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Accessibility 2025 update

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2025 Accessibility Progress Report

 

Headquartered in Burlington Ontario, Byrnes Communications Inc. (BCI) owns and operates three FM radio stations, one HD2 station, and three websites in Ontario .

BCI is pleased to publish its Accessibility Progress Report for 2025. This report outlines our approach to and progress on identifying, removing, and preventing barriers to accessibility in alignment with the Accessible Canada Act (ACA).

BCI is dedicated to being accessible to everyone. We see this plan as an opportunity for our company to bring our workplaces, activities and services to a level that would provide accessibility for all persons with disabilities. We are open to hearing from people with disabilities who interact with our company as an employee, client, or visitor, as this process will require evolution over time for us to address changing needs. We commit to addressing barriers as soon as possible even if they are not outlined in this Accessibility Plan.

General

Feedback Process, Contact Information, and Alternative Format Requests

If you would like to provide BCI with feedback relating to our organization’s accessibility, our Feedback Process, or our 2025  Accessibility Plan, or to request alternate formats of our Accessibility Plan or Progress Report, please contact our Accessibility Representative, who will be pleased to assist:

BCI accessibility contact information:

Trish Beauchemin, Bookkeeper/HR[Full Name], [Job Title], our Accessibility Representative, is responsible for receiving all accessibility-related feedback, questions and comments. You can reach Trish through the following methods:

Mailing address: 2148 Country Club Drive, Burlington, ON L7M 4A8

Phone: 905-802-0199

Email: trish@byrnesmedia.com

 

Overview

In 2024, we outlined our goals, which were:

  1. To review our physical locations with the goal of exploring how access and exit can be improved for persons with disabilities to independently access our facilities.
  2. To review our methods of company communications and research ways to improve the accessibility of the material by persons with disabilities.
  3. To provide feedback mechanisms for improvements to our company communication platforms that would provide more accessibility to people with disabilities.
  4. To review and encourage feedback from applicants as part of our job posting protocol to ensure that there are steps taken to eliminate barriers for people with disabilities in applying for available positions.
  5. To provide appropriate training to all our staff about accessibility.
  6. To review our websites with the goal of making them more accessible for people with disabilities.
  7. To write guidelines about accessibility applicable to our purchasing practices to ensure in as much as is possible that new equipment purchased and installed at our radio stations are accessible to people with disabilities.

We are pleased to report we have conducted a staff survey related to accessibility issues. While we do have some staff who identify as having a disability of some form, no issues or barriers were reported. However, we continue to seek input and look for potential barriers.

We have updated the language used in our employment agreements to include an invitation to notify HR of any accommodations relating to a disability or medical need.

Our IT team has reviewed our website and social media for possible barriers, and while none were found, we will continue to reach out to the community and gain feedback.

Accessibility Priorities – Section 5 of the Accessible Canada Act

1. Employment

As mentioned above, BCI has included a paragraph in all employment agreements inviting new hires to request any needed accommodations related to disability or medical needs.

Our company policy manual has also been revised to include information about accommodations for employees and candidates with disabilities.

2. The Built Environment

We have reviewed the emergency evacuation plans through the lens of people with disabilities and made any necessary adjustments. We continue to look for ways to improve accessibility in all our buildings and as office leases expire, BCI will look at leasing space that is as accessible as possible.

3. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

Given the nature of the radio industry, there are limited ways to make radio more accessible to those with disabilities. However, we are continuing to gain feedback and look for any areas that need improvement.

Our IT team has reviewed the website and made some alterations based on recommendations. We continue to monitor this progress.

4. Communication, other than ICT

We produce content including news reports, and we sell advertising on our radio stations, and digital platforms. We communicate internally with our Team as well as externally with the public.

As a media company, our main source of communicating our information is by Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). However, each of the locations in which we operate has its own autonomy to communicate with their audience, public and internally, in a manner that best suits their needs.

BCI President, Chris Byrnes, visits each of our locations frequently, to provide an update on what is going on in the broadcast industry and in our company. He also makes himself available for one-on-one meetings during his in-market visit or virtually, at any time, with any member of our team who wishes to communicate with him in the manner that best suits their needs. This allows for personal communication and connection to instill and support a workplace environment that has open and honest conversations, and helps those who have a difficult time with virtual meetings or group meetings.

By  December  2025,  BCI  will  provide  accessibility  training for  all employees who work on communication activities.

5. The Procurement of Goods, Services, and Facilities

In 2024, BCI reviewed when and how accessibility should be considered. As we do not deal with product inventory, this is limited to purchased items. Most things are delivered to our offices. Large broadcast equipment is delivered to the sites and met by our engineer for installation.

6. The Design and Delivery of Programs and Services

BCI is federally regulated to provide the essential services of radio. As a broadcast license holder, it is our duty to ensure that our representation of the local area and its people is accurate, entertaining, timely and fair.

Most of the way that people interact with our company is through our Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) or communication, other than ICT. Because of this, the goals contained in the previous sections of this plan will help make the design and delivery of our programs and services more accessible. We will continue to monitor internal and external feedback to identify any additional barriers related to design and delivery of programs and services to address any existing barriers and prevent any new ones.

7. Transportation

BCI does not provide transportation services to the public.

BCI does have station vehicles, in each location, for use by team members primarily in the programming, technical, news or promotions departments. These vehicles require a valid driver’s license from our employees in order to be approved to use them.

Our current company Accommodation Policy addresses the need for flexibility and allowances in this area, such as when an employee with a disability is unable to drive or needs to use their own accommodated vehicle to perform their job duties. BCI currently has policies in place to either send an alternate employee or pay a mileage fee if and when an employee is required to use their personal vehicle. No further actions are planned at this time.

Consultations

In preparation for this progress report, BCI consulted with:

  • Ingersoll's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
  • Woodstock's Accessibility Advisory Committee
  • Oxford County's Officer of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • We have a close working relationship with Oxford County Pride. We run news stories, and we raise awareness of Pride events via on air interviews, crusier cut-ins and we proudly fly the Pride flag in the radio station window in the month of June
  • We work closely with Tami Murray, who owns a Diversity Counselling company to promote awareness and inclusivity in our broadcast area.

Feedback

As required under the Accessible Canada Act and related regulations, we have published an Accessibility Feedback page, which can be found here:

https://www.101morefm.ca/info/accessibility

https://www.105theriver.ca/info/accesibility/

https://www.heartfm.ca/info/accessibility

Over the last year, BCI received feedback on its efforts to identify and remove barriers and prevent new barriers through online surveys of staff. As no respondents listed any known barriers, we did not have anything to address, but we continue to research ways to prevent future barriers.    

Conclusion

This Accessibility Report reflects BCI’s commitment to providing an inclusive and accessible experience for our employees and our audiences.