Before Zoë Chaytors left the EDGE team, she filmed some EDGEy Conversations for us to upload to the EDGE YouTube channel and profile in this space, so that we’d have stories to present of exciting initiatives going on in the United Church until we set up a replacement to do EDGEy Conversations.
This interview is with Brenda Baker of
Grosvenor Park United Church in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, done in mid-January 2023. Brenda is a performer by trade and a volunteer at Grosvenor United, which at the time of the interview had just finished as one of its major recent projects a substantial renovation to improve its accessibility to disabled people and, as Brenda told Zoë, "to turn it into a much more efficient and useful performing arts venue.”
Are you intrigued? We could barely wait to hear more!
The renovation was a pandemic project, completed in 2021. The congregation spent 2022 getting the word out about the new performance space as bookings started to come in. Grosvenor United wanted to make a few details clear to the public, including that they’d:
- Installed a lift that takes people in wheelchairs up to the chancel level.
- Removed the pews so that people could sit anywhere in the sanctuary space.
- Installed an accessible kitchen and an accessible washrooms on the main floor
Baker explained that Grosvenor United felt these renovations required to build equity, so that disabled people could access and use the space and facilities available in the building in the same way that people without disabilities did. At the time of the interview, they planned on exploring this idea and other disability justice-related ideas further in a disability-themed conference to be held at the end of January.
Baker talked at length about “Connecting Communities—Disabilities, Justice, and Living Well," which was held in-person from January 27–29. The event website says: “For those living with disabilities and those who wish to learn about the experience of diverse people living with disabilities, this weekend event is an opportunity to deeply explore how disabilities affect our understandings of personhood, and how ableism diminishes it.”
She talked about how events like this are important not just because we’re all aging and potentially facing disability, but also because people of all ages who have been disabled from birth deserve a chance to have what they need to participate fully in their faith community.
“It’s important to do this because it’s the right thing to do,” she told Zoë.
Evidently, people agree. The renovation work and the conference received not only Seeds of Hope and (pre-pandemic) Embracing the Spirit funding, but support also from Living Skies Regional Council, the Meewasin Valley United Church Outreach Fund, and Christian Horizons. Over 20 speakers agreed to participate in the conference, including several prominent disability advocates.
Hear one of the keynote speakers, Gary Tinker, talk about his story and the conference with CBC Radio’s Shaunta Powers.
What’s next? Baker isn’t sure—the renovation and conference has occupied much of the congregation’s time and energy, and now there’s the Grosvenor United Contemplative Arts Festival (on hold since 2019 due to the pandemic) to prepare for its June restart. Hopefully Grosvenor Park United Church will make its conference a regular occurrence and continue to build awareness of and model best practices of accessible and inclusive communities of faith where everyone has the chance to participate fully.
[Image credit: Grosvenor Park United Church Facebook]
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