Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility

Inclusivity Works

Empower – Welcome – Include

HomeServicesInclusivity Works

Through its Inclusivity Works project, Collège Boréal and its partners raise awareness among employers about inclusion and support people with disabilities in finding employment and advancing their careers.

The project is funded by the Government of Canada through Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) under the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities.

The project aims to reach more than 500 businesses and organizations. It includes three complementary streams:

Stream 1: Access to employment

This stream supports people with disabilities or people from diverse backgrounds in their job search. It provides personalized support, employability services, and job-matching services with partner employers.

👉 Register

Stream 2: Building employer awareness

This stream helps employers diversify their teams and create inclusive, accessible workplaces. They gain access to:

  • Training sessions and awareness workshops for all employees
  • A resource toolkit on workplace accessiblity and inclusion
  • Support services for human resources professionals, including information about legislation protecting the rights of people with disabilities
  • Guidance on retaining employees and supporting their professional development

👉 Register my organization

Stream 3: Career advancement

This stream supports people with disabilities or people from diverse backgrounds who are already employed. It helps them navigate their careers and pursue advancement opportunities.

👉 Register

In addition to its positive impact beyond the college’s walls, Inclusivity Works enables College Boréal to strengthen collaboration among the departments working throughout its service area to support and promote inclusivity.

About Inclusivity Works

With workplace accessibility and inclusion resource toolkits, training sessions, workshops, and more, this project better equips employers and employment service providers to provide services to people with disabilities. Additionally, employers who register for the project can benefit from awareness workshops for all their employees, dedicated support services for their human resources managers (including information on the legal provisions for the rights of people with disabilities) and guidance for professional development and retention of people with disabilities.

Objective of the Inclusivity Works project

Collège Boréal’s Inclusivity Works project is designed to assist employers in diversifying their workplaces and creating professional environments that are both inclusive and accessible to people with disabilities. It provides tools and best practices to employers and employment service providers likely to work with people with disabilities. Continuing until May 2026, Inclusivity Works is funded by Employment and Social Development Canada and was developed in collaboration with STRIDE, the Ontario Disability Employment Network and NorQuest College – Autism CanTech!.

Inclusivity Works hopes to reach nearly 500 businesses and organizations and assist employers in diversifying their workplaces and creating professional environments that are both inclusive and accessible to people with disabilities and other forms of diversity.

Our team

Our team includes a project manager acting as team lead, plus three inclusion support officers. The inclusion support officers promote the services of the Inclusivity Works project to Ontario’s employers and employment service providers in their respective regions of Ontario. They educate and inform employers and employment service providers about accessibility and inclusion and encourage them to adopt accessibility and inclusion policies and practices in order to be make positive contributions toward and take part in having a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Team members

Roxanne Santos

Roxanne Santos

Manager, EDI/RPA (Equity, diversity, inclusion / Indigenous relations)
  • Phone
    705-560-6673, ext. 2810
  • Email
    roxanne.santos@collegeboreal.ca
Imane Zerouali Boukhal

Imane Zerouali Boukhal

Planning and Performance Specialist
  • Region
    Northern Ontario Chelmsford, Elliot Lake, Espanola, Kapuskasing, Manitoulin, Noëlville, Sturgeon Falls, Sudbury, Timmins, Val Caron
  • Email
    imane.zeroualiboukhal@collegeboreal.ca
Shaghayegh Mardasi

Shaghayegh Mardasi

Inclusion support officer
  • Region
    Central Ontario Barrie, Mississauga, Toronto
  • Email
    shaghayegh.mardasi@collegeboreal.ca
Basile Bakumbane

Basile Bakumbane

Inclusion support officer
  • Region
    Southwestern Ontario Hamilton, London, Windsor
  • Email
    basile.bakumbane@collegeboreal.ca

Awareness sessions and in-depth IDEA training series

Please note that all our trainings are also available in French. You can access them via our events list on Eventbrite.

 

Stay tuned! More training sessions are on their way, including one on neurodiversity in the workplace that was developed by NorQuest College’s Autism CanTech! program.

Awareness session

Building Bridges: Introduction to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility in the Workplace

This 1.5-hour awareness session explores key concepts of inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA), emphasizing the significant impact of accessibility on creating opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The session combines self-reflection, interactive exercises and group discussions so that participants will leave with actionable insights for implementing IDEA principles in their organizations. Participants will be better equipped to foster a workplace that not only values diversity but actively promotes equity, inclusion and accessibility for all.

In-depth training series

Breaking Stigmas: Understanding Mental Health and Substance Use in the Workplace 

In the dynamic landscape of the modern workplace, leaders play a pivotal role in creating a supportive environment for their employees’ mental health and managing issues along the substance use spectrum. This 3-hour in-depth training session aims to equip employers with the knowledge, understanding and practical tools needed to proactively support employees facing mental health and substance use challenges, fostering a workplace that prioritizes well-being and productivity. The session employs a combination of self-reflection activities, interactive exercises, real-life scenarios and group discussions to ensure that participants can apply their knowledge effectively in real workplace situations.

Developed by STRIDE, translated and led by the Inclusivity Works team


Building a Culture of Inclusion: Leadership Best Practices 

Discover the transformative power of inclusive leadership with our 3-hour in-depth training session. It will give you the knowledge and understanding you need to create a workplace environment where every person feels valued and included. You will learn practical skills for accommodating and communicating effectively with people with disabilities, as well as strategies for overcoming the systemic barriers they may face in the workplace. The session also explores the importance of challenging our unconscious biases and fostering a culture of understanding and respect. At the end of the session, you will be equipped to foster inclusion and equity and create empowering workplaces for individuals of all abilities. Join us and give yourself the tools you need to become an inclusive and inspiring leader.


