In 2024, tourism was the fifth-largest industry in the world by revenue, and the largest industry globally by employment. Here in Canada, tourism contributes $102 billion to the economy, and generates over 745,000 jobs in communities across the country. A tourism industry report noted, more often than not, it’s in the front-line jobs where people…
Author: Dean Askin
Driven by vision of fully inclusive Ontario, eager to get down to business building on ODEN accomplishments WHITBY, ON — After an extensive executive search process, the Ontario Disability Employment Network’s (ODEN) Board of Directors is pleased to announce Amy Widdows has been selected as the new permanent CEO of ODEN, effectively immediately. Widdows had been…
In the Province of Ontario, Canada, the twentieth anniversary of legislation that was supposed to make the province fully accessible by 2025 came and went in January with Ontario being nowhere near fully accessible for people who have a disability. Over in France, with disability groups protesting in Paris on the eve of the twentieth…
In our first episode of the 2025 season, we’re jumping right into the controversial fray of things. We’re tackling a timely topic that’s literally dividing people and an entire country. There’s been a lot of controversy, destructive action…and destructive conversation on social media about diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI. This episode is part one…
We’ve made discovering out podcast easier! Now you have two ways to check out episodes of You Can’t Spell Inclusion Without a D: Browse through the podcast archive to learn about the topic of and guests on each episode; or Listen to, download and share multiple episodes from seasons one to five with the embedded…
Ontario Disability Employment Network Receives $1 Million Grant to Expand Project SEARCH Initiative That Readies Youth Who Have a Disability for Success in Work Force Five-year project is a “win-win” that will help create more inclusive workplaces in Ontario; help youth achieve full potential; help businesses build talent pipelines to meet future labour needs WHITBY,…
Posted by Dean Askin | Reading time: 5:00 | Filed under Inclusive Hiring In every company, the CEO (or the business owner, if it’s a small business) must be the primary champion of disability-inclusive hiring. They need to be intentional about it. And they need a high level of disability awareness and confidence as well…
The newcomer community in Canada is huge. In 2022, the country welcomed 431,645 new permanent residents — the largest number in one year — in Canadian history. The last time Canada welcomed that many newcomers was over a century ago, in 1913. There was a time when almost all immigrants to Canada came from Europe….
You can’t explore intersectionality without talking about disability among Canada’s Aboriginal people — the Inuit and First Nations. An estimated 30% of Canada’s Indigenous population, or 420,000 people, live with a disability or functional limitation. So just what is the perception and definition of disability in the Inuit and First Nation cultures and communities? How…
Posted by Dean Askin | Reading time: 5:00 | Filed under Inclusive Hiring Canada is known as “Hollywood North.” That’s because so many television shows and series, and theatrical and television films have been, and are filmed, in this country. They include Supernatural, Schitt’s Creek, Hudson and Rex, Deadpool, Star Trek Beyond, Star Trek Discovery…
