Region of Waterloo airport recognized for new accessibility features
The Region of Waterloo International Airport has hit an exciting milestone. Staff have been working on many ways to make a better travel experience for everyone who uses the airport. In late 2025, YKF was “certified gold” by the Rick Hansen Foundation. That means our airport has achieved the organization’s highest rank for accessibility.
Across YKF, we’ve improved the airport experience for passengers with varying disabilities. Those can include mobility, vision, and hearing disabilities as well as neurodiversity. Accessibility features are there to help when people are arriving, checking in, and getting luggage after a trip.
Regional Councillor Chantal Huinink recently toured the airport. Check out some of the changes with her:
YKF’s accessibility features include:
- Accessible washroom facilities, equipped with grab bars and Life Call. Two have an adult change table
- Airline self-serve check-in kiosks that are accessible from a standing or seated position
- Audible alarm and flashing light signal to identify when baggage belts start to move
- Curbside assistance available upon request
- Hearing loops at customer service desks, check-in and gate counters, ensure staff can clearly be heard through wireless transmission to a passenger’s personal listening device
- Inclusive customer service training program for all staff
- Two pet relief areas, one located inside the departure lounge and one outside in front of the domestic arrivals building
- Tactile Braille signage for self-serve check-in kiosks and washrooms
YKF now joins a growing list of Canadian airports who are setting the bar higher when it comes to serving all travellers. Only four Canadian airports have achieved this gold certification.
Since the Rick Hansen Foundation began its accessibility certification program, it has rated over 2,283 sites across Canada. Region of Waterloo International Airport is one of only 151 sites that have achieved Accessibility Certified Gold.
To learn more about the process required to achieve certification, visit RickHansen.com/RHFAC or check out our rating scorecard on the online RHFAC Registry.
Did you know?
- Roughly one in four Canadians identify as having a disability, and that number is growing as our population ages
- Around the world, 1.3 billion adults identify as having a disability
- Disability is a broad range of experiences, including mobility, vision, hearing, cognitive, neurodivergence, and more. Disabilities can be visible or invisible. They can also intersect with other disabilities and identities.
- Rick Hansen is a Canadian who made a 26-month, 34-country, 40,000-kilometre wheelchair journey around the world from 1985 to 1987
ICYMI: YKF celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2025!