The Annapolis County Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility committee (IDEA) provides advice to Municipality of the County of Annapolis, Town of Annapolis Royal, Town of Middleton and Village of Lawrencetown in identifying, preventing, and eliminating barriers in municipal programs, services, initiatives, and infrastructure to ensure they are inclusive, diverse, equitable and accessible.

The IDEA committee will play a role in helping the region become an accessible community to meet its obligations under Nova Scotia’s Accessibility Act, Bill 59 and to update Accessibility plans in 2025. In addition, the committee will also support the development of equity and anti-racism plan in accordance with the Dismantling Racism and Hate Act.

Nova Scotia and respective municipalities are committed to addressing systemic hate, inequity and racism and to support underrepresented and underserved communities and the intersectionality between and among groups. 

The plan will incorporate both acts.

The Nova Scotia Accessibility Act, Bill 59 defines a barrier as “anything that hinders or challenges the full and effective participation in society of persons with disabilities. This includes physical, architectural, information or communications, attitudinal, technological, policy, or practice-based barriers.

Disability, as defined by the Act, includes a physical, mental, intellectual, learning or sensory impairment, including an episodic disability.  When combined with barriers, these impairments can hinder an individual’s full and effective participation in society. Reducing barriers helps everyone access the spaces and services they need.

Broader equity and anti-racism priorities may include service delivery, training and education, diverse representation equitable hiring and promotion practices, and language and cultural accessibility.

Priority equity groups include:  

• Mi’kmaq and persons of Indigenous descent
• African Nova Scotians and persons of African descent
• Persons of colour/racialized persons
• Newcomers (immigrants and refugees)
• 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals
• Persons with disabilities
• Minority faith-based groups
• Neurodivergent persons
• Women (in some contexts.

The IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) Committee will be hosting public sessions to hear from people who live, work, play or visit the Annapolis County region. 

These sessions will center on the experiences of underrepresented and underserved communities. Please reach out – your voice is essential as we work to create a more inclusive and equitable Annapolis County for all. If you have a disability and would like to schedule a one-on-one interview, we would be happy to accommodate that request.