StopGap Foundation

10/07/2026

A ramp can get someone through a door.

But what happens beyond the ramp?

At a recent event, we asked community members to leave their thoughts on one of our ramps. They didn’t write about ramps.

They wrote about what access makes possible.

“Freedom.”
“Dignity.”
“Unity.”
“Community for all.”
“In it together.”
“Nothing about us without us.”
“Everyone, everywhere, together.”
“Limitless.”

And one person dreamed even bigger:

“Take me to the moon, take me to the cosmos.” 🚀

That’s the idea behind this year’s PROMise Party!

Because accessibility isn’t ultimately about ramps. It’s about where we can go, what we can experience, who we can meet, and what becomes possible when barriers no longer stand in the way.

This year, we’re celebrating the people helping us get there.

Join us for StopGap’s 10th annual fundraiser, featuring the inaugural Beyond the Ramp Awards, and help us keep pushing toward a future where access opens up a world of possibility.

🎟️ Get your early bird tickets while you still can, available until October 10th! https://stopgap-promise-party-2026.raiselysite.com/

We’re excited to see you Beyond the Ramp!

09/28/2026

🚨 LAST CALL FOR NOMINATIONS! 🚨

Who do you know who is going Beyond the Ramp? There’s still time to recognize someone who is choosing to put accessibility into action.

As part of this year’s PROMise Party, the inaugural Beyond the Ramp Awards will celebrate individuals, businesses, organizations, institutions, and school groups demonstrating a meaningful commitment to creating a more accessible and inclusive world.

Maybe they’ve removed barriers. Changed a policy or practice. Designed something differently. Educated or inspired others. Used their voice or influence. Or simply shown, through consistent action, that accessibility doesn’t happen by accident - it happens when we choose to prioritize it.

Help us shine a light on the people modelling what’s possible.

🏆 Nominate your accessibility champion today!
🔗 Fill out the nomination form here: https://zfrmz.com/a4u4i2hUarZMn9RFBwNr

📅 Nominations close October 2!

Award recipients will be celebrated at the PROMise Party on November 4.

Get your tickets for PROMise Party! Visit the link in our bio now to get your early bird discount and let’s recognize the people who aren’t waiting for a more accessible world, they’re helping build it!



[ID: slide 1- Green background with a glimmering blue river horizon down the centre. Title reads: REMINDER in bold white echoing font. Below, a sticky notepad held up by a red pin. Text: Beyond the Ramp Award Nominations Due Oct. 2nd. Arrows all point to the date emphasizing the deadline.

slide 2: Nominee Categories enlisted: “Individuals, Corporations, Small Businesses, School Groups, Institutions, Nonprofit/Grassroot Organizations." A string of colourful ramp illustrations frame the left of the list. ]

09/18/2026

✨ Tickets are officially on sale! ✨

PROMise Party is back, and this year we’re going Beyond the Ramp.

Join StopGap Foundation for our 10th annual fundraiser, a night that celebrates accessibility, community, and the people helping build a world where everyone belongs.

This year’s event is all about looking beyond temporary solutions and recognizing the individuals, businesses, organizations, schools, and institutions leading the way toward lasting accessibility and inclusion.

Here’s a taste of what’s in store:
💜 Celebrate the inaugural Beyond the Ramp Awards

🎶 Dance the night away

🎉 Enjoy the infamous silent auction, explore the themed rooms, indulge in delicious food and drinks, and revel in connecting with fellow StopGap supporters

✨ We’ve got you! ASL interpretation and attendant care services available, along with a detailed Accessibility Plan to help plan your night

🤝 Support StopGap’s work to create a barrier-free world

The promise of an accessible Ontario by 2025 wasn’t kept, but our promise continues. Together, we’ll celebrate progress, honour accessibility leaders, and keep building momentum for the work still ahead.

🎟️ Tickets are on sale now! Visit the link to get your early bird discount: https://stopgap-promise-party-2026.raiselysite.com/

We can’t wait to celebrate with you!


[ID: Light green background. Title text: TICKETS ON SALE. Beneath it, an illustration of three overlaying tickets. Ticket text: Promise Party 2026, Beyond the Ramp, November 4th 7-10 PM, CSI Spadine (192 Spadina Ave). Colourful arrows and ramps dance around the design.]

09/09/2026

🏆 Introducing the Beyond the Ramp Awards

Accessibility doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when people choose to prioritize it.

As part of this year’s PROMise Party: Beyond the Ramp, StopGap Foundation is launching the Beyond the Ramp Awards - recognizing people and organizations that are helping create a more accessible and inclusive world.

We want you to help us find them.

We’re inviting nominations for:
→ Individuals
→ Small businesses
→ Nonprofit or grassroots organizations
→ Corporations
→ Institutions
→ School groups

Maybe they’ve removed physical barriers. Changed a policy or practice. Designed something differently. Used their voice or influence. Educated others. Or simply demonstrated, through consistent action, that accessibility belongs at the heart of how we build our communities.

Who do you know who is going Beyond the Ramp?

Nominate someone who deserves to be recognized for their commitment to prioritizing accessibility.
🔗 Nominations are now open: Fill out the form at the link in our bio or https://zfrmz.com/a4u4i2hUarZMn9RFBwNr
📅 Deadline: October 2, 2026

Award recipients will be celebrated at PROMise Party on November 4th!

Let’s shine a light on the people showing us what’s possible - and inspire more of us to follow their lead.

As part of this year’s PROMise Party, StopGap Foundation is launching the Beyond the Ramp Awards - recognizing people and organizations that are helping create a more accessible and inclusive world.

