Accessible Victoria.
No Government Dollars.
AccessLens is a community-built, business-supported accessibility map covering Victoria. Local partners fund student ambassadors who visit and update listings. Everyone finds accessible places — for free.
- 20+
- Neighbourhoods mapped
- 20
- QR location codes active
- Growing
- Founding partners
- $0
- Cost to government
Victoria pilot
community-funded model
The gap
People with disabilities can't plan a trip without calling ahead
Victoria has hundreds of accessible businesses — but almost none of them have that information published in a single, reliable, searchable place. Google Maps shows a wheelchair icon sometimes. Yelp shows nothing. Calling ahead is exhausting and inconsistent.
The result: people with mobility impairments, seniors, parents with strollers, and visitors with invisible disabilities either skip outings entirely or face unpleasant surprises at the door.
AccessLens fixes this — with real, owner-confirmed, up-to-date information at the neighbourhood level.
The process
How it works
A QR card, a six-digit code, and five minutes — that's all a business needs to get on the map.
Student ambassador visits a business
A local student leaves a physical QR card and a unique six-digit access code — the whole visit takes under five minutes.
Owner updates their listing on any phone
Large buttons, plain language, no password required. Owners answer a checklist: ramp, automatic door, accessible washroom, elevator, and more.
Information is live on the public map
Anyone searching for accessible places in Victoria can find the business instantly, with verified, up-to-date accessibility details.
Business earns the Accessibility Partner badge
Participating businesses are publicly recognised and rewarded with increased visibility for customers who need accessible spaces.
Try it yourself — no account needed
Go to accesslens.ca/update-accessibility, enter any six-digit demo code, and experience exactly what a business owner sees.
Sustainability
Self-funding, not grant-dependent
Founding partners fund student ambassadors for neighbourhood outreach — so the city gets a living accessibility map without writing a cheque.
Business partners fund the outreach
A small number of founding partners cover student ambassador visits. Each partner subscription is designed to fund ~50 outreach visits — without a government grant.
Students earn while they contribute
Student ambassadors are compensated through the partner pool — real work experience, real community impact.
Self-sustaining at scale
As more businesses join, more ambassadors can be employed, covering more of Victoria. The model grows without external funding.
Expandable to every BC city
The platform already supports multiple cities. Once Victoria proves the model, replication across the capital region and beyond is immediate.
Revenue model at a glance
Starter plan
$29/mo
for small businesses
Professional
$79/mo
for multi-location
Break-even target
~8 subscribers
covers full ops
Coverage
Every Victoria neighbourhood, ready for QR codes
QR anchor zones are already defined for every major district. Student ambassadors can start distributing cards in any of these areas today.
- Downtown Victoria
- Inner Harbour
- Old Town & Fan Tan Alley
- Cook Street Village
- James Bay
- Beacon Hill Park
- Fernwood Village
- North Park
- Fairfield
- Fort Street (Antique Row)
- Oak Bay Village
- Quadra–Hillside
- Burnside–Gorge
- Uptown District
- Mayfair Area
- Tillicum Corridor
- Esquimalt Town Centre
- Royal Jubilee area
- Victoria General area
- Johnson Street Bridge area
Each zone has GPS-based coordinates — scanning any QR card automatically shows nearby accessible places.
For government
What city and provincial support looks like
We are not asking for funding. We are asking for four things that cost nothing.
Endorse the program
An official City of Victoria or Provincial endorsement costs nothing and signals trust to businesses, increasing subscription uptake.
Share QR code data with permitting
Building permit applicants could be encouraged (not required) to update their AccessLens listing as part of the accessible design checklist.
Link from accessibility.victoria.ca
A simple outbound link from city accessibility pages drives traffic and credibility at zero cost.
Feature in city communications
A mention in an Access Awareness Week press release or city newsletter reaches thousands of residents who would immediately benefit.
Aligned with the laws already on the books
The Accessible Canada Act (2019) and the Accessible British Columbia Act (2021) both require governments to identify, remove, and prevent accessibility barriers. AccessLens provides the ground-level data that makes compliance visible and measurable — at no cost to the city.
Built Environment
Tracks physical access barriers at specific addresses
Information & Communication
Plain-language, mobile-first, screen-reader friendly
Employment
Student ambassadors — paid, meaningful community work
Built by and for the Victoria community
AccessLens was started by a Victoria resident who wanted one honest answer to the question: “Can I actually get in the door?” The platform is entirely community-built — no venture capital, no government grant, no corporate backing.
Local businesses that believe in the idea become Accessibility Partners. Their support funds outreach and proves the model works before we ever ask government for dollars.
Ready to explore, or ready to partner?
The map is live. The QR cards are ready. Businesses can join today. We welcome conversations with City of Victoria staff, MLAs, and community organisations.
To get in touch: hello@accesslens.ca