This summer, large sections of the roads on the University of New Brunswick’s Fredericton campus are being repaved. According to a statement by the University, The new maintenance to UNB’s roads are intended to repair drainage while also upgrading the adjacent sidewalks. Wren Meadus, a UNB student and full time wheelchair user, has advocated for improved sidewalk maintenance on campus since January 2025.
Wren described the current state of accessibility on campus as “not good at all,” with the hope that this new construction will address some of their concerns.
A major challenge facing Wren’s efforts to raise awareness for UNB’s accessibility shortfall was finding the right person to talk to. Back in the winter 2025 semester Wren fell from their wheelchair after hitting a pothole filled with snow. After Wren reported the incident to UNB administrators their complaint was directed to the University’s Student Accessibility Centre (SAC). The SAC then told Wren that the Centre only addressed classroom accommodations—not general advocacy or maintenance—resulting in Wren’s concerns getting passed around without any action. By the end of the semester Wren was assured that paving would be a top priority when the asphalt plants opened in May, a promise the University appears to be upholding.
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