1. Ash MacLeod - Managing Partner MB Inc.

2. Operating in the Downtown Eastside Since 1957.
A social enterprise focussed on food security and upward mobility

3. Provide 850+ meals, 365 year
Funded through BC Housing / Atira
A Better Life Foundation

4. We have a mission to end hunger in our community - ambitious, but possible. We’ve surpassed 2M meals and counting.

5. Recognize the opportunity to address our labour shortage with an untapped labour force.
Joined the President’s Group to have a voice at the table

7. The Benefits
Improved Productivity - Research shows that diverse and inclusive workplaces are:
2x more likely to meet or exceed financial targets.
6x more likely to be innovative.
6x more likely to effectively anticipate change.
People with Disabilities Make Great Employees – Among employees with disabilities:
Staff retention was 72% higher.
86% had average or better attendance.
90% performed equal or better than their coworkers without disabilities.
Expanded Consumer Reach
The spending power of people with disabilities is $55 billion dollars.
90% of consumers prefer to engage with companies that hire people with disabilities.
Attracting Employees During a Labour Shortage:
There are close to one million job openings expected in BC by 2025.
614,630 working-age British Columbians (15-64) have a disability, or 20.5% of the population. (This was the seventh highest rate of disability in Canada, but was still above the national average of 18.8%.)
People with disabilities represent an important employee talent pool that is largely untapped.

8. President’s Group - Background
Formed in 2013, The Presidents Group (PG) is a network of business leaders in B.C. who are focused on increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities and creating a more accessible consumer marketplace. As part of their work, they look to:
Improve human resource practices within businesses by identifying innovative workforce strategies that support all employees and enhance productivity.
Identify barriers and solutions for businesses when hiring persons with disabilities.
Create opportunities for the Province, in partnership with B.C. businesses, to improve supports for employers in order to support the hiring of people with disabilities.

9. Some really big players, who are able to make a significant impact and are committed to the mission.
As well as small business, which makes up the largest employment in the province and are critical to hitting goals.

10. Federal Accessibility Legislation Submission
Presidents Group members met with Minister Qualtrough, former Federal Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities on January 16th, 2017 to discuss the federal government’s commitment to introducing accessibility legislation.
The Presidents Group submitted its thoughts on federal accessibility legislation during the federal consultation, which closed February 28, 2017.
On November 27, Bill C-81, the Accessible Canada Act passed in the House of Commons and now moves to the Senate.
The Presidents Group supports an approach to federal accessibility legislation that provides clarity and consistency for businesses, while focusing on awareness and culture change.
Close relationship to the Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction

12. www.accessibleemployers.ca Stories & Case Studies
Adapting the Workplace
Co-op Programs & Internships
Organizational Culture
Employee Supports & Accommodations
Hiring
Training
Articles and Templates
A plethora of information compiled by real life experiences from leaders in the industry, sharing their actual experiences and compiling their proven solutions into an accessible resource.

14. www.accessibleemployers.ca - Getting Started

15. www.accessibleemployers.ca - Building Momentum

16. www.accessibleemployers.ca - Fully Engaged

17. Community of Accessible Employers
Since 2013, the Presidents Group has served as an advisory committee to government with the goal of increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Presidents Group members realized there was a strong desire in the business community to have a place where employers could connect with other employers to share successes, ask questions and learn from each other about how to create inclusive, accessible workplaces.
In response, the Presidents Group created the Community of Accessible Employers. This community is open to anyone in the business community who is interested in learning more about the benefits of becoming an accessible employer.

18. Provides an unmatched resources to help our small business navigate the sometimes complex challenge of hiring people with disabilities.
Enabling us to take advantage of a valuable labour pool, in a critical time for our industry
Offered the opportunity to have a voice at the table and platform to share our successes and challenges with our community.

19. Ash MacLeod - ash@markbrandinc.com