Toyota Canada has renewed its national support of the StopGap Foundation with a $100,000 donation. This contribution will bolster StopGap’s efforts to raise awareness, provide education, and build ramps to improve physical accessibility in communities across Canada. Since 2019, the partnership between Toyota Canada and StopGap has been rooted in a shared commitment to inclusion through physical accessibility, aligning with Toyota’s vision of “mobility for all.”
StopGap Foundation is a registered Canadian charity dedicated to promoting the importance of accessibility and inclusion. Through initiatives like the School Project, Community Ramp Project, and Corporate Team-building program, the Foundation helps foster a broader understanding of accessibility. StopGap provides brightly coloured wooden ramps to businesses across Canada to address the “one-step problem,” where a single step outside a building limits access for those using mobility aids. These ramps also benefit seniors, parents with strollers, and delivery workers, promoting awareness and encouraging communities to find practical solutions to accessibility challenges.
The $100,000 donation from Toyota Canada will expand StopGap’s impact, allowing more communities across Canada to benefit from the Community Ramp Project and the School Project. By supporting the growth of these programs, StopGap continues to create barrier-free spaces while fostering a national conversation about accessibility and driving a cultural shift in how Canadians view disability. The funds will strengthen both initiatives, supporting StopGap’s mission of promoting inclusion and accessibility.
“StopGap’s Community Ramp Project has proven to be a simple yet incredibly effective solution to help make our communities more accessible,” said Leslie Miller, Vice President, Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer, Toyota Canada.
“At some point in our lives, we will all need to rely on a barrier-free amenity, so it’s important to have an accessibility-first approach to design,” said Luke Anderson, Executive Director and Co-Founder, StopGap Foundation. “This starts with making existing spaces accessible, building awareness, and educating Canadians about the importance of inclusive spaces. Over the years, Toyota Canada has been a strong supporter in helping us do this, and we’re thankful for their continued investment in creating an accessible world.”
Since 2011, StopGap Foundation has been raising awareness about the lack of accessible spaces and has distributed over 2,000 custom-built ramps to businesses, schools, and government buildings in more than 60 Canadian communities. Last summer, the grassroots organization expanded its efforts to the U.S., launching its first project in New York City, where over a dozen businesses joined the initiative. With a vision to extend its programs globally, StopGap continues to advocate for accessibility and inclusion.
Source: Toyota
