Vincent Massey resource teacher is a real difference maker

She was simply part of the crowd when Institut collégial Vincent Massey Collegiate staff, students and the community gathered this past fall to celebrate accessibility and inclusion. Many might not have know that Vincent Massey resource teacher, Carolyn West, played an integral role in securing a $30,000 Access4All Barrier Buster grant from the Rick Hansen Foundation. When Pembina Trails Superintendent/CEO Ted Fransen shared the Access4All Canada 150 Resources, West instantly knew there was potential for strong curriculum connections. Once she started exploring the website, she noticed the Barrier Buster grant, printed the form and shared it with the school's leadership and resource team.

West's effort did not go unnoticed; she has recently been awarded a Difference Maker Award by the Rick Hansen Foundation.

"The past year has been a bit of a blur; the Barrier Busters Grant, the Rick Hansen event, the Open Doors event and then the Difference Makers Award. All of this has brought some much needed attention to the topic of accessibility and how we, as a school and a community, have a responsibility to provide equal access to everyone," shared West. "I'm honored to be a part of such an amazing group of people; people that value the differences and creativity we all bring to the table when solving problems. I see great things in the future for Vincent Massey; you'll want to keep an eye on us."

Congratulations to Carolyn West and the dedicated team at Vincent Massey on your commitment to inclusion.

Learn more about the grant and other accessibility projects at Vincent Massey and the inclusion celebration