Light It Up! For NDEAM Shines Purple and Blue Light Nationwide on How Disability is Driving the Future of Work; Over 280 Locations in 96 Communities Taking Part

Federal government illuminating over 30 buildings across Canada; provincial government buildings in Ontario and Manitoba being lit; world-famous landmarks nationwide participating again this year

(Editors and writers note: the full list of Light It Up! For NDEAM participating locations is attached at the end of this news release.) 

Whitby, ON, October 13, 2022 — There’s no other event quite like this one during National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) in Canada — on October 20, Light It Up! For NDEAM® 2022 will shine a nationwide light on the fact that disability is changing the nature of the workforce and driving the future of work more than ever before. 

Light It Up! For NDEAM is literally shining a spotlight on the need for businesses to embrace the change that’s happening. Businesses that don’t make disability-inclusive hiring part of their strategic plan for growth and success, will miss market opportunities and alienate a growing consumer market,” emphasizes Jeannette Campbell, CEO of the Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN). 

“They’ll also be perpetuating their labour shortage by not accessing the disability talent pool. Overall, they won’t be well positioned for continued success,” she affirms. “Light It Up! For NDEAM recognizes the valuable contributions that people who have a disability make to businesses and the communities they serve, enabling those businesses to be successful now and in the future.” 

Over 280 structures in 95 communities across all 10 provinces and the Northwest Territories — office buildings, businesses, government buildings, bridges, municipal signs, town and city halls; public spaces and world-famous Canadian landmarks across the nation — will be specially illuminated in this annual co-ordinated event held the third Thursday of every October.  

Light It Up! For NDEAM does much more than simply raise awareness about the businesssuccess and social importance of disability-inclusive hiring for one night only during National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Campbell says. 

“It’s fast-becoming a movement that sparks ongoing engagement and conversation about disability-inclusive hiring between many community agencies and businesses, and local governments, all over Canada.”   

“This has a lasting effect that can affect change, which is vital,” she adds. “Lack of access to employment is still a major barrier for people who have a disability.  

Nationally, approximately 6.2 million Canadians (22%) have a disability. That’s expected to rise to 25% by 2025. It means businesses are going to have more employees and more job candidates who have a disability.  

2019 TD Economics study affirmed, businesses that don’t access this talent and hire inclusively won’t be competitive in their markets, in the years ahead. 

And a July 2021 RBC Economics report noted, that “as [labour] shortages grow, so will the urgency for Canada to turn to new and under-utilized sources of labour force growth.” 

People who have a disability are the world’s largest minority group, and the most unemployed or under-employed minority in the world. In Canada alone, over 600,000 people who have a disability can and want to work, but they are unemployed. 

ODEN started Light It Up! For NDEAM in Ontario in 2020 as part of its annual October NDEAM campaign. It now happens nationwide through collaboration with the Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE), MentorAbility Canada, Jobs Ability Canada and community-based disability employment service providers across the country. 

Says Joanna Goode, Executive Director of the Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE), “Our members across Canada are excited to help bring Light it Up! For NDEAM country-wide again this year. Some of our members are learning about it for the first time, while others participated in 2021. In both cases, there’s overwhelming enthusiasm and excitement about being involved, and about getting businesses in local communities engaged with Light It Up! For NDEAM and what it stands for.” 

The federal government recognizes the significance and importance of Light It Up! For NDEAM, and is participating in the event for the second year in a row.  

Public Services and Procurement Canada is lighting up over 30 federal buildings across the country. They include two RCMP Division Headquarters, in Charlottetown and Vancouver; the Environment Canada building in Toronto; Canada Place in Edmonton; Government of Canada buildings in Ottawa, Gatineau, QC and Yellowknife; the Joseph R. Smallwood Building in Corner Brook, NL; the John Cabot Building in St. John’s; and P.L. James Place in Victoria. 

As well, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is illuminating several research and development (R&D) centres across Canada again this year. R&D centres in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia will be lit purple and blue on October 20.  

This year the Government of Ontario is illuminating provincial buildings in Toronto, Guelph, Peterborough, Orillia and St. Catharines. Minister for Seniors and Accessibility, the Hon. Raymond Cho, will officially turn on the lighting at the Frost South Building in Toronto, at 6:30 p.m. on October 20.  

Other provincial governments are also participating. Government House in St. John’s, NL, and the Manitoba Legislature in Winnipeg, are being illuminated for Light It Up! For NDEAM. Both participated in 2021.  