09/04/2026

📣 SAVE THE DATE!

The PROMise Party is back - and this year, we’re going Beyond the Ramp.

Join StopGap Foundation for an unforgettable evening celebrating accessibility, community, and the people who are helping move us toward a more inclusive future.

✨ PROMise Party: Beyond the Ramp
📅 November 4th, 7-10 pm
📍 Centre for Social Innovation - 192 Spadina Ave., Toronto

This year also marks the 10th anniversary of our annual fundraiser, and we’re making it a special one - with celebration, connection, a little PROM magic, and recognition of some incredible accessibility leaders.

The PROMise Party is all about raising much needed funds to support StopGap’s important awareness raising work and keeping the promise of accessibility alive.

The ramp was never the destination. Together, we're moving beyond it.

Save the date! More details coming soon.

09/03/2026

Super excited to partner with City of Ottawa to raise awareness about the importance of accessibility and inclusion! We'll be raising awareness and actually removing barriers by setting up business and building owners with single-stepped entryways with a StopGap ramp courtesy of the City's investment in this important project! Know a restaurant or retail location in Ottawa with a single steeped entryway? Have them contact us at [email protected] for info about how to get involved!

is partnering with StopGap Foundation to provide free temporary ramps to local businesses on a first-come, first-served basis.

These ramps help businesses overcome single-step barriers while raising public awareness about accessibility.

Learn more about the program and how to apply: https://bit.ly/4yg7zpN

08/31/2026

Alongside a team of Deloitte Canada employees, StopGap hosted an accessibility tour and panel

We went to various places in Kensington market, talking about how public spaces can support —or impede —accessibility needs, and what the role of community is in forging a truly inclusive society.

We were joined by:

Kevin Shaw, entrepreneur and accessibility lead at Tangerine Bank and who grew up with low vision and lost his sight at age 19.

Emily Akerman, a Deaf artist whose practice moves across painting, illustration, and creative writing, shaped by lived experiences of deafness, identity, and belonging

Mike Johnson - an entrepreneur who sustained a spinal cord injury at 16, and went on to found SCI Supply Inc., an online medical supply retailer and distributor that serves people with spinal cord injuries across Canada.

We’re so grateful to partner with Deloitte on important access-flourishing initiatives like these!

[ID: Slide 1: A photograph of a group of people huddled in front of a storefront. Bold, orange text reads: “Access Tour & Panel.” Below it is smaller font black text that reads: “with Deloitte.”

Slide 2: a translucent brown light brown background graphic introducing panel speakers. “Emily Akerman” in orange title text sits next to a cutout image of them speaking. A photo of Kevin Shaw standing next to their name in title text. Below Shaw is a cutout of Mike Johnson next their name in orange title text. Dashed arrows connect the names across the page.

Slide 3 and 4: Photos from the tour and panel: the panelists speaking; everyone gathers over a dining table of food; community members gather outside in a circle huddled in front of different places across Kensington Market.]

08/27/2026

We’re visiting businesses across four BIAs in Toronto’s east end to deliver free StopGap ramps, thanks to generous funding from Toyota Canada

Pape Drug Mart is one of the businesses in the Greektown Danforth BIA that signed up for a shiny new ramp. We spoke with Mark, the owner of this pharmacist-led walk-in and a huge StopGap supporter. Their new ramp will better serve their community members with mobility needs. Check them out at papedrugmart.com.

If you’re a business in:
Broadview Danforth BIA
Danforth Mosaic BIA
Gerrard India Bazaar BIA
Greektown on the Danforth BIA

Reach out to us at [email protected] to see if your business is eligible for a free, custom-made ramp for your storefront!

[Video ID: a digital mouse clicks into an orange file that reveals a "testimonies from the StopGap BIA project" text pop up. A video of Mark in front of Pape Drug Mart. Video transitions into a series of texts pop-ups that read: "Looking to Ramp Up? email [email protected] to see if your business is eligible for a free, custom-made ramp for your storefront! eligible BIAs: Broadview Danforth, Danforth Mosaic, Gerrard India Bazaar, Greektown on the Danforth. End Video Description]

08/24/2026

We’re stoked to announce the growth of our partnership with TTLMakerspace and introduce them as our new ramp builders!

For the last few years, we’ve had the pleasure of hosting ramp painting sessions and corporate team building events at the Makerspace - and now our ramps will be built there, too!!

Thanks to our Makerspace friends for being so awesome to work with and continually supporting StopGap’s work 🥰

[ID- Slide 1: Orange graphic with yellow title text that reads: “meet StopGap’s new ramp builders” with a white spotted arrow signalling to the next page. Below, a photograph of two people smiling standing back to back, with one person holding up a wooden ramp. Slide 2: TTL MakerSpace logo followed by a thick yellow “X” and the StopGap Foundation logo.]

08/21/2026

🎙️ New podcast conversation!

StopGap Executive Director Luke Anderson recently joined Whitney and Greg Boyd on The UNBLOCK Yourself Podcast for a conversation about resilience, choice, accessibility, and what can happen when we take the hardest parts of our experiences and use them to make things better for everyone.

Luke shares some of his own journey and the experiences that led to the creation of StopGap, while exploring how the barriers we encounter can become catalysts for greater awareness, connection, and change.

A thoughtful conversation about moving through challenges, and imagining a world with fewer barriers for all of us.

🎧 Check out The UNBLOCK Yourself Podcast to listen to the full conversation: https://shorturl.at/W7OUG