Dylan Polfliet firmly believes that everyone should have an equal opportunity to enjoy recreation facilities and parks. That’s why the 24-year-old master of human kinetics student surveyed the Town of LaSalle’s most popular parks to assess their overall accessibility.

“It all comes down to equality and recreation has a ton of holistic benefits,” Polfliet said. “The benefits can be emotional, social and physical. Removing those barriers will allow everybody to participate.”

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) was passed in 2005 with aspirations that all facilities and public spaces will be 100 per cent accessible by the year 2025.

Polfliet used the town’s parks master plan to identify which of the 33 parks were most heavily used and narrowed his research to 15 parks and the Vollmer Complex.

His first challenge was to create a checklist in order to measure the accessibility.

Polfliet adapted framework set out by the American measurement tool in the Accessibility Instruments Measuring Fitness and Recreation Environments manual and applied standards from the Ontario Building Code and the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulations.

“Using that, I was able to conduct measurements to be able to tell what the overall accessibility for facilities was by subscale and then also the park overall,” Polfliet said.

“I was able to add a little cross-departmental touch as well by getting two upper-year engineering students to help me take the measurements.”

Armed with measuring tapes, Polfliet said the three examined blueprints and the town’s geographic information system before manually measuring the facility and parks. His subscales examined the accessibility of parking, the entrance and exit, exterior and interior paths of travel, washrooms, exterior amenities and drinking fountains.

Polfliet said the issue of accessibility is one that hits particularly close to home: he has a close family member who is expected to face limitations to recreation as she grows up.

“I look at my research as a way of removing barriers for her and everybody else in her position,” he said, adding that he plans to present his research to the town in the upcoming weeks.

Hailing from Norwich, Ontario, Polfliet said he hopes to eventually work in municipal recreation and planning. He has already completed a placement with the Town of LaSalle working as a culture and recreation intern.

Their work with the students of the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry – Windsor Campus has earned recognition for two members of the UWindsor faculty.

Lana Lee, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry, and dietitian Chris Wellington, a sessional instructor in nursing, received the “Educators’ Award of Excellence in Medical Education” at an April 12 reception at the Ambassador Golf Club.

Dr. Lee noted she was especially pleased to have been nominated by her students. She says it has been a privilege to teach the students since the inception of the Windsor program in 2008.

“It is particularly satisfying to observe students’ exchanging ideas, contributing to discussions, and learning from each other,” she says. “Providing guidance, support, and encouragement are all components in making a difference.”

Wellington, who also holds an appointment as nutritionist with Food Services, echoes those sentiments.

“I am very honoured and humbled upon receiving this award,” says Wellington. “It is a pleasure to work with these amazing students.”

Ophthalmologist Barry Emara also received the award, which acknowledges an instructor or a staff member’s leadership and outstanding contribution to the well-being of learners. It was one of eight awards of excellence conferred during the celebration; find a full list of honorees on the Schulich website.

It was a victory that put Israel on the map, in the words of one player, as the Maccabi Tel Aviv men’s basketball squad knocked off the Soviet Union en route to the 1977 European Cup. A documentary on this David-versus-Goliath story will open the Windsor Jewish Film Festival, next week at the Cineplex Odeon Devonshire Mall Cinemas.

On the Map interweaves archival footage with interviews of the players recounting what became Israel’s “miracle on hardwood.” Its May 1 screening will kick off four days of films from six countries. Find a full schedule of screenings on the festival website.

The Marketplace in the CAW Student Centre will open for business through the week, operating Monday to Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. Its Chef to You station will serve homestyle lunches from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The Tim Hortons Express in the Centre for Engineering Innovation will serve its beverages, pastries, and Fresh to Go items — packaged sandwiches, salads and snacks — Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Both outlets will continue operations through the summer months, but these hours are subject to change. Find the most up-to-date information on the Food Services website.

Mare Nostrum restaurant, located adjacent to the Education Building, will close for vacation this week, re-opening Tuesday, May 2, with summer hours of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.