Saint John Ability Advisory Committee

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Saint John Ability Advisory Committee

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The Saint John Ability Advisory Committee (SJAAC) is a disability focused advisory board to the City of Saint John and Council.

We thank the mayor and council for all of their support and teamwork. Saint John Ability Advisory Committee provides direction, awareness and leadership in making our community more inclusive. Using our diverse expertise we partner with people with disabilities, government, business and the public to remove barriers by providing information and recommendations regarding disability issues.

11/02/2026

On October 21, the Saint John Accessibility Advisory Committee hosted a Human Library event at the Central Branch of the Saint John Free Public Library. Through open and respectful conversations, attendees had the opportunity to hear firsthand experiences related to disability, accessibility, and inclusion.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, shared their stories, asked thoughtful questions, and helped make the event such a meaningful experience. Events like these help build understanding, challenge assumptions, and strengthen connections within our community.

A special thank you to our sponsors and partners, including the City of Saint John , Key Industries Inc., and the Saint John Free Public Library, as well as the booths and volunteers who helped make the day possible. Your support, time, and commitment to accessibility and inclusion are greatly appreciated.

We are pleased to share some photos from this wonderful event and look forward to continuing these important conversations in our community.

10/20/2026

📚 Heading to the Human Library on October 21? Here's How to Find Us!

The Human Library Event will take place at the Saint John Free Public Library - Central Branch, located at 1 Market Square, Saint John, NB.

🚗 Option 1: Market Square Underground Parking (Image 1)
Enter the underground parking garage from Smythe Street.
Park and locate the central elevator tower.
Take the elevator to Level 2.
Exit the elevator, continue straight ahead, then turn right.
Follow the hallway to the end to find the library entrance (Image 5).

🚗 Option 2: Brunswick Square Parking Garage (Image 2)
Enter the parking garage from Union Street.
Park and enter Brunswick Square through the Level 3 doors.
Take the elevator down to Level 2.
Walk past Tim Hortons and enter the pedway.
Near the escalators, take the second elevator down one level.
Continue through the next pedway into Market Square.
Follow the hallway straight ahead to the library entrance (Image 5).

🚌🚶 Option 3: Walking or Taking Transit
Enter Market Square from the corner of King Street and St. Patrick Street (Image 3).
Accessible automatic doors are also available on the St. Patrick Street side (Image 4).
Continue straight toward the atrium.
Cross diagonally to the right toward the far wall.
Follow the wall past the stairs to the elevator.
Take the elevator to Level 2.
Exit, turn right, and continue to the end of the hallway to reach the library entrance (Image 5).

📸 Swipe through the photos for visual directions and landmarks to help you find your way.

📅 October 21, 2026 from 12:30pm to 2:30pm
📍 Saint John Free Public Library - Central Branch, 1 Market Square

Image 1 – Market Square Underground Parking
Entrance to the Market Square underground parking garage on Smythe Street.
Image 2 – Brunswick Square Parking Garage
Entrance to the Brunswick Square parking garage from Union Street.
Image 3 – Market Square Main Entrance
Main entrance to Market Square at the corner of King Street and St. Patrick Street.
Image 4 – Accessible Entrance
Accessible entrance on St. Patrick Street with automatic doors.
Image 5 – Library Entrance
Entrance to the Saint John Free Public Library inside Market Square on Level 2.

10/19/2026

Saint John Accessible Transit will be free for those booking to come to the Human Library Event. Please call Saint John Accessible Transit to book your ride to the event. Please let them know you are attending the Human Library. We are looking forward to seeing you there.

10/18/2026

Only 3 Days Until the Human Library!

The countdown is on! We’re just 3 days away from our Human Library event, and we can’t wait to bring our community together for meaningful conversations, new perspectives, and opportunities to learn from one another.

🚌 Need transportation to the event? Accessible Transit is available for Human Library attendees at no cost!

To arrange your ride, call Saint John Accessible Transit at 506-648-0609 and let them know you’ll be attending the Human Library event.

10/18/2026

🚌 Accessible Transit for the Human Library

We want to help make our Human Library event accessible to everyone! 💙

Free transportation is available for Human Library attendees who require Accessible Transit.

To arrange your transportation, please call Saint John Accessible Transit at 506-648-0609 and let them know you are attending the Human Library event.

A few important guidelines to keep in mind:

📞 Book in advance: Call to arrange your ride and let the service know you are attending the Human Library.

⏰ Be ready on time: Please be ready 5 minutes before your scheduled pickup. Drivers can only wait for 3 minutes.

♿ Plan for assistance: Drivers cannot enter your residence or assist with carrying wheelchairs. If you require help boarding, please arrange for an attendant beforehand.

🐕‍🦺 Service animals: Only service dogs are permitted on the bus, and they must be leashed.

☎️ Need to cancel? Please provide at least 60 minutes' notice when cancelling a ride.

Please note that these are the service's general guidelines. The Human Library transportation arrangement is free for event attendees.

For complete information about Saint John Accessible Transit, visit the City of Saint John's website:
https://saintjohn.ca/en/transit/accessibility/saint-john-accessible-transit

We look forward to welcoming you to the Human Library!

