St. Columba ParishEveryone belongs at Mass. St. Columba Parish is committed to providing its services in a way that respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities, and to meeting the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the standards made under it. Our building dates from 1954, and we have been steadily adapting it since; the hearing loop, elevator and accessible washroom were added in 2019 through a parish campaign and a grant from the Archdiocese. Where a barrier remains, we will do our best to work around it with you.
Getting into the church and hall
- Accessible entrance on the east side of the church (facing the parking lot), with a level path from the sidewalk, an automatic door opener and no steps. The main front doors have six steps and a handrail.
- Elevator just inside the east entrance serving the church level, the lower-level parish hall and the washrooms.
- Accessible washroom on the lower level beside the elevator, with an adult change bench and an emergency call button; a second accessible washroom is off the church vestibule.
- Accessible parking: four designated spaces beside the east entrance. On Sundays the first row of the lot is reserved for people with mobility needs; ushers will direct you.
- Drop-off: the east-side driveway loop allows drivers to stop at the door.
Inside the church
- Pew cut-outs for wheelchairs and scooters at the front and back of the centre aisle and on both side aisles, so you can sit with your family rather than apart from them.
- Hearing loop covering the whole nave. Switch your hearing aid or cochlear implant to the "T" setting. Loop receivers with headphones are available from the ushers for anyone without a T-coil.
- Large-print missals and hymn sheets in the rack at each entrance, and large-print copies of the bulletin at the office.
- Lighting on the sanctuary and ambo was upgraded in 2023 to reduce glare; the readings are also projected on the screens at the 11:00 AM Mass.
- Seating with arms in the last three rows on each side, and a small number of chairs with higher seats at the back for anyone who finds pews difficult.
- Service animals are welcome everywhere in the church and hall.
Taking part in Mass
Holy Communion is brought to anyone who cannot come forward. Simply stay in your pew and raise a hand, or let an usher know before Mass; a minister will come to you. Gluten-free (low-gluten) hosts are available; tell the priest or an usher before Mass and receive from the priest's line. The Sunday 11:00 AM Mass is livestreamed and archived for those who cannot attend in person. Confession is available in the reconciliation room, which is on the level of the church and large enough for a wheelchair, as well as in the traditional confessional.
If you or a family member has a disability that affects sacramental preparation, for example a child on the autism spectrum preparing for First Communion, please speak with Sr. Agnes (ext. 25). We have adapted materials and experience, and no one is excluded from the sacraments because of a disability.
Parish hall
The hall is reached by the elevator or the interior stairs, has a level floor, an accessible washroom, wide doors and an accessible route to the stage by ramp. Tables are set at wheelchair height on request. See Hall Rentals if you are planning an event.
Website accessibility
This website is designed to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at Level AA, the standard Ontario requires of public-facing websites. In practice that means:
- All text can be resized to 200 per cent without losing content, and the site works at phone width.
- Every image has a text description, and decorative images are hidden from screen readers.
- All pages can be navigated by keyboard alone, with a visible focus indicator and a "skip to content" link.
- Colour contrast meets the AA minimum, and colour is never the only way information is conveyed.
- Videos on the livestream page carry captions where the source provides them.
- Bulletins are posted as PDFs; if you need a bulletin in another format, the office will email you the text.
We test the site with a screen reader and keyboard each time it is redesigned, but we know issues can slip through. If you find a page that does not work for you, please tell us using the feedback process below and we will fix it as quickly as we can.
Feedback and requests
Tell us
Call 416-555-0142 ext. 21, email office@stcolumbatoronto.ca with "Accessibility" in the subject line, use the contact form, or speak to any usher or staff member. We accept feedback in any format, including in person or by mail.
We acknowledge it
You will hear back within five business days, in the format you prefer.
We act
Small fixes, such as a website issue or a missing large-print missal, are handled right away. Larger requests go to the pastor and the Finance Council; we will tell you what we can do and when.
Documents such as this policy, our privacy policy and registration forms are available on request in large print or by email. Our accessibility contact is Teresa Alvarez, Office Manager. For information about the AODA and your rights under it, see ontario.ca/accessibility.
Frequently asked
Can someone meet me at the door?
Yes. Call the office ahead of time or ask a greeter, and an usher will meet you at the east entrance and help you to a seat.
Is there a quiet space if my child becomes overwhelmed?
The vestibule cry room at the back of the church has a window and speaker so you can still follow Mass. It is open at every Mass.
Do you offer Mass in sign language?
Not at St. Columba at present. The Archdiocese supports a Deaf ministry with interpreted Masses at a downtown parish; the office can give you the details.