Imperial Parking Canada Corporation (Impark Canada) is proud to announce its collaboration with The Forward Movement, a Canadian advocacy group campaigning for the support and adoption of the Dynamic Symbol of Access (DSA).
To advance its work with The Forward Movement, Impark will adopt the DSA as standard for all new facility painting projects in Canada and will update existing symbols as repainting work is required.
The DSA is a subtle yet culturally significant reimagining of the International Symbol of Access (ISA), the current industry standard for marking parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities. Impark’s move away from the ISA and toward the DSA is intended to:
- Advance symbolism that recognizes and promotes the personal autonomy of people with disabilities.
- Present a familiar alternative that emphasizes the person, not the disability.
- Promote a healthy dialogue about accessibility barriers and challenges.
“Impark has a long history of promoting progressive community initiatives and is thrilled to engage with The Forward Movement to create a more inclusive future,” said Gordon Craig, President of Impark Canada. “As Canada’s largest parking management company, we are in a unique position to help The Forward Movement fulfill their mission in parking facilities nationwide.”
“We firmly believe the Dynamic Symbol promotes physical and social inclusion for people of all abilities,” Dylan Itzikowitz, co-founder of The Forward Movement, said. “Our activity with Impark offers us a unique opportunity to promote the symbol’s successful implementation on a large scale while we continue to work with municipal and provincial governments to mandate the symbol for future use.”
The first implementation of the symbol is scheduled for spring 2018 in Toronto and will expand to the rest of Canada as weather conditions permit. Impark is working with its current clients to encourage the adoption of the new symbol at their existing facilities.
The company estimates that it has at least 10,000 accessible spaces in its North American portfolio.
The Forward Movement has received support from over 60 disability organizations and communities. Their growing list of partners can be found at www.theforwardmovement.ca/partners.
Please direct all media inquiries to hello@impark.com and/or hello@theforwardmovement.ca.
About Impark
Impark is one of North America’s largest and most successful parking management companies. Since its inception in 1962, Impark has transformed from a single surface lot operator into an industry trailblazer with a portfolio of over 3,500 locations. As of 2018, the company employs over 9,200 personnel in more than 240 cities and generates in excess of $1.5B in annual revenue for its clients.
Impark’s strong entrepreneurial drive and dedication to superior service has led it to develop a selection of value-added services that includes valet, shuttle, enforcement, automated solutions, and revenue control.
About The Forward Movement
The Forward Movement is a non-profit advocacy and awareness group campaigning for the legal adoption of the Dynamic Symbol of Access in Canada. The initiative is led by Jonathan Silver and Dylan Itzikowitz.