10/16/2026

New accessibility resource now available!

Our new Accessibility Awareness Training Technical Guide is here.

The guide can help your organization:
• develop accessibility awareness training,
• build understanding of disability and accessibility,
• identify and address barriers,
• tailor training to your workplace, industry and employees’ roles.

Explore the free guide and put the guidance into action: https://ow.ly/p3wE50ZY073

09/29/2026

Join us at the Central Branch of the Saint John Free Public Library for the Human Library. Meet individuals who will share their lived experiences with disability, accessibility, and inclusion through open and respectful conversations. This is an opportunity to learn, connect, challenge assumptions, and hear stories that don't often make it onto the bookshelf.

📅 October 21, 2026
⏰ 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
📍 1 Market Square, Saint John
✅ Free event | ASL interpreters present

📧 Questions? Contact us at [email protected] for more information about the Human Library event.

Special thanks to:
City of Saint John
Key Industries Inc.
Saint John Free Public Library |
Saint John Ability Advisory Committee

09/21/2026

📚 Call for Human Books

Human Library Event: Hosted by the Saint John Ability Advisory Committee (SJAAC) and The Saint John Free Public Library

📅 October 21, 2026
🕧 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
📍 Saint John Free Public Library

Share Your Story. Change Perspectives.

The Saint John Ability Advisory Committee is looking for volunteers to be Human Books at our upcoming Human Library event. A Human Library creates opportunities for people to have open, respectful conversations with individuals who have lived experiences that others may not fully understand. Instead of borrowing a book, participants borrow a person for a conversation. As a Human Book, you will share your experiences, answer questions, and help increase awareness, understanding, and inclusion in our community.

We Are Looking for a Variety of Human Books
We welcome individuals with a wide range of lived experiences, including:
• Physical disabilities
• Sensory disabilities (hearing or vision loss)
• Autism and other neurodiverse experiences
• Learning disabilities
• Mental health disabilities
• Chronic illnesses
• Invisible disabilities
• Any other disability or accessibility-related experience

We are committed to representing a diverse range of voices and perspectives.

What Does It Mean to Be a Human Book?
Being a Human Book means volunteering to have conversations with event attendees about your personal experiences. You do not need to prepare a formal presentation. Simply be willing to share your story, answer respectful questions, and help others learn about disability, accessibility, inclusion, and lived experience.

Volunteer Requirements
Human Books will be required to provide a Clean Criminal Record Check. Details regarding this requirement can be discussed with interested volunteers during the registration process.

Interested in Becoming a Human Book?
Please contact us at [email protected] to learn more or register your interest.

Help us build understanding, challenge stereotypes, and create a more inclusive Saint John, one conversation at a time.
"Don't judge a book by its cover. Borrow a conversation instead."

Alt Text:
Promotional poster for a Human Library event seeking volunteers. The poster features the Human Library logo in purple at the top and a large headline reading "Call for Human Book Volunteers" in bold purple text. Event details are listed below: October 21, 2026, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Saint John Free Public Library. A black banner at the bottom contains the contact information: [email protected]. The design uses a light grey background with purple, black, and white text and graphics.

07/23/2026

Easier to leave this washroom with wet hands (well, damp after wiping them on my pants) than trying to get to the paper towel...

This is your PSA to make sure the basic essentials of your bathroom are accessible to everyone. That means keeping garbage cans and wet floor signage out of the way of the paper towel holder, the sink, or the door.

ID: A yellow caution cone and large garbage can block access to the paper towels in an accessible bathroom.

07/15/2026

♿🌈 Disability Pride Month

July is Disability Pride Month, a time to celebrate the identities, culture, achievements, and contributions of people with disabilities. It is an opportunity to recognize disability as a natural and valuable part of human diversity and to challenge barriers that limit inclusion and accessibility.

The Saint John Ability Advisory Committee is committed to promoting a community where everyone can participate, belong, and thrive. This month, we encourage our community to listen to and learn from the experiences of people with disabilities, celebrate disability culture, and continue working toward a more accessible and inclusive Saint John.

The Disability Pride Flag represents the diversity of the disability community. The six colours symbolize people with disabilities across all nations, while each stripe represents different disability experiences:

❤️ Red – Physical disabilities
💛 Gold – Neurodivergence
🤍 White – Invisible and undiagnosed disabilities
💙 Blue – Psychiatric disabilities
💚 Green – Sensory disabilities

The black background honours those who have experienced ableism, violence, and discrimination, while the diagonal band symbolizes cutting through barriers and creating a more inclusive society.

Happy Disability Pride Month! Let's celebrate diversity, challenge barriers, and continue building a community where everyone belongs.

Alt Text:
Graphic for Disability Pride Month featuring the Disability Pride Flag's diagonal coloured stripes on a dark background, with bold text reading "Disability Pride Month" and the Saint John Ability Advisory Committee logo in the upper right corner.

♿💙💚💛💜❤️🤍

Address

Saint John, NB

Website

https://saintjohn.ca/en/community/inclusive-programs-and-services

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