We're on CTV today,
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/video/c2958583-ctv-news-toronto-at-six-for-thursday--july-25--2024
or maybe
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/video/c2958583-ctv-news-toronto-at-six-for-thursday--july-25--2024?binId=1.3378531
24:20 to 24:27 "... one man's effort to get the ball rolling."
and
29:58 to 32:03
or maybe
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/video/c2958583-ctv-news-toronto-at-six-for-thursday--july-25--2024?binId=1.3378531
24:20 to 24:27 "... one man's effort to get the ball rolling."
and
29:58 to 32:03
Thanks to everyone who helped including Jeff, JD, Devin, Jenny, CTV, City TV, ...
Professor walks on water for justice
What: Professor walks on water for Justice
When: Thursday July 25th 2024
Where: Toronto, Ontario
Photos & video:
Livestream on IG via Jenny McQueen:
An
unusual sight in Toronto as Toronto University Professor, Steve Mann,
walked on the surface of the water, inside a water ball, at the fountain
next to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
Mann
is very vocal about the lack of access to Lake Ontario and says “The
authorities have blocked off access to Ontario Place which is home to
downtown Toronto's only accessible beach, and also home to the only
public boat launch ramp where I can get access to the lake. Many of us
believe our elected officials did not do enough to save Michael Hough
Beach.”
The professor has a disability arising from a back injury and requires access to a body of water to do his prescribed and medically necessary physiotherapy exercises, namely water-walking, for which he has the exercise ball that he uses on the surface of the water.
The construction of the private spa at Ontario Place means that Steve no longer has anywhere in Toronto where he can launch his water ball, including City of Toronto pools which don’t allow inflatables of this kind (ball or board, etc.) in any of their pools.
Although there are wheelchair ramps at some beaches, none of these extend into the water. Steve has previously detailed the struggles of accessible beaches in Toronto, and accuses the TRCA (Toronto Regional Conservation Authority) of placing boulders over Toronto's remaining accessible (i.e. sand-free pebble-based) beaches. He wrote an article about this issue:
https://spacing.ca/toronto/
Steve says that the government agency, Waterfront Toronto, had promised to build a new pebble beach, but when he inquired for details they told him they were going to boulder it over just like the TRCA.
Steve has created a parody site: WATERFRONTario.com to bring public attention to the absurdity of accessibility to Lake Ontario.
Steve says his only other option is to use one of the nearby fountains in the City of Toronto, such as the fountain in front of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice or the fountain at Nathan Phillips Square, that becomes a skating rink in winter.
Recently, an access ramp for kayak launch was constructed on Lakeshore Boulevard but only temporarily for the Toronto Triathlon at a rental cost of $10,000 for the weekend. The purchase price of a structure like that is $30,000. Steve says “It would be really nice if that access ramp could stay, allowing persons with disabilities to use the lake and not need to rely on fountains for physiotherapy”.
The professor has a disability arising from a back injury and requires access to a body of water to do his prescribed and medically necessary physiotherapy exercises, namely water-walking, for which he has the exercise ball that he uses on the surface of the water.
The construction of the private spa at Ontario Place means that Steve no longer has anywhere in Toronto where he can launch his water ball, including City of Toronto pools which don’t allow inflatables of this kind (ball or board, etc.) in any of their pools.
Although there are wheelchair ramps at some beaches, none of these extend into the water. Steve has previously detailed the struggles of accessible beaches in Toronto, and accuses the TRCA (Toronto Regional Conservation Authority) of placing boulders over Toronto's remaining accessible (i.e. sand-free pebble-based) beaches. He wrote an article about this issue:
https://spacing.ca/toronto/
Steve says that the government agency, Waterfront Toronto, had promised to build a new pebble beach, but when he inquired for details they told him they were going to boulder it over just like the TRCA.
Steve has created a parody site: WATERFRONTario.com to bring public attention to the absurdity of accessibility to Lake Ontario.
Steve says his only other option is to use one of the nearby fountains in the City of Toronto, such as the fountain in front of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice or the fountain at Nathan Phillips Square, that becomes a skating rink in winter.
Recently, an access ramp for kayak launch was constructed on Lakeshore Boulevard but only temporarily for the Toronto Triathlon at a rental cost of $10,000 for the weekend. The purchase price of a structure like that is $30,000. Steve says “It would be really nice if that access ramp could stay, allowing persons with disabilities to use the lake and not need to rely on fountains for physiotherapy”.
Jenny
McQueen, a longtime animal rights activist, and keen swimmer, was eager
to support the action, and has previously joined Steve swimming at
Michael Hough beach. She says “Swimming in the lake is something I can
enjoy from any of the beaches in Ontario but it’s now nigh impossible
for those with disabilities. That’s just not right”.
- 30 -
Thanks to Devin in Jenny for help with pictures and video:
.jpg)
The water ball team gathers - selfie by Steve Mann