Our Journey
Gateway Navigation was founded to address gaps left by government programs, focusing on building accessibility and inclusion through augmented reality technology. Our mission also includes creating training and employment opportunities in this emerging field for people with disabilities.
In the early stages of Gateway Navigation, David had the good fortune of connecting with Darryl Plecas, then Parliamentary Secretary of Accessibility for the BC Government. Recognizing the potential of David's concept, Darryl introduced him to David LePage, a consultant who played a pivotal role in creating the BC Corporation Business category for Community Contribution Companies (C3). This category merges for-profit sustainability with non-profit social objectives.
David Brun and David LePage shared a vision of redefining business success—not as a zero-sum game, but as one where the entire community benefits from an organization’s achievements. This vision aligned seamlessly with the UN declaration that people with disabilities should be equal partners in decision-making and financial gain.
But this was just the beginning. David reconnected with his Dragon Boating teammate, Jim Taggart, a former architect who transitioned to teaching at BCIT and editing a prominent architecture magazine focused on sustainability after developing the eye condition Stargardt disease. Jim's expertise in universal design, coupled with his lived experience, added a vital perspective to Gateway Navigation’s mission.
Together, the founding directors of Gateway—David Brun, David LePage, and Jim Taggart—built on the concept of Gateway as a Community Contribution Company, recognizing that true inclusion requires a holistic approach. This approach considers the physical, digital, and social elements that are all essential to achieving inclusion. They emphasized that accessibility is a broad concept, integral to universal and human-centered design, which aims to reduce barriers for everyone.
Albert Ruel, then a facilitator for the Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB) Get Together with Tech outreach program, played a pivotal role in strengthening our mission. He introduced us to Jim Prowse, Executive Director of the CCB, and helped formalize our relationship with the organization as both advisors and equity partners. This partnership reinforces our commitment to ensuring that people who are blind or have low vision are equal partners in using augmented reality to remove accessibility barriers and enhance inclusion for the blind in Canada.
Through this collaboration, Gateway Navigation was legally established with the help of Sheila Evani, a corporate lawyer with expertise in non-profits. Sheila’s support has been instrumental in advancing our shared goals.
From its inception, Gateway Navigation has been built on shared values of respect, partnership, and collaboration. We continue to advance our mission with these principles at the core, striving to make accessibility and inclusion a reality for all.
We look forward to the next chapter in our story. Reach out with your questions, ideas, and vision for inclusion through universal and inclusive design in the built and digital world. Email us at partners@gnc3.com
Our Guiding Principles
In our commitment to inclusivity, we actively collaborate with a diverse range of professionals, including architects, designers, researchers, and app developers. Our leadership team includes individuals who are blind and partially sighted, providing invaluable perspectives that shape our decisions. Their personal experiences overcoming challenges inspired the creation of our company and drive our mission to place those most affected by decisions in leadership roles.
Our initiatives include working with researchers to improve online experiences for individuals who are blind, deafblind, or partially sighted, and partnering with venues to enhance accessibility, inclusivity, and environmental sustainability. Our core principle is to eliminate barriers—physical, technical, or financial—to ensure that technology is accessible to everyone.
Partnering and collaborating with those who have lived experience with disability is a fundamental principle of Gateway Navigation. We support both the Accessible Canada Act and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. By harnessing the collective expertise of our network, we are dedicated to fostering innovation and accessibility for all.
For questions, feedback, or to receive updates, email us at partners@gnc3.com
Our Team
We apply a human centered approach in designing inclusive audio-based (digital) augmented reality network solutions for people with disabilities. Living the principle nothing about us, without us.
David Brun, Founder / Director
CoFounder Gateway Navigation CCC Ltd. Specialist designing indoor and outdoor audio based navigation networks.
David and his community partners founded Gateway Navigation CCC Ltd in 2017 to build awareness, expertise, and capacity for implementing digital indoor navigation solutions for people who are blind or partially sighted.
Over time, David’s and Gateway’s, focus has broadened to include the evolving digital augmented reality technology and the importance for the blind community to be active partners in this field, both economically and culturally.
David, drawing on his past experience as a small business owner, twenty-years with TD Canada Trust in the Branch Network and Pacific Regional Office and his authentic experience as a blind person both as an advocate and not-for-profit board member. Provides David with the perspective, passion, and resources to work with a dynamic team of like-minded colleagues and partners to enhance mobility, employment, and social independence for blind and disabled persons.
Jim Taggart, CoFounder / Director
Editor Sustainable Architecture and Building Magazine www.sabmagazine.com; instructor of the Bachelor of Architectural Science Program at British Columbia Institute of Technology, BCIT; award winning author of several books on architecture; and international speaker leading professional development seminars for architects and designers.
