Accessibility
QPIRG Concordia is committed to being inclusive and accessible to all. We are actively opposed to all forms of discrimination and oppression. QPIRG is a volunteer-driven, student-funded, non-profit organization that is independent from the Concordia administration and student unions. Both students and community members are welcome to make use of our space and resources as well as participate in QPIRG projects.
As part of our commitment to being inclusive and accessible to all, QPIRG actively works on creating an accessible space as well as organizing accessible projects and events.The following outlines the accessibility practices we’ve put into place as well as our current obstacles and barriers to accessibility due to our limited resources. We welcome suggestions for improvement.
Where access depends on the behaviour of others, we will take steps to communicate and enforce access guidelines, and ask that QPIRG space users do the same.
Wheelchair and
Physical Accessibility
The QPIRG space itself is wheelchair accessible.
Details:
There is an elevator in our building. We have two entrances. The entrance at 2100 Guy has one flight of stairs.
For step-free access, use the entrance at 1625 de Maisonneuve Ouest.
Buzz #0205 to be let through the automatic doors, then take the elevator up to the second floor. The door to our space can be opened by automated button, and swings out.
There is a paid parking lot beside our building, entrance on Guy.
A list of other spaces downtown (Ville-Marie borough) reserved for people who have the blue-and-white parking permit can be found here:
http://www.statdemtl.qc.ca/index.php?page_id=322&lang=en#sondage
[We are working to compile more information regarding accessible parking near QPIRG. In the meantime, please get in touch if you have questions or if you have information you want to share about parking.]
We have public-use computers at desks that are at a height that are high enough to allow most wheelchairs to fit at them.
QPIRG Events
We are committed to planning events that are in wheelchair-accessible venues. Our promotional material will include the given venue’s accessibility information. See Washrooms for info on washroom accessibility.
Washrooms
Our space contains one gender-neutral, single occupancy, wheelchair accessible washroom. The door is not automated, it swings in and is pretty light.
Gender Neutral Washrooms Outside our Office
In the case that our gender neutral washroom is occupied, there are also two washrooms in the hallway outside the QPIRG office. Since we share the floor with other groups, we unfortunately have not been able to successfully make the outside washrooms neutral yet. Space users are welcome to use whichever outside washroom they want, but we realize this is not the same as having washrooms that are actually gender-neutral.
Reduced Scent Policy
QPIRG is a reduced scent space. We encourage people to not wear scented products at QPIRG or reduce drastically their usual use of these products (eg. perfumes, colognes, etc.). No chemical products that emit noxious or toxic fumes can be used in the space without prior approval (cleaning agents, certain art supplies, etc.).
Please consult the QPIRG Reduced Scent Policy for more information.
Allergies
Our space and our events are free of animals (except for helper animals such as guide dogs). We do our best to accommodate a range of dietary needs when there is food at our events. Our default is to provide vegan food. We are able to accommodate other dietary needs – including food allergies – with notification (for example, making sure there are nut-free and gluten-free foods).
Whenever possible, we provide lists of all ingredients in food items.
For more information, please consult our Reduced Scent Policy.
Cops and CSIS
QPIRG Board and staff aim to avoid any police involvement or meddling in the QPIRG space as well as at our events. When conflicts arise in the space, we strive to de-escalate the situation or to solve them via discussion and mediation techniques. Inappropriate or abusive behaviour is not tolerated in the space, and people responsible for such behaviours are asked to leave the space.
While we try to avoid any police involvement in the space, Board, staff members and space users have the discretion and personal choice to phone the police/911 when the situation warrants, namely when someone’s physical safety is threatened.
If the police (SPVM, SQ, RCMP, etc) visit the QPIRG space uninvited, we ask them to leave. The police can only legally enter and search the space with a warrant. We advise all space users to demand to see a warrant, and to have a copy, before allowing police into the space. If you can, verify whether the warrant is signed and dated. When police are at the QPIRG space, we ask that space users phone a staff member and a designated lawyer. This information will also be posted in the QPIRG space.
QPIRG Concordia adopts the statement by the People’s Commission Network concerning CSIS (http://www.peoplescommission.org/en/csis/whattodo-csis.php). This statement will be posted at the QPIRG space, and shared with all working groups and space users. This statement constitutes QPIRG’s approach to CSIS and other state agencies.
Child-Welcoming Space
We strive to make our space and our events safe and welcoming to children and their parents and guardians. Children are always welcome in the QPIRG space, and we have toys and books for kids. As well, we are committed to providing free childcare at our events.
Financial Accessibility
All of our events are free.
When we do something where there is a cost associated, for example if we co-organize an event or when we distribute a publication (like Convergence or School Schmool ), it is on a suggested donation and / or pay-what-you-can basis, and no one will be turned away due to lack of funds.
We do not currently offer metro or bus tickets on a consistent basis, but we can provide them upon request, and can help to subsidize adapted transportation to-and-from our space and our events.
Membership is currently included for fee-levy paying Concordia students, and available to community members by volunteering a minimum of 10 hours annually or by $10 donation. See QPIRG Constitution for complete membership details.
Francisation
QPIRG is a primarily English organization operating on an English university campus. However, given that we are also located in Montreal, we actively strive toward “francisation,” be it in our space, at our events or for important written information.
People are encouraged to express themselves in French in our space. At our events, we provide interpretation towards French through whisper translation for our French-speaking audience. Our goal of “francisation” is an ongoing one, and although we cannot provide translated versions of every document, we can translate specific ones if users request it.
Media
We do our best to notify space users and event participants whenever there is media present. We also ask all journalists to ask permission before taking pictures of a group or event.
Resources and Mutual Aid
In addition to providing as many resources as we can and doing our best within our capacity to make the QPIRG space and events as accessible and inclusive as possible, QPIRG is also part of, and aware of, many other community resources and networks. If you are looking for a particular resource or a particular form of support, get in touch and we will do our best to provide information and resources.
Mutual aid is an important tenet of our movement, and we believe that asking others for help is a political act.
Sexual Assault and Safer Space
QPIRG Concordia is committed to being inclusive and accessible to all. We are actively opposed to all forms of discrimination and oppression.
Therefore, we ask that QPIRG members and space users be aware of their language and behaviour, and to think about whether it might be oppressive to others. QPIRG is not a space for violence, racism, ageism, sexism, transphobia, homophobia, ableism, sizeism, sleaziness, or touching another person without consent. Acting in a way that perpetuates oppression, including through language, is not acceptable.
To know more, please visit our Sexual Assault and Safer Space Policy page.
Signed Interpretation
Right now we are unable to offer ASL and/or LSQ to English interpretation on a consistent basis. However, we can organize ASL or LSQ interpretation when notified in advance.
We welcome your input!
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding QPIRG and accessibility, please do not hesitate to get in touch!
We understand a commitment to accessibility and inclusivity as an on-going process and a learning process. If you have input about this process or would like to provide any information or resources, we welcome that as well!
For Questions, Comments or Concerns, please contact us at:
2100 rue Guy #205
Montreal, Quebec (near Guy-Concordia Metro)
(514) 848-7585
info@qpirgconcordia.org
For further information regarding accessibility at QPIRG Concordia, please refer to the following policies: