On May 26, 2009 more than 85 people gathered at the Powell River Recreation Complex to celebrate diversity in the workplace through the Ability First! fair.
Watch the short video on You Tube:
The event began at 11 am with the more than 85 attendees and presenters networking. Much valuable information and contacts were made through the fifteen information booths, whilst everyone snacked on tasty fare provided by Powell River’s Loaves and Fishes catering and Safeway.
The fifteen information booths included:
* Career Link: Powell River Employment Program Society’s (PREP)
* Powell River Literacy Council (also PREP Society) on “Plain Language”
* Triumph Vocational
* Powell River Model Community Project for Persons with Disabilities
* The Powell River Disability Sports Club
* HandyDart
* The City of Powell River
* Vancouver Island University
* Pharmasave
* Alof!i Consultancy on Universal Design
* The Powell River Brain Injury Society
* Powell River Association for Community Living (PRACL)
* Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing
* Service Canada/ Youth Employment
* BC Ministry of Housing and Social Development
At 11:30 am, emcee Lyn Adamson called upon the attendees to gather and be seated to begin the presentation part of the event. The introduction was a short series of video clips describing the “10 by 10″ Challenge followed by video clips of persons with disabilities in the workplace. The schedule then moved to the presenters including Measuring Up Chairperson Joyce Carlson, PREP Society’s Deb Calderone, The MCP’s Laurie Marshall/ Laura Bradshaw, Christien Kaaij, Service Canada’s Francine Baxter and Mariah Beamer with BC Ministry of Housing and Social Development’s Murray Banks, Safeway’s Dave Tessman/ PRACL’s Connie Polman-Tuin. To see the program for the event, click here.
The presentations were peppered by Lyn Adamson’s entertaining and informative comments, ending with a draw for four door prizes that included: two sets of three recreation complex passes, an advertising package from Peak Publishing, a $50 gift certificate from Staples, an art bundle including an original painting by local artist Andre Denis and art cards and a special Vancouver Island University gift bag including a sweatshirt, pens and a travel mug.
The last presentation came in the form of a 15-minute screening of the film “Hired” produced by Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and featuring Steven Clarke, from Nanaimo BC, who was present with his companion for this event. Following the screening of this fun and informative film, the participants returned to the central space to try out the new sports wheelchairs and to snack and chat, while a slide show from PRACL and MCP played on the projection screen to music. Shaw Cable’s Brooke McGuire and our own event film-maker Jeremy Williams and his interviewer David Parkinson conducted interviews with some of the 15 service providers and guests.
To watch a short video on the event on You Tube! Click here (note that a transcribed and fully accessible 11 minute version is found only on http://prability.org)
If you did attend our May 26th event, please Click Here to take the Ability First! post-event survey.
Click here to listen to Joyce Carlson being interviewed on CBC regarding Ability First! (May 25, 2009 recording on CBC Almanac)
