Three organizations are coming together for a day of social inclusion in Barry’s Bay.
Employment First – the Key to Social Inclusion is a collaboration between the Madawaska Valley Association for Community Living, Access Work Service and Tyerman and Daughters Inc. Rural Outreach Employment Services.
The event is on Wednesay, October 21st and is designed to show employers, job hunters, agencies and the community the benefits of hiring people with disabilities.
The day is starting-out with a free business owners’ breakfast at the Opeongo Seniors Centre. It will feature a panel of representatives from three Barry’s Bay businesses: Patricia Whitfield from the Vintage Shoppe, Neil O’Reilly from Metro and Peter Glofcheskie from Lorraine’s Pharmasave.
A spokersperson for the event says hiring those with employment barriers helps them make their own money while also building friendships and feelings of value. She went on to say those with employment barriers can become some of the most dependable workers.
The breakfast will be followed by an afternoon of presentations from local agencies at Activities+. There will be An Evening of Inspiration at the seniors centre with speaker and Executive Director of the Ontario Disabilities Employment Network Joe Dale. For more information on how you can get involved, click here.
(Written by Amanda Lorbetski)