President’s Message

Over my lifetime and throughout the decades, I have experienced many challenges with employers or employment opportunities due to my disabilities and limitations. Looking back over the many positions and roles I have had that all contributed to the vast toolbox of understanding accessibility when it comes to my career and employment history. When I think back to my first employment opportunities over 40 years ago, I would love to thank the Courtney Recreation Centre (CRA) where I was an Inclusion worker for Down Syndrome children and the Comox Valley Child Development Centre where I participated as a Physio Aid for children with Cerebral Palsy. These community organizations allowed me to realize that although I myself lived with disabilities, I still had a lot of potential as an employee. The encouragement I received, motivated my desire to gain higher education to build my resume and self-confidence which positively pivot my life forward. Over the years I have worked for the Canadian National Defence, National, Provincial and Municipal governments, Businesses and Non-profit organizations. Open communication between employers and myself allowed growth and understanding to occur. Advocating for myself was not always win-win, as challenges arose, I would reach out for assistance from organizations like VAD, Unions I belonged to, and best of all speaking with others living with similar situations who surrounded me with mentorship and advice. A supportive community is always a win-win, when we help each other.

Together across Alberta we are grateful for our members and community partners that work together to shine the light on the benefits of engaging employers, job seekers experiencing disability and the public to promote the benefits of inclusive hiring. This month we can all celebrate the tremendous contributions persons who experience disability make to our workplaces and communities. We invite everyone to reach out to create connections and awareness and to help eliminate the barriers that prevents Albertans experiencing disabilities from participating fully in our workforces and society.

“Despite the considerable efforts that have been made to diversify the Albertan labour force, Statistics Canada reported in 2017, 3.7 million working-age Canadians identified as having a disability. Only three in five Canadians experiencing disability (59%) were employed. Also, the COVID-19 pandemic has substantially intensified the situation. Currently, approximately 1 million Canadian job seekers experiencing disability are unemployed or underemployed.”
Given the current workforce shortages, Alberta needs the skills, education and experience of the untapped talent we all have to offer. We at VAD encourage all employers to take part in a nationwide campaign that highlights the positive contributions that employees with disabilities make to Canadian workplaces.

It has been said, “Businesses that take diversity seriously and implement effective inclusion strategies have greater success in achieving higher performance and increasing retention of staff.
Diversity in the workforce and inclusion of talented people from the disability talent pool fuels innovation and growth.”

Almost 22% of Canadians identify themselves as having a disability. That’s equal to the combined populations of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It’s the largest minority in the Country. People who have a disability can work, want to work and make a positive contribution to the workplace. We are problem solvers, agile, persistent and willing to experiment.

Companies that hire inclusively grow profits up to 3x faster than their competitors. Inclusion has been found to bring upon increased, innovation, profits, better business outcomes, prepared workforce, consumer loyalty, and increased productivity. Inclusion could provide assistance with worker shortfalls today, be the change and get involved.

Reducing the tragic gap of employment challenges is one way we can work collaboratively to bring change forward. We at VAD would like to say a Big Thank you to these and many other organizations that are working to support the inclusion potential by smoothing out the journey to employment for many of us.

Thank you.

EmployAbilities (Inclusive Career Connections)
http://employabilities.ab.ca/programs/employabilities-career-and-employment-centre/
(780) 945-4648
402- 10909 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5J 3L9
susans@employabilities.ab.ca
www.employabilities.ab.ca

Selections Career Support Services
http://www.selectionscareer.com/
205 4209 99 Street
Edmonton, AB T6E 5V7
Telephone: (780) 461-5270, Email: contact@selectionscareer.com

On Site Placement Services Association
http://www.osp.ab.ca/
200-10025 106 Street
Edmonton, AB T5J 1G4
Ph: 780-488-8122

Bredin Centre for Learning
https://bredin.ca/
5th and 10th Floors,
10004 – 104 Avenue NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 0K1

Oteenow Employment & Training Society
https://oteenow.com/
13227 – 146 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5L 4S8
780.444.0911

Prospect: breaking barriers
www.prospectnow.ca
#102 – 9940 106 Street, Edmonton, AB T5K 2N2
Phone: 780-705-9677
Fax: 780.758.9674
Toll Free: 1.877.483.2562

Bent Arrow
Email: employmentresources@bentarrow.ca
Phone: 780-232-2762
Address: 11648 85 Street NW, Edmonton, T5B 3E5

Gateway Association
https://gatewayassociation.ca/erc/
10941-120 Street NW, #201
Edmonton, AB T5H 3R3
Tel: 780-454-0701

Bissell Centre

https://bissellcentre.org/programs/individual/employment-services-casual-labour/
Employment Services, Sarah Higgins, Manager, 780.423.2285 ext. 352, shiggins@bissellcentre.org
Bissell Workforce: 780.424.4385, Monday — Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m

Neil Squire Alberta Wide
T 403 910 5958 attention: Shanelle

Centre for Autism Services Alberta
#1, 9353 – 50 Street NW
Edmonton, AB T6B 2L5
Phone 780-488-6600 Ext. 367
Fax 780-488-6664
www.centreforautism.ab.ca