Community and Social Services Minister Madeleine Meilleur called the Jordan Station winery a model of customer service last week, praising its commitment to breaking down barriers for people with disabilities.

"I'll be mentioning the name of Creekside every time I talk about accessibility," Meilleur said last week during a tour of the winery on Fourth Ave. "They have taken a leadership role."

"Our vision in Ontario is to make the province completely accessible by the year 2025," Meilleur said. She called Creekside facility outstanding and credited the owners.

The decision to make Creekside accessible was part and parcel of a major renovation project. "Everything is accessible on one level," said Mark Burgess, President and General Manager. They broke ground in April, gutting the existing retail area and expanding it from 500 sq. ft. to 2,000 sq. ft.

In the process an accessible ramp was built leading up to the store and a walkway encircling the building to the outdoor wine patio and grill that overlooks 16 Mile Creek.

"It was a good business decision, he said. But the legislation alone (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) will not carry the work to make the province accessible by 2025.

Wineries have to "embrace" the concept, Burgess told Meilleur during an afternoon tour in which she also praised the wine she tasted during the tour.

It is a really good business decision Meilleur said considering the aging population.

She said individuals with disabilities have about $25 billion in disposable income and every one disabled person affects the spending of about three people.

It was during the recent renovations that Creekside owners decided to move ahead to make the facility completely accessible from the railing and ramp out front to the walkway that leads to the patio, and future plans to upgrade a path around the building with interlocking bricks leading to the underground barrel cellar, already completely accessible for all visitors.

Under the Act, the province is developing accessibility standards to identify, remove and prevent barriers.

Meilleur said the standards cover five key areas including customer service, transportation, information and communications, the built environment, including buildings and other structures and employment.

The customer service standard came into force January. The remaining four areas will be phased in over time.

Public sector organizations will have to comply by January, 2010. Private sector and non-profit organizations, by January, 2012.

In the process an accessible ramp was built leading up to the store and a walkway encircling the building to the outdoor wine patio and grill that overlooks 16 Mile Creek.

"It was a good business decision, he said. But the legislation alone (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) will not carry the work to make the province accessible by 2025.

Wineries have to "embrace" the concept, Burgess told Meilleur during an afternoon tour in which she also praised the wine she tasted during the tour.

It is a really good business decision Meilleur said considering the aging population.

She said individuals with disabilities have about $25 billion in disposable income and every one disabled person affects the spending of about three people.

It was during the recent renovations that Creekside owners decided to move ahead to make the facility completely accessible from the railing and ramp out front to the walkway that leads to the patio, and future plans to upgrade a path around the building with interlocking bricks leading to the underground barrel cellar, already completely accessible for all visitors.

Under the Act, the province is developing accessibility standards to identify, remove and prevent barriers.

Meilleur said the standards cover five key areas including customer service, transportation, information and communications, the built environment, including buildings and other structures and employment.

The customer service standard came into force January. The remaining four areas will be phased in over time.

Public sector organizations will have to comply by January, 2010. Private sector and non-profit organizations, by January, 2012.