Mayor Clive Tolley proclaimed October the Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM) at City Hall on October 19, alongside representatives from SaskAbilities, local employers who work with Partners in Employment, and additional supporters.
Partners in Employment is the employment services division of SaskAbilities. The agency helps job seekers experiencing disability to find employment. They also provide free support for those employees, and work closely with businesses before, during, and after the hiring process.
“Every October for the last few years, DEAM has been a national campaign to bring awareness to disability employment,” explained Raelynne Doka, Partners in Employment supervisor. “It’s to celebrate employers who are bringing inclusivity and diversity into their workplace.
“But it is also to celebrate the varied contributions that people who are experiencing disability bring to the workforce as well.”
Jessica MacPherson, regional director of SaskAbilities’ Regina branch, opened the event by thanking everyone present and said she was pleased to see the commitment the City of Moose Jaw has for DEAM.
“Our vision is working together to build inclusive communities for people of all abilities,” MacPherson said. “I’m so pleased that we’re here to formally proclaim October as Disability Employment Awareness Month in Moose Jaw.”
MacPherson introduced guests for the occasion including Mayor Tolley; TJ Karwandy, City of Moose Jaw human resources manager; Derrick Pohl, owner and manager of A&W on Main Street; Crystal Kober-McCubbing, executive director of Northwest Child Development Centre; Mike Bachiu, board chair of the City’s Special Needs Advisory Committee; Dorreen Gane, career planner at Partners in Employment; and Jackie Jackson, a client of Partners in Employment.
“I think we can all appreciate that there’s strengths and weaknesses in all of us,” Tolley said before signing the proclamation. “If you can get the right person for the right job with the right supports at the right time, you have a match, and you have somebody who’s pleased with their employment and an employer who’s pleased with their employee.
“In issuing this proclamation, we celebrate the contributions of individuals experiencing disabilities to our workforce, and (we promote) employment of individuals experiencing disability to create a better, more inclusive community.”
Derrick Pohl has been an active supporter of Partners in Employment for 16 years. He has hired SaskAbilities clients in part- and full-time jobs and provided training, mentorship, and support.
“All the help and support that I’ve had with (Partners in Employment) over the years has been unbelievable,” Pohl said. “I’m very fortunate to (work with them). I’ve had a lot of people come through that have worked out, and some that haven’t… I’ve already asked (Partners in Employment) to help me out again.”
Doka said she is always happy to make the business case for having an inclusive workplace as well.
“Diversity in the workplace and inclusion of talented people with varying abilities fuels innovation and growth. By utilizing supported employment services and diversifying workplaces, employers cut recruitment costs, reduce turnover and training costs, and increase retention,” Doka said.
Jackie Jackson now works at Timothy Eaton Gardens. She said she’s happy with her job and with the support she received during her job search.
“I was raising a child at the time, and I was kind of stuck,” Jackson said. “(Partners in Employment) helped me build up a resume, they helped me with some interview skills … It’s been a good experience.”
Kober-McCubbing spoke briefly during the event to say that her partnership with SaskAbilities and Partners in Employment has resulted in some of her best employees.
“Kids don’t care. They love you for who you are,” she explained. “That gives me a great opportunity to work with Partners in Employment. … I have very long-term staff with Partners in Employment who are fabulous.
“I would brag about them to anyone, so it’s been a really good fit for my centre.”
On Thursday, Oct. 20, businesses and organizations across Canada will change their facility lighting to purple and blue in support of Light It Up! For NDEAM (National Disability Employment Awareness Month). Numerous Moose Jaw buildings will change their lighting, including City Hall and the Police Service.
