Accessibility support and guidance

Attendees can visit the Accessibility Desk to pick up their badges and submit special accommodation requests or mobility assistance (i.e. transport chairs from security). The two locations are:

St James Campus (200 King St E)
Accessibility Desk at Registration

Hours of operation: 8:00 to 16:00, May 30 to June 6

Waterfront Campus (51 Dockside Drive)
Accessibility Desk at Registration

Hours of operation: 8:00 to 16:00, May 30 to June 6

The Federation, George Brown College, and associations participating in Congress 2025 offer accessibility provisions for attendees participating in Congress. Provisions include:

• Remote simultaneous interpretation (RSI): Remote simultaneous interpretation from English to French and French to English is available at Big Thinking sessions.
• Closed Captioning (CC): Live Closed Captioning in English and French,for use on attendees' own devices, will be available for virtual or hybrid events.......  
• American Sign Language (ASL) and Langue des signes du Québec (LSQ): American Sign Language and Langue des signes du Québec (LSQ) remote interpretation will be available for the audience at Big Thinking sessions.Live transcription: Hybrid or virtual sessions that are using Zoom will offer live transcriptions (real-time captions). Participants will be able to see the spoken words as subtitles or in a side window.  
• Recordings: Most sessions with virtual components will be recorded and available for viewing online approximately three days after the presentation.
• Assistive listening devices: Devices that amplify microphone audio into an earpiece for individuals who are hard of hearing (e.g., Comfort Contego, an FM audio amplification system) are available to borrow by completing a request form at the Accessibility Help Desk. Two units are available at each of the Waterfront and St. James campuses. Please note that you will need to supply your own earphones with an audio jack for the listening device.
• Important safety information: Please do not use the Comfort Contego if you have a pacemaker or other implanted device. The Comfort Contego could cause the pacemaker or other implanted device to malfunction and cause serious injury or death.
• Seating: All designated accessible seating at Congress is based on capacity and provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Seating in the front row/near entrances and exits will be available at all the Big Thinking events.  

The Federation works with all official Congress hotels and on-campus accommodations to ensure equal access for all attendees. We survey each property based on the standards and specifications provided under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, including the exterior of the building, lobby, rooms, bathrooms, and amenities.  

Should you have questions regarding the accessibility level of one of the official Congress 2025 hotels, each property listed on the Accommodations page includes a contact person specifically for accessibility queries.

Shuttle service

Congress will offer a free attendee shuttle service serving the St. James and Waterfront campuses. The stop locations will include 80 Cooperage St. (The George Residence), 110 Frederick St. (St. James campus) and 51 Dockside Drive (Waterfront campus). The hours of operation are 7:00 to 19:00 from May 30 to June 6, available every twenty to thirty minutes.

Accessible parking

A list of parking available around the college include:

St. James Campus
Parking at St. James Campus
Underground parking garage  
Green P Carpark 125 – 323 Richmond Street East  
Carpark 125 - Green P Parking  
Accessible parking available

Precise ParkLink -Mynikker Holdings  
170 Frederick Street, Toronto, ON M5A 4J1  
(416) 398-4052  
Please note that there are no accessible parking spaces available.

Street parking at St. James Campus

If one has an accessible parking permit, they may park on George Street or Frederick Street.

Parking at Waterfront

There is an additional surface parking lot located on 178/180 Queens Quay East operated by Canada Wide Parking

Underground parking at Waterfront, Daniels, and Limberlost

Waterfront Campus | George Brown College  
George Brown College - 51 Dockside Dr.  
Carpark 286 - Green P Parking  
Accessible Parking Available
North Elevator access to building and parking garage.  

Indigo Park Canada – Corus Quay at 25 Dockside Drive.  
Accessible parking available  

Waterfront Innovation Centre  
Lot #527 – 155 Queens Quay East
Waterfront Innovation Centre - 527 | Impark Lot Map Search

Airports  

Toronto Pearson

Universal access is a fundamental component of customer care at the Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ). The airport website includes help and support for customers preparing for air travel. Information on accessibility services at Toronto Pearson is available at https://www.torontopearson.com/en/accessibility 

Billy Bishop Airport

If you’re planning to fly in or out of Billy Bishop Airport it’s important to let your air carrier and/or travel agent know that you require special assistance when you make your flight reservation. Your air carrier can provide information on the use of wheelchairs, a passenger escort service, transportation within the airport, and support in checking in, boarding, and arriving at your destination. Passengers requiring special assistance may be dropped off either in front of the Passenger Transfer Facility or Airport Terminal.

