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

Oshawa residents looking to make Halloween more accessible this year are invited to pick up a free Treat Accessibly lawn sign and check out more helpful tips below.

Lawn signs are available at the following locations:

City Facilities:

• Oshawa City Hall 
• Civic Recreation Complex 
• Delpark Homes Centre 
• Donevan Recreation Complex 
• Northview Community Centre 
• South Oshawa Community Centre 

Oshawa Public Library branches:

• Delpark Homes Centre 
• Jess Hann 
• John Aker Northview 
• McLaughlin Branch 

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.

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 at oshawa.ca/AccessiblePrograms.  

Treat Accessibly 2026 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.