Lindsay, Ontario, 21/05/2026 – Paralympic gold medalist Jon Thurston, wheelchair basketball stars Tamara Steeves and Eric Voss, and local champion Wynn Van Kooten, are ready to celebrate accessibility alongside an incredible network of community groups at AccessAbilty in Motion, Ampere Canada’s launch event for National AccessAbility Week 2026.
Tailored to people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds, Ampere is hosting a number of events and workshops as part of National AccessAbility Week, including the chance to meet world-renowned athletes, explore accessible gaming, try out assistive technology and enjoy fun activities for the whole family.
“We’re excited to bring the community together to celebrate local champions in accessibility throughout this entire week,” says Ryan Oliver, CEO of Ampere.
“As we continue our work to support a sense of belonging here in Kawartha Lakes, we’re grateful to the community organizations, partners, world-class athletes and funders we’ve been fortunate enough to collaborate with, for recognizing the importance of accessibility and inclusion.”
“Creating a stronger, more inclusive and barrier-free Canada is not simply the right thing to do, it’s about ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential. Through programs like the Accessible Canada Fund – National AccessAbility Week stream, we are breaking down barriers, while strengthening accessibility and inclusion in Lindsay and across the country. Together, we are building Canada strong,” adds the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.
AccessAbility in Motion, May 30
Kicking off the week, on May 30, Ampere and a number of community partners are collaborating to bring AccessAbility in Motion to Kawartha Lakes. Running from 11 am to 2 pm at I.E. Weldon Secondary School, the free-to-attend, fun for all ages event includes presentations from 2026 Paralympic gold medalist Jon Thurston as well as wheelchair basketball rising star Wynn Van Kooten. Attendees will have a chance to “take their shot” at a wheelchair basketball clinic hosted by Tamara Steeves, four-time Paralympian and Commonwealth games gold medalist, and Eric Voss, silver medalist, Canada Games, learn about seniors yoga, and get creative with face painting, games and a Creation Bar!
Saturday’s event, focused on accessibility in life, play and work, also hosts a variety of community organizations who share the goal of making Kawartha Lakes a more inclusive, accessible community.
Inclusion Arcade Workshops, June 5
The following Friday, on June 5, the action returns to Ampere’s Kawartha Lakes Makerspace & Skills Hub as Inclusion Arcade offers two no-cost workshops for participants to learn about disability advocacy through an interactive, hands-on exploration of the world of adaptive gaming.
“Participants will explore specialized controllers, assistive technology, and software customizations that break down barriers in play. It’s an interactive session where community members can learn about disability advocacy through the lens of modern gaming, ensuring that nobody gets left on the sidelines,” says Matt Brown, Founder & Chief Philanthropic Advocate for Inclusion Arcade.
Integrated Accessible Tech Drop-in, June 6
Wrapping up National AccessAbility Week, Ampere’s expert team of educators will be leading a drop-in session centred around integrated accessible tech on Saturday, June 6. This youth and family-focused drop-in workshop, running from 10 am to 1 pm at Ampere’s Makerspace and Skills Hub, examines how accessibility exists all around us in Kawartha Lakes, and in many cases, has become the standard, plus ways we can make our environment even more inclusive.
More information about Ampere’s National AccessAbility Week events can be found at go.amp.ca/accessible2026.
Funding for Ampere’s National AccessAbility Week programming is made possible in part by funding through the Government of Canada’s Accessible Canada Fund – National AccessAbility Week stream.
About Ampere
For over a decade, Ampere (formerly the Pinnguaq Association) has partnered with rural, remote and Indigenous communities to provide access to science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) education and opportunities. Founded in Pangnirtung, Nunavut, Ampere applies a Lifecycle approach to ensure that its supporting learners at every age, and every stage of life. Ampere offers programming directly through Makerspaces in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Bathurst, New Brunswick, and in the Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, and works directly with community partners, social organizations, governmental funders and educational institutions from coast to coast to coast.