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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, March 27, 2014 | 16 Joint venture makes bid to businesses for inclusion by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff Celebrating employment diversity and inclusion was the aim of a recent joint-venture gala in Oakville. The event was hosted by Community Living Oakville (CLO), STRIDE (Support Training and Rehabilitation in Diverse Environments) and The Bennett EDGE Team, a provincial government service provider charged with connecting those with challenges, with employment. The gala, held at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites in Oakville, was an opportunity for local business people to network and explore new relationships, with the hope of inspiring them to employ those with disabilities, mental health issues and other challenges. Tim Hortons franchisee Mark Wafer was a keynote speaker, who addressed the benefits of hiring people facing challenges. Irene Cvetkovski-Dukic, director of day services at Community Living Oakville (CLO), said it is important to reach out to the community to engage people in a conversation about providing equal opportunity for everyone. Often there are preconceived notions and stereotypes about some people and the event was an opportunity to speak about it openly, to break down barriers and encourage people to learn about the rewards of employing people with a disability and others facing challenges in their lives. From left, Tim Hortons franchisee and keynote speaker Mark Wafer, Mike Bennett, owner of The Bennett EDGE Team, Community Living Oakville (CLO) Director of Services Irene Cvetkovski-Dukic, Ontario Employment Disability Network Executive Director Joe Dale, and Manager of South Halton STRIDE Mark Cox during an inspiring evening hosted by CLO, STRIDE and The Bennett EDGE, to celebrate diversity and inclusion of employment with community partners. | photo by Nikki Wesley ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) "It's about learning the importance for those people to have a meaningful day," she said, noting change will likely not happen without awareness and knowledge. Cvetkovski-Dukic said many people feel a job gives them purpose and feel defined by their role. "If we bridge the gap, we create a stronger community," she said. Pat Glover, director of Munn's Child Care Centre, shared with the Oakville Beaver how the non-profit has benefited from employing people with disabilities, who are just as skilled, motivated, eager and ambitious as anyone else. The centres have had a partnership with CLO for the last five years, connecting people with disabilities with maintenance work that needs to be done around Munn's Child Care Centre's two locations in Oakville, she explained. Glover noted how dedicated and punctual the workers have been and how well the job is done in maintaining the gardens, removing graffiti and other general tasks. It makes sense for the child care centre to be inclusive, especially when there are children at the centre with special needs, she said, adding it's beneficial for everyone and she wouldn't hesitate recommending it to other businesses. DeGroote MBA Spring OPEN HOUSE Come experience the DeGroote MBA first-hand during our "MBA for a day" event Saturday, March 29, 2014 8:00am ­ 12:00pm DeGroote School of Business, Ron Joyce Centre, 4350 South Service Rd., Burlington, ON L7L 5R8 BECOME A MARKET READY GRADUATE AT McMASTER An MBA from McMaster's DeGroote School of Business prepares graduates to meet challenges and seize opportunities ­ graduates who are market ready. As Canada's premiere Co-op MBA school our students gain real world experience and develop a sense of innovation and creativity that allows them to bring a fresh perspective that is desired by employers. Register for our Spring Open House through the DeGroote MBA Insider at: www.mcmastermba.ca