The parking lots at Billy Bishop are fully accessible with designated parking spots marked by the Universal Access Symbol. To use one of these spots simply display your valid Accessible Parking Permit on your vehicle. Please note that if you have not pre-arranged assistance in advance, you may experience a delay in service.

Public transit  

Union Pearson Express

UP Express offers special assistance at Union Station and Pearson airport only. Guests requiring special assistance at Union Station should call 1-844-GET-ON-UP (1-844-438-6687) at least one day prior to their trip, to help ensure UP Express staff are fully equipped to handle your needs. Visit the Union Pearson Express website for more information

TTC

TTC accessible information is available on TTC buses, streetcars, subways. Please visit the TTC website for more details

Taxis  

All taxi companies in Toronto offer accessible vehicles upon request.  
Beck Taxi 416-751-5555    
Diamond Taxi 416-366-6868  
Co-op Cabs 416-504-2667

Transport chairs

Requests for transport chairs can be made at the Accessibility Help Desks. Transport chairs require assistance from a person to navigate (volunteer or support person). The maximum weight for the transportation chairs is 300 pounds, the width is 19 inches, and the seat length is 16 inches.

Local mobility rentals

Motorized scooter rentals are available with Motion Services. To find more information and book, visit the Motion Services website

Vital Mobility Home Health Care provides a wide range of mobility products, including wheelchairs, walking devices, and scooters.

Tel: 905-532-9494
Website: https://www.vitalmobility.ca/

Building entrances  

All campus buildings used for Congress have at least one accessible entrance. These entrances comrpise a level entrance or ramp access with an automatic door.  

Washrooms  

Wheelchair-accessible single-stall and gender-inclusive washrooms are available across campus and identified with standardized signage. 

Reflection rooms

The Reflection room provides Congress attendees with space for individual reflection, meditation, rest, or prayer. Hours are available from 8:00 to 20:00.

Locations:

• St. James Campus – SJA (200 King St. E.): room B125, located in the basement at rear of cafeteria.
• Waterfront Campus – WF (51 Dockside Drive): Room 029, located in the basement.

Communal quiet spaces  

George Brown College has designated communal quiet spaces for attendees during Congress 2025. The spaces are open to all individuals without prior request, and rooms will be available during throughout Congress from 8:00 – 20:00 or if the building is open the spaces will be accessible.  

Locations:

• St. James Campus – Calm Zone (Sensory Room) at St. James SJA (200 King St. E.): room B121, located in the basement.
• Waterfront Campus – Zen Space (3 Lower Jarvis St.): Room 331

Lactation spaces

Locations

• St. James (200 King St. E): Student Success Hub - Career Services in B155. Offices B155K and H
• Waterfront Daniels (3 Lower Jarvis St.): 361

Support persons or companions are not required to register or pay for Congress if they are travelling with a registered Congress attendee. Support persons will be allowed to enter Congress sessions without a badge only when accompanied by the person they are supporting.  

If you require a sighted guide volunteer for a specific request at Congress, please visit the Accessibility Desk to place a request. Please note this will depend on volunteer availability and may not be guaranteed.

If you bring a service dog to campus, the dog should be trained and clearly identified as a service animal (i.e., wearing a harness, a tag, or other marker).  

The service dog should be well-behaved and under the handler’s control in a public setting. If this is not the case, the handler can be asked to remove the dog from the situation, whether it is a service dog or not.

GBC Safety app

The GBC Safety app allows you to call emergency services (both 911 and campus security) at the touch of a button and send your live location to GBC Security if you need assistance on campus.  

Download the app the App Store or Google Play

Security contacts  

St. James Campus security: 200 King St. E., upper main lobby security booth

Waterfront Campus security: 51 Dockside Dr., main lobby near entrance Waterfront

Emergency line: 416-415-4000 or 0 from an internal GBC Cisco phone 
Emergency text number: 416-723-4761 
St. James Security: 416-415-5000 ext. 2773 
Waterfront Security: 416-415-5000 ext. 2773

Non-emergency email: mailto:gbccrimestoppers@georgebrown.ca

Website: https://www.georgebrown.ca/about/public-safety-security