Paul Vienneau starts campaign to get businesses to install automatic door openers

You'd be surprised how much of a difference a door opener makes for everyone.

That's the message from a Halifax accessibility advocate asking individual business owners on Spring Garden Roadto install automatic door openers.

• Halifax 'slow to change' when it comes to accessibility, wheelchair-user says

Paul Vienneauhas used a manual wheelchair since a cycling accident almost 25 years ago.

He says what works for him, "works for everyone."

That includes automatic door openers, which he says are also beneficial for the elderly,peoplewith strollers,arms full of packages,and more.

Vienneaubecame well known afterpeople saw himchipping away at ice and snow on the Spring Garden Road sidewalkthat he said city crews had neglected during the dreaded winter of 2015.

Vienneausays that while automatic door openerscost $4,000 to $5,000 per door, they're worth the money to make places more inclusive.

Not required by law

Automatic door openers are not required by law. A municipal government official says that while new buildings are required to be accessible, there is no accessibility requirement under the provincial code for older buildings that haven't had a major renovation.

Vienneau says people respond to a personal approach, so that's why he's getting the word out.

"I am appealing to [business owners] directly," he said. "I don't want them to feel bad for me that I can't get in. I want them to see that it's the right thing to do to make their store accessible. It's to go from sympathy to empathy."

Vienneau says owners are responsive to the idea and in one case, have already taken up his suggestion.

Positive impact at PitaPit

Pita Pit on Spring Garden Road opened a few months ago. While it had a door opener for its bathroom, it didn't have one for the front door, says Vienneau. He says the operators spoke with the building's landlord and an opener was installed within weeks.

The shift leader at Pita Pit says she's already seen a positive impact and not just for Vienneau.

"Other people have been using it and they've thought it was awesome," said Sarah Michaud. "It has brought a lot more business into the store, just with the convenience."

But change comes at too high a price for Kurt Bulger, who owns Jennifer's of Nova Scotia on Spring Garden. The building he rents is 110 years old and he estimates renovating his storefront to accommodate a door opener and ramp would cost $20,000 to$25,000.

"From an expense side, it's tough for a small business like us to do," Bulger said."I think we should all consider it, but it does come down to the individual business owner."

From local to provincial

Bulger says he believes the owner of his building would not go for the idea, and the expense would fall to him.

Vienneau says if his Spring Garden campaign is successful, he would expand it provincewide.

"It's just the right thing to do to serve my community, make things better for other people and leave something better behind," he said.