Pour la version française de cet article, veuillez cliquer ici. | For the French version of this post, please click here.
It All Began with the Notion of Conversations
In 2015, CASE board members sought a way to increase engagement between job seekers experiencing disability and employers. They liked the concept behind Ten Thousand Coffees that facilitates informal conversations between job seekers and decision-makers in a field of interest.
The CASE board decided to explore this concept in the supported employment space through pilot projects in British Colombia and Saskatchewan. Encouraged by the impacts of these pilots, CASE applied for and received Government of Canada funding through the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities.
The MentorAbility Canada initiative was launched in 2019!
We are presently in the second phase of this successful national initiative that brings job seekers and employers together to strengthen connections, confidence, and employment inclusion.
We’ve Reached 1,000 Mentorships!
We are celebrating MentorAbility’s 1,000th mentorship this October during Disability Employment Awareness Month. Let’s tell you about that 1,000th mentorship experience that occurred during the spring of 2024, because it embodies all the elements we love about MentorAbility.
The Ins and Outs of Plumbing in New Brunswick
Ryan thought he might be interested in becoming a plumber and wanted to know more about the ins and outs of plumbing in New Brunswick (NB). He met with a MentorAbility mentorship facilitator at a local employment services organization, and together they explored mentorship opportunities.
The mentorship facilitator arranged for Ryan to meet with a training officer at Skilled Trades NB. The training officer explained the education and technical skills needed to advance through each level of the trade and the on-the-job hours required to obtain a Red Seal. They discussed the differences between commercial and residential work and how the plumbing trade is organized in the province.
Spurred by that mentorship, Ryan wanted to learn more. The facilitator organized a job shadowing mentorship with a local company, Matrix Mechanical Group. Ryan spent a day with his mentor, Harrison, going on job sites and learning the day-to-day of being a plumber.
“Matrix Mechanical went above and beyond for Ryan. They not only took him to various job sites but had him in for a mock interview to practice his interview skills and to ensure they matched him with the best mentor. I couldn’t ask for a more inclusive employer who looks for ways to support their community.”
Mentorship Facilitator
Photo above: Ryan is on the left and Harrison of Matrix Mechanical Group is on the right. Thank you to Jennifer Fox from Hire Potential who coordinated the photo shoot!
All Participants Benefit from MentorAbility Mentorships
These two mentorships provided Ryan with the information he needed to decide whether to pursue plumbing. And MentorAbility mentorships do so much more.
Mentees make professional connections and increase their self-esteem, in addition to gaining a better understanding of next steps in their job or career pursuits.
Mentors and employers gain knowledge about disability inclusion and build connections with employment service providers. Networking events connect employers to discuss challenges and successes.
Mentorship facilitators gain a career exploration tool, expand professional and business networks, and learn to engage employers and communicate the benefits of hiring persons experiencing disability.
Communities gain inclusive workplaces, the energy and creativity of more workers, and strengthened social and economic networks and supports.
MentorAbility: More than the Number of Mentorships
MentorAbility Canada is more than the number of mentorships. MentorAbility embodies the passion and energy of all service providers and employers who have been championing mentorship experiences since 2019.
Through MentorAbility mentorships, all employers and mentors over the years have demonstrated that they value the interest and skills that persons experiencing disability bring to their sectors and their communities.
MentorAbility Hubs and partners and hundreds of local supported employment service providers across Canada have invested in MentorAbility. They have helped to increase inclusion in their communities and to strengthen the social and economic networks and supports for persons experiencing disability.
Join us in celebrating this important milestone!
Thank you for your commitment to MentorAbility and for sharing the power to transform career development for persons experiencing disability, all of which has enabled this incredible milestone.