In time for National AccessAbility Week (May 28 to June 3) business owners throughout the province can access information about becoming more inclusive in their workplaces through the new inclusive economy project.
According to a media release from the provincial ministry of post-secondary education and future skills, inclusion Powell River is leading a province-wide effort to raise awareness about accessibility in the workplace and is inviting BC employers to become more inclusive and equitable. Inclusive hiring supports Accessibility 2024, the provincial government’s vision of becoming the most accessible province in Canada for people with disabilities, including having the highest labour-participation rate.
“Most inclusive employment projects focus on people with disabilities gaining new skills and being ready for employment, which we fully support, but often we do not consider employers and what role they play in creating and maintaining disability-inclusive work,” stated Corinna Curtis, chief executive officer, inclusion Powell River. “This project is about exploring with employers what they may be able to alter in their current practices to engage a more diverse workforce and discovering what supports are needed to make that happen.”
The business community in BC will be able to hear directly from employers who are implementing disability inclusion in the workplace, stated Selina Robinson, provincial minister of post secondary education and future skills.
“They will have the opportunity to hear how disability inclusion enriches the workplace and creates excellent employees,” stated Robinson.
Throughout June 2023, employers can attend free in-person workshops in a business-to-business roadshow hosted in 10 communities to learn about becoming more inclusive. Workshops will be held in Powell River, Surrey, Vancouver, Prince George, Smithers, Terrace, Kelowna, Cranbrook, Fort St. John and Victoria.
“People with disabilities deserve good job opportunities,” stated Sheila Malcolmson, minister of social development and poverty reduction. “Helping employers remove barriers to the workplace means more people with disabilities can work and participate in their communities.”
The province, through the sector labour market partnerships program, is providing more than $803,000 to inclusion Powell River to engage with businesses to expand accessibility in the workplace and to deliver a research report.
Self-employed people, employers in BC, and people who identify as having a disability, are all welcome to participate in their community’s events, the release stated. The new inclusive economy project provides support to anyone who needs it to attend project events. People are encouraged to preregister so facilitators can provide accessibility accommodation.
The provincial government, with funding through the Canada-BC Labour Market Development Agreement, invests $6 million annually to support industry-led projects under the sector labour market partnerships program, which supports workforce development and ensures all British Columbians, especially vulnerable and under-represented groups, have access to inclusive and equitable workforce opportunities, according to the release.
To learn about the new inclusive economy business-to-business roadshow, go to newinclusiveeconomy.ca/contact-us/rsvp.
