Let’s make Halloween accessible for all

The City of Oshawa is proud to support Treat Accessibly, a grassroots movement that encourages Canadians to make trick-or-treating safe, inclusive, and accessible for all.

Pick up a free lawn sign and storybook

Oshawa residents looking to make Halloween more accessible this year are invited to check out our helpful tips below and pick up a free Treat Accessibly lawn sign. Community members can also pick up a complimentary copy of the picture book, “Atticus Goes Trick-or-Treating”. This colourful picture book tells the story of a young boy who has never been able to go trick-or-treating because most houses in his neighbourhood have steep driveways and front steps that make it hard for him to reach the doors in his wheelchair.

Lawn signs and books will be available at the following locations effective Wednesday, October 22:

City Facilities:

• City Hall (50 Centre St. S.)
• Civic Recreation Complex (99 Thornton Rd. S.)
• Delpark Homes Centre (1661 Harmony Rd. N.)
• Donevan Recreation Complex (171 Harmony Rd. S.)
• Northview Community Centre (150 Beatrice St. E.
• South Oshawa Community Centre (1455 Cedar St.)

Oshawa Public Library branches:

• Delpark Homes Centre (1661 Harmony Rd. N.)
• Jess Hann (199 Wentworth St. W.)
• John Aker Northview (250 Beatrice St. E.)
• McLaughlin Branch (65 Debwewin Miikan)

Tips for an inclusive Halloween

Making trick-or-treating accessible doesn’t take much – just a few thoughtful steps can make a big difference.

Here are some easy ways to make your Halloween setup more inclusive:

• Hand out candy from a spot that is easy to reach, like the end of your driveway.
• Keep the path clear and make sure your trick-or-treating station is well-lit.
• Avoid strobe lights and sudden loud noises.
• Keep pets safely away from the front of your house.
• Not everyone can eat candy; consider offering non-edible treats such as stickers, pencils, small toys stored in a separate bowl from the edible treats. A universal symbol for this is a teal or blue “pumpkin” bowl.
• Some trick-or-treaters may not be able to see the treats that you are handing out – a quick description of the treat can go a long way in making them feel included.

Learn more

The Treat Accessibly initiative supports Oshawa’s goal of creating a safe and welcoming community with accessible spaces, programs, and services for all. Learn more on the City’s Accessibility webpage.  

Treat Accessibly 2025 is supported by Canadian Tire, Kinder and RE/MAX.
To learn more about how to make your home more visible for accessible trick-or-treating or for details on free Treat Accessibly yard signs (while supplies last) available at The Pet Valu Family of Stores, visit treataccessibly.com.

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