Shape What Comes Next.

At the event, there will be an exciting announcement about the launch of a new initiative seeded at Kite: the Adaptive Fashion Alliance, Canada (afac). Join in and be part of the conversation!

See the link to register and find out more here:

Connecting Research, Design, and Lived Experience to Shape What Comes Next.

02/24/2026

We’re shining a spotlight on Orangeville, Ontario and three newly ramped businesses!

📍 Bluebird Cafe and Grill, 100 Broadway
📍 Maggiolly Art Supplies, 158 Broadway
📍 The Altered Nation, 218 Broadway

A huge thank you to the Town of Orangeville team, Access Orangeville Committee, and participating business owners for supporting our work and helping to create more accessible spaces for their community 🧡

[Photo credit: Town of Orangeville]

02/19/2026

Applications are open for the Sustainability Catalyst Internship Program!

StopGap Foundation is a partner with the Sustainability Catalyst Internship Program, which offers University of Toronto graduate students paid opportunities to work with partners on real-world sustainability solutions faced by their organizations.

See the full posting here:https://sustainability.utoronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/262697-Stakeholder-Engagement-Strategy-for-Accessible-Cities-StopGap-Foundation.pdf

Applications close at 11:59 PM on Sunday March 1, 2026.

12/20/2025

Wishing you and your loved ones a happy and restful holiday season! 🥰

The StopGap team is taking a break starting on Saturday, December 20th and returning on Monday, January 5th, 2026.

We look forward to continuing our important awareness-raising work together in the new year! ♿

12/19/2025

Exciting news: StopGap ramps have made their way to Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario 🥳

Thanks to the years-long advocacy from resident Pamela TurnerSmith and the support of the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, 9 single-stepped businesses received new access ramps painted in a heritage blue - just in time for the holiday season!

📍 Fritters on the Lake, 217 King St
📍 Hatley, 4 Queen St
📍 Gyros on the Lake, 12 Queen St
📍 Neob Lavender, 38 Queen St
📍 COWS, 44 Queen St
📍 Cool as a Moose, 46 Queen St
📍 Scottish Loft, 13 Queen St
📍 Craig's Cookies, 15 Queen St
📍 Wine Country Vintners, 27 Queen St

Check out this great write up on the Niagara-on-the-Lake ramp project in local publication The Lake Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jkF3U9uEckbmupUfmE0WKWELQkjRnWsa/view?usp=sharing

[Photos by Marah Minor, Corporate Communications Lead at Town of Niagara‑on‑the‑Lake]

12/03/2025

Each year, the United Nations announces a theme for International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The annual theme provides a common focus on how society can work towards inclusivity and remove barriers for people with disabilities. This year’s theme is "Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress".

While the UN provides the official international theme, individual countries, organizations, and community groups can also develop their own complementary themes or events to align with local priorities and contexts.

For example, we love the theme that our friends at the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto have chosen this year - "Resisting Ableism, Building Community and Hope for the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities"!

Inspired by this year’s UN theme and our core values of fun, inclusion, community, inspiration, and empowerment, we declare "Access brings us Together" as StopGap’s complementary theme. It speaks to how we celebrate accessibility with joy, bringing people together to take collective action where everyone belongs. By sharing knowledge that empowers independence, we show what’s possible when communities unite.

May all of these themes and events being held around the world today inspire a collective understanding about the importance of accessibility and inclusion in driving positive social progress all over the world.



[Background image by Katie Rainbow via Pexels.com. StopGap Foundation added text and edited the yellow cutout from the original image]

11/11/2025

PROMise Party is only two days away - can you believe it?! 🥳

We're excited to share the silent auction page with you ahead of the big day. The auction is now LIVE until Wednesday, November 12th at 9:30 PM EST.

Place your bids at https://fundraiser.bid/stopgap-promise-party

🥰 A huge thank you to all of the people, local businesses, and organizations that generously donated so many amazing items and experiences to make our silent auction possible!

🎟️ It’s not too late to get your PROMise Party tickets! Head to https://stopgappromiseparty.raiselysite.com/



Disco ramp graphic background template by Emma Scott Designs