July is Disability Pride Month, which celebrates persons who experience disability, highlights their identities and culture, and showcases their positive contributions to society. It aims to change the way people think about disability, and it promotes all types of disability as a natural part of ...human diversity.

The Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE) explains Disability Pride Month has been celebrated in the United States since July 1990 when the Americans with Disabilities Act came into law. Today, it is celebrated around the world, including in Canada, where 22 per cent or 6.2 million Canadians live with a disability.

July is Disability Pride Month because the work of Canadians with disabilities resulted in the Accessible Canada Act that came into force on July 11, 2019. Ontario's Bill 128, Disability Pride Month Act, came into effect in 2023 to recognize the important contributions of Ontarians with disabilities and their place in Ontario’s diverse society. Bill 128 notes Ontarians with disabilities have been disproportionately relegated to poverty and denied access to both public and private spaces rather than being considered as free, independent and inherently valuable citizens.

CASE explains the Disability Flag, originally designed by Ann Magill, consists of the following elements:
▪️All six flag colors: Disability spans borders between nations
▪️Black background: Mourning for victims of ableist violence and abuse
▪️Diagonal Band: Cutting across the walls and barriers that separate disabled people from society
▪️Red Stripe: Physical disabilities
▪️Gold Stripe: Neurodivergence
▪️White Stripe: Invisible and undiagnosed disabilities
▪️Blue Stripe: Psychiatric disabilities
▪️Green Stripe: Sensory disabilities

"Disability is not only an identity, but also a community with a diverse culture all their own to be proud of and celebrated. Disability culture is about visibility and self-value. Disability Pride Month is a time for recognizing these facts and listening to people with disabilities.” (Ontario's Bill 128 - "Disability Pride Month Act, 2023.)

Learn more at https://www.supportedemployment.ca/disability-pride-month/

We did it, Lanark County!

Thanks to the commitment of our residents and visitors, Lanark County has officially taken home the 2026 Silver Chain Challenge title, logging 31,673 kilometres.

Congratulations to our top participants:
🏅 Perry Rousseau (2271 km) - winner of a ...$250 gift card to Joe Mamma Cycles
🏅Dusta Hannan (1679 km) - winner of a bike tune up at Joe Mamma Cycles and a Lanark County hat
🏅Kelly Knowles (1342 km) - winner of a Lanark County hoodie and hat

Warden Richard Kidd would like to thank all Lanark County residents who pedalled, walked, and ran their way to victory. Your enthusiasm, friendly competition, and commitment to wellness made all the difference. Thanks also go out to our friends in Renfrew County, for making this year's Silver Chain Challenge a fun and friendly competition.

Let's keep the momentum going and continue exploring everything Lanark County has to offer—one kilometre at a time!

Prize winners will be contacted by email if they provided one. You can also reach out to info@lanarkcounty.ca

Don’t be hard-headed; wear a helmet and it will make your sport on wheels much more enjoyable and safe.

Everyone is encouraged to wear a helmet when cycling, inline skating and skateboarding. The additional cushioning in a helmet could save your life.

Here are a few safety tips... to keep you upright, safe and free of any impact to your head:
• Ride during the daytime and wear bright clothing.
• Follow the rules of the road.
• Make sure your skateboard, bicycle or skates are in good condition.
• Ride in a straight line, signal your intentions and check before making any turns or coming to a stop.

Learn more at https://canadasafetycouncil.org/dont-lose-your-head-over-helmet-safety/