The home of the Saskatchewan Roughriders is the first sporting venue in Canada to receive a gold rating for accessibility.
Mosaic Stadium is the only stadium in Canada to hold an ‘Accessibility Certified Gold’ rating under the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification program.
The award was presented to the city by Rick Hansen Saturday afternoon at the stadium prior to the Roughriders home game versus the Ottawa Redblacks.
The stadium was the recipient of a plaque after achieving a commitment to improving accessibility for visitors to the stadium, scoring 82 points out of 100 under the program’s rating system.
Mayor Fougere said it’s an incredible accomplishment not only for the venue, but for the city.
“When [Rick] casts his view on our stadium and he says we have a gold standard, we are very proud of that,” said the mayor. “I think it’s really important considering Rick Hansen, a Canadian icon, whose spoken so much about disabilities and has shown that the possibilities are endless.”
The football venue earned the rating through a number of features:
Transport
- Paratransit is given a priority on game days and during major events
- Guests with accessible needs are dropped off right outside the stadium gate
Signage and wayfinding
- Braille is available on signage throughout the facility
- The wide concourse makes navigating the stadium more comfortable
- Tactile wayfinding strips are located at all entryways
Assistive listening devices
- The stadium is equipped with a hearing assistance system
- There are 400 assistive listening devices available for use at Guest Services
Accessible areas in the venue
- 157 accessible spaces available, including 114 companion seating options
- Nine single-stall, inclusive restrooms
- Nine, voice-equipped elevators
- Public, accessible ramps
- 40 power-assisted doors
Fougere added while this is a great moment for the city, it’s important to see what the city can do to further improve accessibility at Mosaic Stadium and throughout Regina.
Following the ceremony, Hansen received a tour of the stadium to view some of the highlights for accessibility.
He explained how it’s more important now than ever before to provide accessibility in today’s world.
“The number of people with disabilities is growing exponentially with the aging baby boomers having visual, hearing, mobility and cognitive challenges,” said Hansen. “We know that we have to be able to deal with this because it’s a fundamental human rights opportunity.”
When speaking on the opportunities the football stadium will provide for citizens and visitors moving forward, he said it’s an honour to be a part of a successful result.
“For people who get a sense of confinement, they can feel more relaxed and open in an environment like this, so it’s an inclusive opportunity.”
Hansen was recognized during the Roughriders versus Redblacks game in which the crowd gave him a standing ovation.
Mosaic Stadium is also the first site in the province to have been awarded the gold rating from the foundation.
Over 1,200 buildings across Canada have been rated through the program.
