MacLeods Scottish Shop wins Stratford’s 2022 Accessibility Award

Following a number of recent renovations aimed at making MacLeod’s Scottish Shop more accessible, Stratford’s accessibility advisory committee has recognized the downtown Stratford retailer as the winner of the city’s 2022 Accessibility Award.

Committee chair Roger Koert and vice-chair Diane Sims presented the 12th annual award to MacLeods owner Rob Russell at Monday’s Stratford council meeting. At the meeting, Sims said Russell and his team went beyond the legal accessibility requirements in Ontario to make improvements to the store that include a complete replacement of the storefront with a zero-threshold entryway without steps or lips to impede access, an automatic-door opener for easy, barrier-free access and lower front-display windows so people of all abilities can see inside.

Inside the store, Sims said the aisles are laid out so people who use wheelchairs or other mobility aids can move throughout the store without too much assistance, the overhead lighting is clear and bright, and the front desk is at a comfortable height for someone who uses a mobility aid.

“It’s one of my favorite shops. … (The renovations) make it much easier for me to get in here so I can spend more money,” said Bettie Mollins, the Stratford resident who nominated MacLeods for the award, after posing for a photo with Russell, Koert and Sims at the shop Tuesday.

Koert noted that Mollins’ nomination highlighted how the store’s improvements made navigating MacLeods “much easier” for her.

“Importantly, we wanted to bring attention to a positive example of a business downtown that has made modifications to their store to accommodate people with disabilities or who might have a difficult time getting around, and set an example for other businesses right on this road or in the downtown core to show what they can do to solve the accessibility issues at their location,” the committee chair added.

Russell said the renovations are part of an ongoing effort by the MacLeods team to ensure every customer has an enjoyable experience at his store.

“Diane was great pointing out a few things that we could still do better, so we’re still going to move a few things around and tweak (the layout a bit),” Russell said. “The constant battle is always between having enough space so people can come down (an aisle) comfortably, but also having enough stock. So we’ve got to make the best use we can of the space, but we’re trying to keep accessibility and comfort top of mind. … Whether it’s strollers, wheelchairs, walkers, we want to make sure people can navigate safely and feel good, and not feel like they’re going to bump into something. … The fact that we could win this award knowing that there are so many local businesses trying hard to make improvements to accessibility means a lot. It’s wonderful and it just motivates us to keep thinking about the customers and how their experience is in the shop.”

Each year, Stratford’s accessibility advisory committee presents its accessibility award to a business or organization in Stratford that has worked to make its space or service more inclusive for people with disabilities, or to a person who has demonstrated a commitment to improving accessibility and inclusivity.

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