Our Partners
PEACH Research Unit
Halifax, Canada
The PEACH Research Unit is part of Dalhousie University’s School of Planning in Halifax, NS. It is a team of dedicated faculty members, students, and community partners who lead and support projects exploring how planning can better achieve more equitable, accessible, and healthy communities. Their work aims to inform urban design and planning practices that shape the places in which people live, work, and play. The team believes in learning through collaboration and first-hand experience. A big part of their research involves learning from those who have personal knowledge of the barriers that exist in the built environment.
Inclusive Environments Lab
British Columbia, Canada
The Inclusive Environments Lab at Simon Fraser University is led by Dr. Atiya Mahmood, a professor in the Department of Gerontology. The lab focuses on assessing how housing, neighbourhoods, and the built environment support older adults and individuals with mobility, sensory, and cognitive disabilities. Current projects hosted by the lab include: Stakeholder Walkability/Wheelability Audit in Neighbourhoods (SWAN): A user-led audit tool that analyzes the built environment to support older adults and people with disabilities, serving as a sub-project of the broader Mobility, Accessibility, and Participation (MAP) partnership. Project Sidewalk for Burnaby: An initiative that utilizes the online Project Sidewalk platform to virtually assess and identify accessibility issues within Burnaby's street infrastructure. NeighbourABLE Vancouver: A three-year, SSHRC-funded project focused on assessing "person-environment fit"—how well housing and neighbourhood features accommodate residents with disabilities. The project collects data on accessibility needs to help inform policy and support the creation of inclusive, affordable housing in collaboration with partners in Vancouver and Halifax.
Dalhouise University
Nova Scotia, Canada
Located on Canada’s East Coast, with campuses in Halifax and an Agricultural Campus in Truro, Dalhousie University welcomes 21,000 students from across Canada and more than 115 countries worldwide. As Nova Scotia’s leading research-intensive university, it comprises 13 faculties that advance understanding through teaching excellence and a commitment to discovery, attracting over $270 million in annual research funding. Dalhousie’s combination of groundbreaking research and high-quality teaching fosters a unique, collaborative environment that empowers its students, faculty, researchers, and staff to achieve excellence and generate a positive impact locally, nationally, and globally.
Simon Fraiser University
British Columbia, Canada
Simon Fraser University (SFU) is a prominent public research institution in British Columbia, Canada, recognized for its interdisciplinary approach and commitment to community engagement. Established in 1965 and named after the explorer Simon Fraser, the university operates three campuses throughout the Greater Vancouver region, with its primary campus located on Burnaby Mountain. Serving over 37,000 students, SFU provides a broad array of academic programs across various faculties, including applied sciences, business administration, arts, and education. It is noted for its innovative three-semester academic schedule, which offers significant flexibility to its diverse student population. As of 2025, it became the first Canadian university to implement institution-wide open scholarship principles, further establishing its reputation as a forward-thinking research environment. Beyond its academic accomplishments, the university is known for its distinctive architecture and its ongoing contributions to sustainable development and work-integrated learning across the Lower Mainland.
LundsUniversity
Skåne region of southern Sweden in Scandinavia
Located in the historic city of Lund in southern Sweden, Lund University welcomes over 45,000 students from across the country and more than 140 nations worldwide. It stands as one of Scandinavia’s leading research-intensive universities, comprising nine faculties that advance knowledge through teaching excellence and a strong culture of discovery, attracting over 3 billion SEK in annual research funding. The university's combination of groundbreaking research and outstanding teaching fosters a dynamic, collaborative environment that empowers its students, faculty, researchers, and staff to achieve excellence and generate a positive impact for Sweden, Europe, and the global community.
Live Educate Transform Society
Metro Vancouver area of British Columbia, Canada
Live Educate Transform Society (LET’S) is an organization entirely run and staffed by disabled and neurodivergent individuals, many of whom identify as 2SLGBTQIA+, who utilize their lived expertise to drive essential change. Founded in 2005 by Heather McCain and members of a chronic pain support group in Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows, the organization was originally named Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods (CAN). In 2020, the name was changed to Creating Accessible Neighbourhoods as part of ongoing decolonization efforts. In 2023, the organization celebrated its 18th anniversary by rebranding as LET’S, a name chosen to reflect the milestone age at which trans individuals can legally change their names. The new name also highlights the organization's motto, "Lived Expertise Matters," emphasizing its commitment to using that expertise to create transformative educational opportunities.
Rick Hansen Foundation|
300 – 3820 Cessna Drive, Richmond, BC, Canada, V7B-0A2
In 1985, Rick Hansen embarked on the Man In Motion World Tour, a 26-month, 40,000-kilometre wheelchair marathon across 34 countries designed to raise awareness regarding the potential of people with disabilities and to generate funding for removing physical barriers. The tour garnered global attention and significant support, effectively shifting societal perceptions of people with disabilities. The Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF), established in 1988, serves as a legacy of the tour. For nearly four decades, the foundation has worked to remove barriers, shift attitudes, and fund spinal cord injury research and care, accomplishments that have been made possible through the support of donors. Globally, more than 1.3 billion adults identify as having a disability, a figure that includes roughly one in four Canadians and continues to rise as the population ages. Supported by their community, the RHF continues to lead, innovate, and collaborate to dismantle fundamental barriers faced by people with disabilities, including physical obstructions in environments where people live, work, learn, and play; attitudinal barriers present in schools, businesses, and society; and systemic challenges related to outdated laws and policies.
Independent Living Nova Scotia
3480 Joseph Howe Dr. #403, Halifax, NS B3L 4H7
Founded in 1989, Independent Living Nova Scotia (ILNS) is a registered charity that supports people with disabilities through programs and services designed to promote Independent Living (IL). As the operator of the only Independent Living Resource Centre in Nova Scotia, it is one of 24 such organizations across Canada. ILNS champions the right to live independently and assists individuals in their pursuit of autonomy. The vision of the organization is that all Nova Scotians with disabilities possess the ability to live full, independent lives at home, at work, and at play within an inclusive community.
Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia
Suite 403 - 3480 Joseph Howe Drive Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3L 0B5
The Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia (AHANS) is a Halifax-based organization dedicated to ensuring equitable access to quality, affordable housing across the province. Its mission focuses on creating sustainable housing solutions and supporting services to end homelessness through a vision of sector-wide transformation and growth. The organization operates based on five core values: collaboration, passion, impact, innovation, and resilience.
Brightside
#300 – 905 West Pender Street,Vancouver, B.C.
Brightside’s mission is to provide affordable homes for those who otherwise struggle with the demands of market housing, and it envisions a future where people of all income levels have a home within a vibrant and healthy community. Seniors, families, and people with disabilities are among those most significantly impacted by the housing affordability crisis facing renters in Metro Vancouver. The "Brightside touch" is exemplified by the organization's singular focus on the welfare of all its residents and its commitment to going above and beyond to meet the needs of current and future residents in the long term. In addition to providing affordable homes for those who need them most, Brightside places an important focus on community development that fosters strong social connections and resilience among its residents.
Whole Way House
310 Alexander StVancouver, British Columbia V6A 1C3
Whole Way House provides community-building programs and tenant support services to low-income seniors, veterans, families, and vulnerable residents, aiming to build healthy communities within non-profit housing. By partnering with landlords, the organization helps reduce the risk of homelessness, increase quality of life, and rebuild a sense of belonging for those it serves. Whole Way House currently operates in the Downtown Eastside, Vancouver, Burnaby, and Surrey.