Chemainus’s popular Kin Beach got more accessible in April thanks to a new concrete sidewalk installed by the Rotary Club of Chemainus.
An accessible washroom was constructed by the Municipality of North Cowichan in 2020, but the surrounding terrain made it difficult for individuals using mobility aids to reach the facility.
Rotarian Diana Hardacker first brought the idea to the club after a friend using a wheelchair was unable to reach the washroom facilities during the opening celebration for the accessible building — unintentionally highlighting the gap between intention and access.
The municipality had planned to install a gravel cart path, but the Rotary Club saw an opportunity to enhance accessibility even further with a permanent concrete walkway.
Under the leadership of past president Jennifer “Doc” Morrell, who served from 2022 to 2024, the Rotary Club undertook the sidewalk project as her legacy initiative. Each Rotary president is allocated a legacy fund of $5,000, distributed over their two-year term. Morrell used that fund and supplemented it with additional fundraising efforts to bring the project to life.
“We did have to fundraise a little bit, but we received donations from Surespan [Ready-Mix], who gave us a really great deal on concrete, and Tall Tree Lumber here in town donated all the rebar and the two-by-fours that we needed,” Morrell explained. “Rein Timberworks and Castle Cove Builders also volunteered some of their time to help us with the actual technical end of it.”
The Municipality of North Cowichan did the work to prepare the site. Rotary Club members and local contractors then took on much of the physical work themselves, tying rebar and transporting concrete in wheelbarrows. Mark Staples from Rein Timberworks oversaw the rebar and formwork. He then poured the concrete along with Ken Stanton from Castle Cove Builders and a team of workers.
The sidewalk now connects the washroom to the parking lot and picnic shelter. It also includes a bump-out area that will eventually feature a bench. Space will be left beside the bench so that those using wheelchairs, walkers or strollers can rest and enjoy the ocean view.
The project is part of broader accessibility improvements North Cowichan has planned for Kin Beach, including the installation of engineered wood fibre in playground areas to improve mobility for people using assistive devices.
For Morrell, the sidewalk stands as a testament to community collaboration and the impact of thoughtful infrastructure.
“It’s a simple thing, but it makes such a huge difference,” she said.
When asked how it feels to have a Chemainus legacy, Morrell was exuberant.
“It’s awesome! You know, my favourite thing about this project, hands down, is that every time we were down here, there was somebody that needed the sidewalk.”
Morrell recalled several instances that underline the real, ongoing need for this accessibility initiative.
“There was a lady with a walker one day. Mark [Staples] took her arm to help her to the bathroom because she couldn’t wheel her walker across and just wasn’t feeling stable enough. And the day we were tying the rebar, there was a lady who couldn’t step up because there was a bit of a step, and so just having it level will make a huge difference.”
The project has also made Rotary members more aware of just how common accessibility barriers can be.
“I think when you’re aware of it you really start to notice,” Morrell said.
Hardacker agreed, noting that accessibility is something people don’t often think about until it impacts them personally — as it did for her when her friend couldn’t access the washroom. That experience is reflective of a broader issue.
According to a 2022 Statistics Canada report, 72 per cent of Canadians with disabilities reported encountering at least one accessibility barrier in the past year, often in public spaces such as entrances, sidewalks or washrooms.
The prevalence of disability also increases with age. In British Columbia, 41.7 per cent of individuals over the age of 65 live with a disability, highlighting the importance of accessible infrastructure for an aging population. As accessibility becomes increasingly essential, the work of community organizations like Rotary takes on even greater importance.
The Rotary Club of Chemainus has a long history of contributions at Kin Beach. The club was responsible for installing the outdoor shower, conducting maintenance at the boat launch, providing the life ring, and building the picnic shelter and table.
Morrell said she’s proud to have helped make Chemainus a little more accessible for residents and visitors — and perhaps even for herself someday.
“Maybe this will stay here long enough that I can use it if I need it,” she said with a laugh.
