Accessing Canada

I hear a lot of travel horror stories from people with impairments and disabilities so having been in Canada a few days so far I thought Id write about my experience.

We arrived at Heathrow terminal 5 on Tuesday and checked in with no problem and i got to stay in Wilbur (wheelchair). We did unfortunately encounter a complete jobsworth at security who has an issue with my immunoglobulin but his manager was brilliant and soon we were through security and after a bit of chilling we made our way to our gate to be ready to board. On leaving our seating ready to board dad forgot my immunoglobulin but luckily the other passengers yelled at him. That was the last time he was in charge of it!!

I was able to stay in Wilbur until the plane door and the air hostesses etc were so helpful it was lovely. They stored the feet of my wheelchair and immunoglobulin in a cupboard and Wilbur was taken to the hold to be returned to the plane entrance on landing.When we landed the air hostesses told me to stay seated and they would let me know when Wilbur was waiting for me so I didn’t have to stand for long and we got to use the express security line as I was in the chair.

Having flown into Calgary we drove to Banff and our hotel the Fairmont Banff Springs. Brilliant hotel with ramps instead of steps in a lot of places but I still had a few issues I will be writing to then about.Neither the bar or the check in desks or concierge desks had any lower wheelchair user parts to them so they were far above my head, if I had had to sign something I couldn’t have.

In the bedroom they had made up the sofa bed for some reason so my wheelchair could not get past so we had to put it away which wasn’t too big an issue but it was half past midnight at this time. I’m lucky in that I can still walk short distances but those who cannot leave their chairs would have been unable to get past or transfer to the bed which was really high.

The bathroom had one rail by the loo and two in the shower. Reception provided me with a shower chair when asked but I still struggled with the lack of rails and the shower curtain did not reach the floor so the floor of the bathroom got wet and slippery so I used a spare towel to help me get from the shower back to the bedroomThursday morning we were booked to board the Rocky Mountaineer and as most travellers in wheelchairs will tell you I was apprehensive but I really needn’t have been.They had a lift to get me onto the train and once I was they had another lift to get me up and down to the top deck. As breakfast and lunch was downstairs I used this lift several times and I have to say it was incredible service.

Nothing was too much trouble for the lovely staff who helped me and I never felt like an inconvenience needing assistance like other places and people can make you feel.

It’s only been a few days but the service for those with Mobility Impairments in North America seems better in so many ways than in UK but we shall see if that continues.