NEWS RELEASE
EMPOWER SIMCOE
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October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), a nationwide awareness campaign created to promote continuing conversation about disability inclusion in employment, in business and in our communities.
Once again, this year, we invite you to join Empower Simcoe, by lighting up your workplace, business, community organization, or home in blue and purple on Thursday, Oct. 17 as a symbol of the NDEAM movement.
Empower Simcoe’s administrative buildings at 39 Fraser Court, Barrie, and 35 West St. N., Orillia, will be lit up in blue and purple in support of NDEAM. Empower Simcoe employees and people and families receiving services will also be encouraged to wear blue or purple on Oct. 17.
Last year’s Light It Up! for NDEAM saw unprecedented participation across Canada — almost 700 locations illuminated in almost 150 communities, including the City of Barrie signature sign.
Despite the great efforts that have been made to diversify the Canadian labour force, according to Statistics Canada two in five Canadians experiencing disability are unemployed. More than half a million persons who experience disability are part of the skilled, educated and motivated untapped workforce urgently needed by employers across the country.
“With more and more Canadians retiring, every sector in every community is struggling to find workers,” says Empower Simcoe chief executive officer Dr. Claudine Cousins.
“Millions of Canadians who experience disability are already contributing to our economy, and over half a million more are ready and able to join the workforce. Diverse and inclusive workplaces benefit all workers and strengthen Canada’s economic productivity, resilience and innovation.”
Together, we can make Canadian workplaces as diverse as our communities by ensuring that all Canadians have equal opportunity to full citizenship, social inclusion, and sustained, meaningful employment.
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