This year, we saw record-breaking participation in Red Shirt DayTM of Action for Accessibility and Inclusion! We are deeply grateful to all individuals and groups who took part across the province to pledge their commitment to fostering more accessible and inclusive schools, workplaces and communities. We are spotlighting and celebrating some of this year’s participants, sharing their stories and motivations, helping to further the Red Shirt DayTM movement.


The Almonte Civitan Club, a community service organization with a rich 53-year history, is one of our standout participants. The Club, which owns a community centre that accommodates 350 people on five acres of land, made a remarkable pledge this Red Shirt DayTM: to build an accessible playground for their community, dedicating part of their land to make this possible. Although the idea of a playground had been with the Club for some time, it was Ron Terpstra, a Club member and Chair of the Playground Project, who was inspired to ensure the playground would be accessible to all.
Ron, who has been a Civitan Club member for 44 years, shared how the inspiration for an accessible playground came from the Club’s commitment to children and supporting research in mental and disabilities. After researching various playgrounds and connecting with companies like Little Tykes Commercial and Playground Planners, Ron envisioned a state-of-the-art, accessible playground with features such as rubber pads for wheelchair mobility, ramps to slides, and transfer stations for ease of use.
The design includes activity panels for children and adults on the autism spectrum, providing a safe space for engagement, along with a quiet zone for moments of calm. The Club also plans to add features like chess and checkers tables and intends to make the playground a welcoming place for seniors and others with mobility issues by adding a barrier-free, accessible walking track around the outside of the pad.
Fundraising efforts have already raised $200,000, with a goal of $800,000 by late spring 2026. The Club’s commitment to this project was further solidified when Ron discovered the Red Shirt DayTM pledge on the Easter Seals website. To make their Red Shirt DayTM pledge, the Club created a six-foot banner and rallied members to wear their red shirts, promising to build this inclusive, barrier-free playground.
The Almonte Civitan Club’s dedication exemplifies the spirit of Red Shirt DayTM, as they work towards creating a playground that is for the whole family, regardless of their ability.
To learn more about the Almonte Civitan’s Club’s Playground Project, visit www.almontecivitan.com/playground or contact Ron at playground@almontecivitan.com.