Success stories
The Minister's Council invites you - city officials, employers, persons with disabilities, service providers and all those involved in the 10 by 10 Challenge - to share your success stories.
We want to hear how the Challenge is affecting positive change in your community. For example, tell us about:
- committees that have been created to support the Challenge in your community or organization;
- events and meetings that have been held;
- jobs that have been filled by persons with disabilities as a result of the work your community or organization has done to meet the Challenge; and
- employers who are doing a great job in hiring people with disabilities.
Read about the 10 by 10 successes other communities and employers are experiencing across the province.
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Success story! - City of Abbotsford
47 people with disabilities have been hired since the 10 By 10 Challenge began in Abbotsford in October 2007. This is 16 % of the target of 283 people. A project funded through Measuring Up is exploring ways to recognize local businesses that go above and beyond in hiring people with disabilities and being physically accessible. A newly created 10 by 10 brochure will be mailed out at the end of January, along with a letter from Abbotsford's Mayor to encourage all businesses to the challenge.
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Success story! - City of Langley and The Township of Langley |
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10 BY 10 CHALLENGE PAYING OFF
The smile on his face says it all.
The 10 by 10 Challenge has its first Langley success story-Derek Harmsworth, a sander at the True North Furniture Company.
Earlier this year, Derek was hired by the Gloucester manufacturer after True North staff read an article on the 10 by 10 Challenge in the local newspaper.
"We had a job available that we felt would work well for an individual with a disability," said True North's Andrew Nasedkin. "With the job market being so tight, we are always looking to tap into new areas to find employees."
The 10 by 10 Challenge is a provincial government initiative to increase employment for people with a disability by 10 per cent by 2010. Intrigued by the program, Nasedkin's company contacted Tami Logan of the Langley Association for Community Living to see if she had any suitable candidates.
Derek Harmsworth immediately came to Logan's mind. An H.D. Stafford grad, Harmsworth has always enjoyed woodwork. The three-day-a-week sanding job has been a perfect fit.
"I like the people here," Harmsworth said. "They're very nice."
Nasedkin and Logan set up an interview and a work experience leading to employment. Over the course of a few weeks, Logan assisted Harmsworth to learn the job and interact with True North staff.
"Tami was here throughout that time, so we didn't have to dedicate any extra staff to training," said Nasedkin. "After that, Derek knew the job and has been doing great."
The Langley Association for Community Living is a non-profit organization that provides services to children with special needs, adults with developmental disabilities, and their families. Its Partners in Employment Services assists individuals with developmental disabilities in the pursuit and attainment of their career goals by offering employment planning, marketing, job training and maintenance, and liaisons with employers and participants.
"It has to be a good job match for something like this to work," said Logan. "True North has been absolutely excellent in assisting Derek. They have scheduled his shifts to accommodate transportation and taken time to ensure Derek is part of their team."
This spring, both the Township of Langley and the City of Langley accepted the Province's 10 by 10 Challenge to increase the number of people with disabilities in the local workforce by ten per cent by 2010. A joint committee was formed with several agencies, including the Langley Association for Community Living, Stepping Stone Community Services Society, the Regional Disabled Person Society, Kwantlen University College, and the Rick Hansen Foundation.
The 10 by 10 Committee, chaired by Kwantlen's Fraser Crinklaw, is currently developing a plan to meet the province's target.
"Stories like Derek's are why we took this challenge," said Jordan Bateman, Township of Langley Council's representative on the 10 by 10 Committee. "Over the next few years, we expect to hear more and more good news as the efforts of our community bear fruit."
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Success story! - Municipality of Whistler
Council accepted the 10 by 10 Challenge, on behalf of the Whistler community, to increase the number of employed persons with disabilities by 10 percent by 2010. The Whistler's Accessibility Committee has endorsed the challenge and while the Resort Municipality Of Whistler may not be able to meet the challenge on its own, the Chamber of Commerce will work with their members to help meet the challenge.
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Success story! - City of Armstrong
Mayor and Council received a presentation from Mr. Eric Greenwood, Member of Armstrong Rotary as well as an Employment Counsellor from North Okanagan Outreach Services Society, which is under the organizational umbrella of the Kindale Developmental Association, in which Mr. Greenwood advised Council that the Armstrong Rotary Club has partnered with Kindale Developmental Association to support their initiative entitled "Disabilities Employment Network: Promoting Employment for People with Disabilities". Mr. Greenwood introduced Mr. Peter Burton who has been hired through North Okanagan Outreach Services Society to specifically implement this program.
Rotary has an example of a very successful program like this being sponsored in Alberta and are very pleased to support the initiative, Mr.Greenwood said. "Council was asked to show our Communities support by passing the 10 x 10 Challenge Resolution and signing the proclamation".
Council passed the Resolution that night and Mayor Oglow was pleased to sign the Proclamation. Our Community has now been registered as accepting the 10 x 10 Challenge. This has been reported in the local media.
The Rotary intends to assist Kindale and Mr. Burton further by co-hosting a Job Fair and a Community dialogue using the 2010 legacies 'Now Measuring Up Guide'.
Submit Your Success Story |
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