Tammy Berry, Director
Director, Compliance & Training Armour Group Inc // Premium Services Group Ontario, Canada. Senior Leader with a wealth of experience in Financial Services Compliance and Risk Management. Including 10-years with JP Morgan Chase as Vice President Operational Risk Management in Canada and 21-years with Sears Canada Financial as Manager Call Centre Operations across Canada. Tammy has a long history of working with the blind including her brother-in-law, David Brun Founder Gateway Navigation.
Colette Parras, Advisor
Colette Parras is a dynamic professional situated at the intersection of Architecture and Communications, showcasing her talents in creative direction, Environmental Graphic Design (EGD), Wayfinding, Signage, Exhibition, and Graphics. With a strong commitment to empathic design, Colette has established herself as a key figure in the field, blending her educational background, practical experiences, and a passion for inclusive design.
Colette's dedication to inclusive design is further emphasized by her participation in directed studies on Inclusive Design at BCIT. Her involvement in the Inclusive Design Webinar Series and as a member of the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC) Technical Subcommittee solidifies her commitment to creating spaces that prioritize accessibility for everyone.
To learn more about Colette Parras and her innovative approach to design, visit narrativistdesign.com or connect with her on LinkedIn.
Albert Ruel, Advisor
Albert, facilitates and educates, organizations, groups and individuals. Regarding the independence tools available to people who are blind, deaf-blind or visually impaired.
In past roles, Albert has worked as Coordinator Canadian Council of the Blind CCB, Get Together with Technology GTT Program, District Manager with CNIB and served as National Equality Director with the Alliance for the Equality of Blind Canadians.
Sheila Evani, Advisor
Sheila is a business and real estate lawyer, who helps her clients make pragmatic legal decisions that align with their personal and organizational values. Her core practice areas include commercial transactions, real estate and secured lending, and corporate structuring. In addition, Sheila advises a broad range of social enterprises, non-profits, and registered charities in respect of their social ventures and community economic development projects.
COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION REPORT British Columbia Business Corporations Act
Company Name:
Gateway Navigation CCC Ltd. (the “Company”)
Purpose:
The Company has the primary purposes beneficial to society to encourage, educate and support accessibility for people with disabilities by accelerating the adoption of accessible audio-based navigation ABN networks for interior and exterior spaces. While promoting training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities in this rapidly developing technology sector of audio based augmented reality.
ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF THE COMPANY’S PURPOSES:
Incorporated in the Province of British Columbia as a Community Contribution Company with equal emphasis on financial sustainability and social objectives
The CCC incorporation structure requires:
minimum of 60% of profits to be reinvested in the company’s social objective or a CRA qualifying charity
minimum of three Directors on Board of Directors
disclosure in the annual CCC report of any employee receiving an income in excess of $75,000 annually
Activities Fiscal 2018 – 2019:
Development of a PowerPoint presentation and panel discussion seminar emphasising the importance and rationale for removing barriers to people with disabilities and the role accessible audio-based navigation networks play in this process.
Advocating for the inclusion of audio-based navigation ABN technology to be included in the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Accreditation checklist for venues
Presenting at Buildex Vancouver a trade show for builders, architects, and designers on the importance of accessible audio-based navigation
Exploration with University Research Team in creating greater accessibility of digital mapping for people who are blind, deaf blind or visually impaired. Supporting the conversion of internet information into accessible audio-based format.
Positioning the company to provide consultation services to government, businesses and stakeholders on the essential elements needed for well engineered and successful audio-based navigation network implementations for the blind, deaf blind or visually impaired
Redesign and focus of the company’s website www.gnc3.com to provide a platform and resource supporting the company’s consulting services.
Summary: The above efforts would not have been possible without the volunteerism, financial support and commitment of the advisors, directors, partners, and supporters of Gateway Navigation’s vision of accessibility, inclusion, and employment.
Submitted by the Company’s Board of Directors
Activities Fiscal 2017 – 2018:
A memorandum of understanding agreement put in place to define the relationship between Gateway Navigation CCC Ltd and its equity partner the Canadian Council of the Blind CCB
Two of the three Directors appointed are blind or visually impaired
Two advisors appointed to the Board of Directors from the CCB
Creation of a domain www.gnc3.com and website to act as a resource for accessible audio-based navigation technology and to provide information on the company’s social objectives
Hosting two Presentations and interactive experiences. Promoting understanding and discussion with stakeholders on the benefits and challenges related to accessible audio-based navigation networks.
Summary: The above activities would not have been possible without the volunteerism, financial support and commitment of the advisors, directors, partners, and supporters of Gateway Navigation’s vision of accessibility, inclusion, and employment.
Submitted by the Company’s Board of Directors
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