The Accessible Canada Act

Accessibility Framework for Bekins Moving

1. Introduction

At Bekins Moving and Storage, our commitment to accessibility is rooted in our belief that our employees, customers, and persons with disabilities all deserve equal access to our services and the ability to work at Bekins. This framework outlines our strategies for removing barriers and promoting inclusivity. This is a continuously updated documents to incorporate new accessibility act regulations, growing accessibility needs and improved accessibility system/methodology.

2. Company Profile

About Bekins Moving

We are a leading household goods relocation company in British Columbia. Our services include complete moving solution from preparation, packing, to transportation, secure storage and all accessorial services: digital inventory, documentation, vehicle transport, etc. We are specialized in household moves within the city, across the country, or around the world. In addition we provide storage and delivery services for corporate freight around the province. We are prominent members of United Van Lines Canada

Location

Our office/warehouse complex is situated in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. Close proximity to the USA boarder and Vancouver International Airport and central hub location to major British Columbia highways (1, 5, 99) enable operation advantage.

In addition several other offices located around British Columbia provide access to major population centers in the province including Victoria, Campbell River, Prince George and Kelowna.

This transportation access convenience is also extended and reflected from our office/warehouse accessibility setup to welcome our clients, partners and staff with any accessibility needs including grade level access to warehouse and office space.

3. About this Framework

  • The Accessible Canada Act (ACA) is a federal law to find, eliminate and prevent barriers challenging people with disabilities. Adopted in 2019, the Act’s primary goal is to create a Canada that is free of barriers by 2040. As a strong self regulated corporate citizen and enthusiastic community player, Bekins Moving is fully committed to tightly follow and excel in all ACA requirements. This Framework document has the following key points focused on:
    • Employment: inclusivity and disability welcomed
    • Work Environment: barrier identification and elimination
    • Education: staff awareness and training
    • Resources: taskforce assignment and owner engagement
    • Maintenance: monitoring, review and improvement

4. Employment

  • Bekins Moving is an Equal Opportunity Employer which welcomes all qualifying candidates with any race, culture, religion background and physical disabilities. This principle is emphasized with our HR direct hiring and internal referrals. We are firm believer that people with disabilities will equally contribute to our business success and even bring in wider perspective and unique innovative ideas. Onboarding staff with disabilities will be carefully consulted first to understand all his/her accessibility needs, which constitutes a positive input to our disabilities planning process.

5. Work Environment

  • Barrier Identification
    • At design/plan phase of our facility, the British Columbia Building Codes and all applicable accessibility regulations are taken into full consideration with guidance from our contracted engineers. Building substantial completion and occupancy permitting process verified and approved all the by-laws for accessibility requirements.
    • Onboarding staff with special accessibility needs will be provided thorough tour of the facility prior to work start date to survey the actual working environment for any additional accessibility adjustment advice.
    • Our HR specialist provider are fully involved in the accessibility identification process to further assist.
  • Barrier Elimination
    • Accessible Parking: 1 ample Accessible Parking space at the closest spot to the office entrance per code with large, reflective painted clearly logoed signage
    • Flag stone interlocking paved path connecting Accessible Parking and office entrance for improved wheelchair movement and weather resistance
    • Properly designed main office entrance with large door ways.
    • Man and Woman washrooms at ground floor with minimal travel distance featuring accessible stalls, sink and all necessary accessories and clearly signage identified
    • The ground floor features the staff and crew lunchrooms, enabling full inclusivity of physical accessibility on all corporate events with large group hosted
    • Spacious semi open concept cubicle and hot-desking layout for a barrier- free and frustration-free wheelchair and mobility device accessibility

6. Education

  • Hiring process (either directly by our HR specialist or via staffing providers) include declaration and explanation of our “Inclusivity” policy to welcome all candidates
  • Owners and leadership team discuss all accessibility and inclusivity matters during recurring leadership meetings

7. Resources

  • Our HR specialist and our facility manager are working together tightly as a Duo Taskforce to address any accessibility needs/issues
  • Leadership Team, with regular meetings and trainings, are fully communicative with their team members to catch first-handed information regarding accessibility
  • Owner Group is committed to any approved accessibility betterment financially
  • Our staff is well educated in this matter and ready to assist at any time

8. Maintenance

  • Our Open-door policy encourages our staff to raise questions and suggestions to their managers or higher administrative parties (including owners) for all the aspects of business operations and working environment, including any accessibility advices
  • Current accessibility arrangement and this framework are regularly reviewed by the Leadership Team at leadership meeting
  • Changes to accessibility measures and the program itself are promptly discussed at management level and then submitted to the owners if further approval is required
  • Feedback Process is documented in details on a separate document – “Accessibility Feedback Process”. Below section lists the highlights of the Feedback Process.

9. Feedback Process

  • Designated Feedback Handler – Braedon Rosenberg, Controller/Payroll Administrator
  • Bekins Accessibility Feedback email address – [email protected]
  • Bekins Framework/Plan updates logging, barrier removal logging, collection of feedback and their responses are all managed/saved by Payroll Administrator