INVERNESS, N.S. - Growing up in Inverness, Callum MacQuarrie spent most of his summer days swimming in the warm waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence on the island’s west coast.
Even in the 23 years since a diving accident left him paralyzed from the neck down, the self-described beach bum still visits the boardwalk nearly every day when the weather is nice so he can he sit in his motorized wheelchair and watch the Atlantic Ocean.
“It’s the air, it’s the sound, the smell, everything — and the people,” MacQuarrie, 45, said as he sat about 100 metres away from the same breakwater where he slipped on a rock and broke his neck diving into the shallow water below all those years ago.
Now, MacQuarrie and other people with mobility issues can once again enjoy the beach up close, and even get back into the ocean, thanks to some extensive renovations and special equipment.
On Tuesday, the community celebrated beach and boardwalk improvements that have made Inverness beach the most accessible stretch of sand in Atlantic Canada.
MacQuarrie, as co-chairman of the Inverness County accessibility committee, played a key role in the project, which was led by the Inverness Development Association. The beach now has a wide ramp that winds down to the shore, special mats made from recycled plastic bottles that lead to the water’s edge, beach-friendly wheelchairs and walkers with oversized tires for travelling on sand, and even two floating chairs that allow people who are completely paralyzed to go into the water with the help of a guardian. All of the equipment is free to use.
“I was probably 10 years old the last time I was really able to be on a beach — that was when people could still pick me up and carry me. You can’t even imagine — it’s really hard to put into words for someone who has never had to face the issue of not being able to get onto a beach.”Erin MacPhee said she can’t wait to try out the floating chair. The 39-year-old Inverness native has been confined to a wheelchair her entire life and the new mats allowed her to get closer to the ocean than she’s been in nearly 20 years.
While the beach only became fully accessible a few weeks ago, it’s already a big draw, according to Raymond MacLean, 63, whose job is explaining to visitors how the equipment works. He recalled one couple from P.E.I. who drove to Inverness with their paraplegic son days after the beach became fully accessible.
“It was a miracle for them to bring their child over here and to have him that close to the water,” said MacLean, adding it’s often an emotional experience. “For me, if you’re kind of soft-hearted and easygoing, it kind of gets you. A little tear will come once in a while.”
Inverness Development Association vice-president Rose Mary MacDonald said the entire project cost $350,000, with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), various provincial government departments and the municipality, as well as the development association, all providing funding. In addition to the ramp, mats and equipment, a new drop-off zone was added to the parking lot, and the canteen, changing rooms, washrooms and showers are all now wheelchair accessible. Other improvements include a platform for lifeguards to scan for riptides, a new walking trail, and extra railings and fencing to protect the sensitive dune ecosystem.
