Rick Hansen Talks the Economic Benefits of Improving Accessibility in the Auto Industry

NIAGARA FALLS, ON, April 10, 2019 /CNW/ - Rick Hansen and key automotive industry leaders had a substantial meeting on improving accessibility in the industry at the second annual Automotive Conference and Expo (ACE).

"There is a compelling business case for the Canadian auto industry to ensure that their businesses are both accessible and inclusive to their employees and customers," said Rick Hansen, Founder of the Rick Hansen Foundation. "It's inspiring to see that the Ontario Auto Dealers are taking leadership, and seeking ways to innovate and help Canadians continue to stay in motion."  

Hansen met with key industry leaders including Todd Bourgon, Executive Director, Trillium Automobile Dealers Association (TADA) and John White, President and CEO of the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) at the Fallsview Resort & Casino, Niagara Falls.

ACE brings together approximately 500 auto dealers and industry members from across Canada and is run by the Trillium Automobile Dealers Association (TADA) and Consolidated Dealers.

In the roundtable meeting, they discussed how accessibility can impact current and future business opportunities for the auto industry. A focal point for the discussion was the economic impact study "The Business Case to Build Physically Accessible Environments" which was conducted by the Angus Reid Institute in partnership with the Rick Hansen Foundation.

The report finds that improving physical accessibility will dramatically improve the labour force participation and consumer spending of Canadians with physical disabilities. The report estimates that the number of Canadians with a physical disability that impairs their mobility, vision, or hearing will increase from an estimated 2.9 million in 2017 to 3.6 million in 2030. It is estimated that improvements to workplace access would enable 550,000 Canadians with disabilities to work more and increase the GDP by $16.8 billion by 2030.

The study was discussed in relation to accessibility, an aging population, and how improving accessibility may benefit auto dealers and the overall customer experience in dealerships.

"Mr. Hansen provided our industry with tremendous insight and we look forward to continuing to learn about business opportunities within this context," said Todd Bourgon, Executive Director, TADA.

In addition to the roundtable, Hansen is the feature keynote speaker at ACE. Other keynote speakers include retired National Hockey League player Mark Messier, strategic consultant Dennis Moseley-Williams, and business transformation and digital marketing expert Mitch Joel.

Link to b-roll can be found here and here.

Trillium Automobile Dealers Association

The Trillium Automobile Dealers Association (TADA) proudly represents more than 1,100 franchised, new car and truck dealers across Ontario. Our members directly employ over 45,000 people, and generate $12 billion in GDP every year to Ontario's economy. One in twenty (5 percent) of provincial retail trade jobs are generated directly by TADA members.

SOURCE Trillium Automobile Dealers Association