Vaincre les préjugés : les pratiques inclusives de recrutement et intégration 

In this 3-hour in-depth training session, you will explore the principles and key strategies of inclusive recruitment to attract and retain a diverse talent pool. You will deconstruct bias in job descriptions, implement inclusive interview techniques and more as you learn actionable ways to ensure equitable opportunities for all applicants. You will also explore the importance of fostering a recruitment culture of belonging and inclusion, which leads to happier teams and higher organizational performance. At the end of the session, you will come away with the knowledge and tools you need to create positive change, promote diversity and attract talent that reflects the rich diversity of human experience. Join us and find out how you can give your organization inclusive recruitment practices and a more equitable future.


Breaking Barriers: The Essentials of Workplace Accessibility 

Join us for a day-long in-depth training session on workplace accessibility, and learn how to cultivate a work environment that’s accessible for all, regardless of their abilities. In this session, we’ll dive into the principles of universal design, spending particular time on the importance of creating environments and work tools that can be used by people with a range of abilities. Get ready to explore the core aspects of digital accessibility, including guidelines for creating accessible websites, documents and multimedia content. Through practical examples and interactive exercises, you’ll acquire the skills you need to design and develop digital resources that can be read, used and understood by all users. By the end of the session, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and skills you need to promote accessibility initiatives in your workplace and foster a culture of inclusion and belonging for people of all abilities. Join us and find out how you can create accessible workplaces that empower every individual to thrive and make their own unique contributions!

Events

You can find us at many job fairs and festivals across Ontario. If you would like to have us at an event you are planning, reach out to us here!

FAQ

If you still have any unanswered questions, reach out to us here!

Who can take these trainings?

The Building Bridges training is open to everyone!

Our in-person services are only offered in Ontario, but we offer online trainings that can be accessed across Canada and around the world.

Are there any registration fees?

No. All of our services and sessions are provided free of charge.

When I sign up for a session, am I also signing up for the project as a whole?

You only have to fill out the project activity registration form once for access to all of the project’s activities and resources. For our in-depth training series, fill out the Inclusivity Works project registration form for access to all of the project’s materials.

Signing up for a training on Eventbrite is an easy way to save your spot at a specific upcoming training or event. When you sign up, you will need to provide your information and confirm that you plan to attend. Event organizers can manage the logistics from there and send you any information you need.

For full access to Inclusivity Works resources and support, sign up directly for the project. Fill out the form just once and enjoy all the assistance you need to implement and maintain inclusivity initiatives in your organization.

Why are these trainings important? Why does IDEA matter?

you access to many IDEA awareness sessions, trainings and workshops, completely Companies can only thrive, innovate and attract top talent when they fully embrace workplace diversity. Organizations that implement IDEA (inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility) in their workplace see improved retention rates, increased productivity, reduced absenteeism and a generally more positive work culture.

Did you know that people with disabilities are the largest minority group in the world? Anyone can acquire a disability and become a part of this group at some point in their lives, even if only temporarily. Let’s look at some numbers that speak volumes about the importance of inclusion and accessibility initiatives like ours.

In Canada, 27% of people live with a disability. That’s 8 million people, up 4.7% from 2017. This means a considerable part of our population faces unique barriers to employment.

Over 644,000 Canadians with disabilities are ready to work. Only 62% of people with disabilities who can work are employed, however, compared to 78% of people without disabilities.

According to the 2022 Canadian Survey on Disability, 45% of people with disabilities reported difficulties in meeting their financial obligations.

These numbers show how urgently we need to fill these gaps and create more inclusive, accessible and equitable workplaces for all. Our team is here to support you in your efforts to build an exceptionally inclusive workplace by offering free of charge.

References

EN: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/231201/dq231201b-eng.htm

FR: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/231201/dq231201b-fra.htm

Do I get a certificate for attending the trainings?

Yes. You will get a certificate of completion for every training you take.

Do you offer employer subsidies?

Unfortunately, we don’t. But our services include free trainings and additional support tailored to each employer’s needs. Reach out to us and we will be happy to refer you to other services that might be helpful.

How will the information I enter into the registration form be used?

The project receives funding from Employment and Social Development Canada, and their project team needs to see the form information to be able to measure the project’s results and assess the success of the initiative. Collège Boréal also needs this information to support the project and its goals.

Do you offer trainings upon request? Can you adjust the dates/times and content?

Yes. Reach out and let us know what your organization needs.

Can we share your project information with our employees and other employers?

Be a role model to your staff and contact us for enhanced support in the form of training for your organization. Feel free to link other employers to this webpage, the project registration form and the training selection form. However, do not share the Outlook invitation for a session with another person; they will need to register for the training themselves.

Where do your project funds come from?

We are funded by Employment and Social Development Canada. Click here to learn more.

What trainings do you offer? How long are they?
  • Building Bridges / Passerelles – 1.5 h
  • Breaking Stigmas / Briser la stigmatisation – 3 h
  • Building a Culture of Inclusion / Créer une culture d’inclusion – 3 h
  • Breaking Bias / Faire tomber les préjugés – 3 h
  • Breaking Barriers / Briser les barrières – 6 h (lunch break included / pause dîner incluse)
  • Neurodiversity / Neurodiversité – 3 h
Are your trainings available in both English and French?

Yes! Choose whichever language you prefer for your trainings.

 

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