October is Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM) and Strathcona County, Edmonton, Leduc and Beaumont will be taking a proactive approach to raise awareness about the job market challenges faced by individuals living and the promotion of inclusive employment practices.
Throughout the month, several local landmarks will be illuminated in red to symbolize the importance of DEAM. The High Level Bridge will be bathed in red on October 16, while Strathcona City Hall will remain lit in red for the entire month of October. Additionally, a DEAM flag-raising ceremony will be held at Strathcona County City Hall on October 1st.
To further emphasize the community’s commitment to inclusivity, local elected officials will be participating in various places that individuals living with developmental disabilities work in Edmonton, Beaumont, Leduc, and Sherwood Park. These hands-on opportunities for local officials aim to foster understanding and empathy for the unique challenges people face as well as the strengths that individuals living with disabilities have.
Key DEAM events and activities include:
- Rally and Proclamation: A rally will be held on Tuesday, September 16 at 12:30pm in Sherwood Park . This is to help raise public awareness and advocate for inclusive employment practices. The rally will begin at the Strathcona County Library and culminate at the County Hall for the official DEAM proclamation.
- Inclusive Employment in Practice: Local elected officials will participate in various locations that have hired people living with intellectual disabilities throughout the month, gaining first hand insights into the challenges and rewards of inclusive employment.
- Landmark Illuminations: The High Level Bridge and Strathcona City Hall will be illuminated in red in October to symbolize DEAM.
By highlighting these initiatives, Strathcona County, Edmonton, Beaumont, and Leduc aim to inspire employers and the community to embrace diversity and create inclusive workplaces where individuals living with disabilities can thrive.
I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the following individuals for their participation in Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM). Your involvement has been instrumental in raising awareness about the importance of employment for people with developmental disabilities.
- MP Garnett Genius and MLA Kyle Kasawski
- Mayors: Rod Frank, Bill Daneluik, Amarjeet Sohi, and Bob Young
- Councillors: Robert Parks, Lorne Harvey, Aaron Nelson, Bill Tonita,Dave Anderson, Anne Stevenson, Katie Berghofer, Aaron Nelson, Keren Tang, Erin Rutherford, Jennifer Rice, Corey Ann Hartwick, Glen Anderson,Glen Lawrence, Jo-anne Wright, Sarah Hamilton, and Andrew Knack
The rally will be held
TUESDAY, September 16 @ 12:30pm
Please join us to spread awareness about persons living with disabilities, and their lack of meaningful employment. This Rally will begin at the Sherwood Park Library and continue to the Staples Parking lot on Baseline Road before returning to the County Hall, for the official proclamation. This Rally will commence at 12:30 pm sharp, so please arrive on time. There will be signs available or feel free to make your own. Please come out and join us to help spread this awareness.
I hope that you will have time to come out and cover some of these events to help bring awareness to what employment means to people that have had to struggle to attain it.
Winder Inclusive Communities Service