Five local businesses were recognized for hiring and supporting people with disabilities at the 6th annual Inclusive Employer Excellence Awards (IEEA) held on October 3rd.

Approximately 200 people attended the morning event at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Centre, which was hosted and organized in partnership by Archway Community Services, Bethesda Christian Association, Communitas Supportive Care Society, Mission Association for Community Living and WorkBC Abbotsford/Mission.

“This annual event is about celebrating businesses that have demonstrated a genuine commitment to creating diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces,” says Stacey Murdoch, master of ceremonies for the event and employment manager with Communitas Supportive Care Society. “Many of the businesses in attendance hire the clients that we serve, so the event also recognizes their efforts in embracing inclusivity.”

Event Partners

Twenty-six businesses were nominated by the public in several categories. The 2024 award recipients are:

Outstanding Commitment to Inclusive Hiring

• Fraserway RV Abbotsford

Creative Workplace Accommodations

• You Care We Care Daycare

Community Champion for Inclusive Employment

• RONA – Fraser Valley Building Supplies (Mission)

Emergent Inclusive Employer

• Berryhill Foods

Inclusive Employer of the Year Award

• McDonald’s Abbotsford

Beyond celebrating these businesses, the IEEA serves as a platform to raise awareness within the business community about the benefits of inclusive hiring.

Keynote speaker, Annette Borrows, a member of Rotary At Work, discussed how much work still needs to be done to provide employment opportunities for those with disabilities.

“77% of people with diverse abilities that have developmental or intellectual disabilities are not currently employed and almost all of those individuals who are not employed want to be part of the community and paid to work in your business,” says Borrows.

Following Borrows’ keynote address, she moderated a panel discussion aimed at sharing real-world experiences from both employers and employees involved in inclusive employment.

Benjamin Mehrer, market people manager at McDonald’s, discussed how their franchise’s Abbotsford locations worked with employment specialists to hire four employees.

“It’s really about trying to find a role that is the right fit for our employees. We want to be able to find a role that works for them, so we start them in the dining room and see where their skills bring them,” says Mehrer.

Panel discussion moderated by Annette Borrows from Rotary At Work

Offering an employee perspective, Moninder Grewal shared his experience of being employed with Coast Capital Savings for the past three years and highlighted the importance of programs aimed at promoting inclusive hiring.

“When you work with an employer, you can boost your skills and confidence to do more in your community,” says Grewal.

Alison Davidson, vocational rehabilitation specialist with WorkBC, was one of the master of ceremonies of the event. She shared how the event has seen an increase in attendance from last year.

“Having nearly 200 attendees at this year’s awards breakfast is a clear reflection of a growing commitment to diversity and inclusion within the Abbotsford and Mission business community,” says Davidson.

The event was made possible with the sponsorship support of Rotary at Work, Inclusion BC, Community Futures Stó:lō, South Fraser, and North Fraser, Kal Tire, Fraserway RV, 107.1 Country FM and Abbotsford Canucks.

Creative Workplace Accommodations
You Care We Care Daycare