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night on the town can Abe a daunting task for omeone who is disâ€" abled â€" a fact Andrea Burkâ€" holder knows all too well. The fourthâ€"year Universiâ€" ty of Waterloo student often enjoys capping off a long week of studying by taking in some of the local nightlife with her friends. But what should be a funâ€" filled experience can turn uncomfortable if an estabâ€" lishment is not universally accessible. Born with spina bifida, Burkholder spends part of her time in a wheelchair and the rest of her time on crutches. Night on the town not easy for disabled students Getting around has always been a challenge. But with a supportive family and friends behind her, she has overcome many obstacles in her way. There are times, however, when support isn‘t enough. Burkholder often faces barriers others take for granted. â€" Barriers such as steep flights of stairs into a pubs, with no wheelchair ramps in sight. Looking For a New or Preâ€"owned BMW Regional chair candidates put Seiling‘s feet to the fire ere may be no big name I candidates for the regional chair‘s job in November‘s election, but that doesn‘t mean Ken Seiling, seeking his seventh term, will get a free pass, say the challengers for his seat. Seiling said there is still imporâ€" tant work for the region to do in completing its commitments to fund the local hospital‘s capital campaigns, implementing the growth management strategy, improving public transit and the ongoing plan to make sure the curâ€" rent road system is updated. On the social side of the ledger, Seiling said he wants to maintain the momentum in getting more affordable housing built and get the new provincial government involved in funding day care "We‘re looking for greater provincial commitment," said Seilâ€" ing, after having to deal with the effect of municipal downloading www.bkmotorsqroup.com By Anprea Baey And if she‘s lucky enough Chronicle Staff to get some help in from the muscular members of a night on the town can _ pub‘s staff, the next hinâ€" be a daunting task for _ drance often comes in the someone who is disâ€" _ form of a washroom door â€" a fact Andrea Burkâ€" _ too narrow for her wheelâ€" r knows all too well. chair to fit through. By Bos Veranac Chronicle Staff | "People are usually pretty nice, but it‘s still a little embarrassing," Burkholder said. "Nobody likes to draw attention to themselves like that." On accasion Burkholder said she‘s watched her friends in wheelchairs turned away from certain establishments who couldn‘t accommodate their needs. "They‘ve actually been told they can‘t go in," she "One of my friends was told she couldn‘t drink in a bar because she would need help from the staff to get up to the bar." "They‘ve actually been told they can‘t go in." â€"Andrea Burkholder University of Waterloo student from the last provincial governâ€" ment. "We‘re also looking for easier access to federal funds." The region has also made some major commitments to airport expansion and the building of a light rail transit system with federal and provincial support. "The LRT has a long way to go before it becomes finalized," said Seiling. "The fact that there is so much interest from the federal and provincial government sends us a clear signal that we are on the right track." To Waterloo voters unsure about the costs of another potenâ€" tial megaâ€"project, Seiling assured them the $200â€"million plan has been wellâ€"researched and the costs have been considered. And the region can‘t wait any longer in building a central transit corridor between the Waterloo, Kitchener and Cambridge. "If we do we‘ll start looking like the areas around Toronto where they don‘t have any kind of transit infrastructure," said Seiling. "It‘s Attitudes like these are unacceptable, Burkholder said, adding that bars and restaurants should be more conscious of the needs of persons with disabilities, and willing to make renovaâ€" tions to become completely accessible. She‘s even started a Web site, hoping to garner some community support behind her cause. "My goal is to raise both support and awareness," she said. "I‘m hoping to conâ€" vince bar owners to make some changes." Some local bar represenâ€" tatives admit more should be done to accommodate the needs of all of their clienâ€" tele. "We could be a little more accessible," said Chris Mepham, manager of Paddy Flaherty‘s pub in uptown Waterloo. "We do have a movable ramp, but other than that the (accessibility] is not that great." Mepham said the pub may make some changes to its washroom facilities. "We‘re looking at it," he said. Glenn Smith, owner of Ethel‘s Lounge in Waterloo, said his bar could also stand PAGE 3 sort of like building the expressâ€" way... you can imagine what the region would look like without the expressway. "The LRT is one those future projects that is critical to get rolling." But regional chair candidate Uwe Kretschmann, a former Camâ€" bridge city councillor and school board trustee, said the region doesâ€" n‘t have a good track record in spending regional taxpayers money with millionâ€"dollar cost overruns and the Mannheim water treatment plant, and the latest example of a $2â€"million cash infuâ€" sion for servicing the new $42 milâ€" lion Research and Technology Park at the University of Waterloo. "To me that‘s another RIM Park in waiting and poor Waterloo got snookered into it by the region." said Kretschmann, a local small business man involved with the local Midas Muffier chain, and one of four candidates chalienging Seilâ€" ing for his job along with Bob Verâ€" dun, Ron Koenderink and Don to make some changes But he added, there are no renovation plans currentâ€" Iy in the works. "We are accessible to some extent," Smith said. "But we are about two steps from the ground without a Burkholder said she also wishes local politicians would lend more support to Andrea Burkholder, above, said the disabled students face barriers when they go out with friends Pinnell. "They‘ve also invested $21 _ bureaucracy has ballooned to $29 million into an airport that 90 per _ spent of every $100 collected in cent of the population hasn‘t even _ property taxes. set foot in. "They‘re spending $21 million "And you have no servicing agreement with an airline, so you know that nobody will go there either once that $21 million is spent." He said, topping that financial house of cards is the LRT. Although plans for a convention centre and new swim centre have been scrapped as part of the project, Kretschmann said there‘s no guarâ€" antee thase proposals couldn‘t be floated again. "Unless [ can get a commitment from Mr. Seiling saying that, ‘No we‘re never going to build that,‘ I would suggest it will come back after this election," said Kretschmann. "I think the LRT proâ€" ject is a huge white elephant in waiting unless there are some major changes made to it." On the social side of the regisâ€" ter, Kretschmann said the region has cut back on day care while it‘s people with disabilities The feisty student said she eâ€"mailed a letter to Mayor Lynne Woolstencroft, and Couns. Morty Taylor and Brent Needham who represent the wards where most of the pubs are located, making them aware of her concerns. Waolstencroft was the only one to respond, Burkâ€" "They‘re spending $21 million on pure bureaucracy, it‘s not proâ€" gram spending," said Kretschmann. "They‘re only comâ€" mitted to spending $13 million more on health care." And he said the blame for those increasing costs falls squarely on the shoulders of Seiling, who has held the regional chair position for 18 years. "Ken has got an absoluteâ€" ly free ride for the last 10 years," said Kretschmann. Echoing those views that Seilâ€" ing‘s time has come is Verdun, a wellâ€"known pundit in Elmira who founded the Elmira Independent newspaper and is curtently a marâ€" keting and management consulâ€" tant. Concerns about the Westâ€" mount extension and the developâ€" ment of the Waterloo moraine got him interested in running for regional chair holder said."I hope more people will open their minds," she said. "People with disabilities should be.able to do the same things other people can do. That‘s something more people have to recogâ€" Burkholder‘s Web site is http://members.rogers.com Jaccessibilitywaterloo! Continued on page 5