Inclusion Foothills recently recognized a handful of Foothills businesses' efforts in inclusive hiring.
The organization's first Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM) All-Star Celebration event was on Monday (Oct. 7) at the Crystal Shores Beach House.
While Inclusion Foothills has celebrated DEAM for a few years now, they wanted to step things up this year and hold an in-person event to celebrate inclusive employers.
Inclusion's Having Inclusive Rewarding Employment (HIRE) program involves working with people facing barriers to employment, but Inclusion Foothills' Executive Director Orvella Small says working with and supporting employers is just as important.
"It's a natural progression to go from being a child in school to being able to go out into the community and get a job, and that was the purpose of us working with businesses in the community and prepare them, even prior to an individual applying for a job, just prepare them and have them ready. It's a natural progression for anybody to want a job and to want to be able to pay taxes and give back. That's what we want for everybody that we serve."
The event was emceed by 99.7 Sun Country morning host Charlie Brown and featured an appearance from Chris Koch, a motivational speaker from Nanton.
Several local business owners were presented with All Star Partnership Awards:
- Tim Hortons - Kevin and Kim Generoux
- PetSmart, Okotoks - Steve Watt
- Cavalry FC Regional Field House - Tina Lamascus
- Michaels, Okotoks - Cara Skjaveland
- MCG Career Group - Natalie Bradbury
- Home Depot, Okotoks
- FIX Auto Repair, High River - Bill Wilkison
- Cactus Club Salon & Spa, Okotoks - Mandy Best
A big highlight for Small was being able to speak directly with local business owners about their experiences with inclusive hiring.
"It was very encouraging to talk to some of those businesses after, because I hadn't had the chance to talk to them before. One of them said 'Why wouldn't I,' which was a great response to asking about inclusive employment. He said 'It would be a natural thing for me,' and he talked to me afterwards and said the gentleman that they had hired is just one of the gang, he's treated like everybody else, same expectations, and it's all in how you talk to the person you have on the job, so it was quite encouraging to talk to him and his wife."
With hundreds of businesses having worked with Inclusion Foothills over the years, Small hopes to see the event grow to include many more inclusive employers in the coming years.
DEAM month is now officially recognized by the towns of Okotoks, High River, and Diamond Valley.