In 1991, Walton Memorial United Church decided to install a Prolift Elevator. Rev. Jim Gill recalls that, "We recognized an urgent need for an accessibility elevator. Older members of the congregation and their families had stopped coming to church - a church that had been a part of their life for 40 years." The elevator is primarily used by the elderly and, without the elevator, a minimum of twelve steps must be climbed and descended just to reach the service level.

The elevator also provides accessibility to both the basement and the street level. Rev. Jim Gill sees two big benefits to the Church that are directly related to the availability of the elevator. First, is the rental income generated for the Church due to its ability to provide access for the physically disabled. The Church is used as a daycare center, scout and guide meeting place and piano school. Aside from attracting other group functions such as weddings and funerals, the Church is also used as a political polling station (the government cannot rent from you if your building is not accessible). The ability of Walton Memorial United Church to advertise as a physically disabled accessible building has made all these rental opportunities possible. Secondly, the interaction between the people using the lift and the attendants at the lift has become a ministry in itself. Attendants are assigned to help at and operate the accessibility elevator, and these people get to know the regular elevator users. Rev. Gill says, "Waiting at the elevator has become a huge social event, and many new friendships are started at the elevator."

"Once the elevator was up and running, we experienced no service or operating problems. I would not hesitate to recommend an elevator to anyone."

Rev. James C. Gill
Walton Memorial United Church