Here are some of the significant and world-famous locations that will turn purple and blue next Thursday night: 

  • Terry Fox Memorial at Mile 0, at the Port of St. John’s, NL (participated in 2021) 
  • The Big Fiddle at the Port of Sydney, NS (participated in 2021) 
  • Niagara Falls (participating since 2020) 
  • CN Tower (participating since 2020) 
  • Halifax Seaport District, Port of Halifax (participated in 2021) 
  • Calgary Tower (participated in 2021)
  • BC Place, Vancouver (participated in 2021)

In Ottawa, the Canadian Museum of Science and Technology will be illuminated for Light It Up! For NDEAM for the first time, in recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month.  

In Charlottetown, the Confederation Centre of the Arts also will be illuminated purple and blue again this year for Light It Up! For NDEAM. 

And the list keeps growing. Goode states, “This event is a catalyst for conversations about the contributions of employees who experience disability and the benefits of disability-inclusive hiring. We’re collaborating on a local, provincial and national level to create awareness that disability needs to be part of the diversity, equity and inclusion business conversation. Too often it gets left out.” 

“The more the involvement in Light It Up! For NDEAM, the greater the impact,” adds Campbell. Because while progress is being made and disability inclusion is finally being recognized as a change agent in the nature of work, there’s still a lot of educating businesses about disability inclusion to be done in communities everywhere.”  

She points out, “Getting involved in Light It Up! For NDEAM is a great starting point. It can be a business’s first learning step on the disability-inclusive hiring journey that has so many benefits. Then, after the night’s over, keep the conversation going with local employment service providers who are there to help your business make that journey a successful one.” 

The social media hashtags for Light It Up! For NDEAM are: #LightItUpForNDEAM#LightItUpForDEAM and #EngageTalent. 

–30–  

For more information, and to arrange interviews, contact:    Dave Bennett, Xposure PR      dave@xposurepr.com 905-339-6668 Dean Askin, Communications Strategist, ODEN     daskin@odenetwork.com  416-818-1514 (cell) 

 

ABOUT ODEN: The Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN), created in 2008, is a professional body of more than 130 employment service providers united to increase employment opportunities for people who have a disability. Members are from every corner of the province and support people of all disability types. Beyond Ontario, ODEN (odenetwork.com) has connections with organizations in other provinces and territories of Canada. Light It Up! For NDEAM™ is a trademark of the Ontario Disability Employment Network. 

ABOUT CASE: The Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE) is a national association for the supported employment sector. CASE works with service providers, employers and community allies to promote employment inclusion of people who experience disability. Find out more about CASE at https://supportedemployment.ca.  

 

Light It Up! for NDEAM 2022 

Confirmed List of Participating Locations   

NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR 

Corner Brook 
Joseph R. Smallwood Building 

Labrador City
Labrador West Employment Corp. 

Springdale
Green Bay Community Employment Corporation 

St. John’s
Avalon Employment Inc. Government House Terry Fox Memorial City Hall The John Cabot Building  

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND 

Charlottetown
City Hall Tower Confederation Centre of the Arts Jean Canfield Building RCMP “L” Division Headquarters Daniel J. MacDonald Building 

Summerside
City Hall Joseph A. Ghiz Building 

NOVA SCOTIA 

Amherst
Nova Scotia Works CANSA Office Develop Nova Scotia Office Town of Amherst — Victoria Square Province of Nova Scotia Visitor Information Centre 

Antigonish
Nova Scotia Works Career Connections Office 

Guysborough
Nova Scotia Works Career Connections Office Municipality of the District of Guysborough – municipal building Old Court House Museum CBDC Guysborough County — Business Service Centre 

Halifax
Halifax City Hall Halifax Seaport District Sands at Salter Park – light-post string TEAM Work Office 

New Glasgow
Nova Scotia Works Career Connections 

Pictou
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pictou County

Shelburne
Nova Scotia Works/Southwest Employment Services — Kings Corner 

Sydney (Cape Breton) 

Port of Sydney – The Big Fiddle Sydney Government of Canada Building 

Yarmouth
Nova Scotia Works/Southwest Employment Services — Pier One Complex Nova Scotia Works/Southwest Employment Services – Front-office window 

NEW BRUNSWICK 

Miramichi
Government of Canada Miramichi Pay Centre 

Moncton
Gulf Fisheries Centre Canadian Food Inspection Agency (310 Baig Blvd.) 

Shediac
Government of Canada Pension Centre (DSS Building) 

St. George/Black Harbour
Eastern Charlotte County businesses  

QUEBEC 

Gatineau
Place du centre Place du Portage III Place du Portage IV 

Montebello
Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello — six-sided, three-storey fireplace in hotel lobby 

Montreal
Société québecoise de la déficience intelléctuelle Organisation de l’aviation civile internationale (OACI) (La maison de l’OACI) Complexe Guy-Favreau 

Quebec City
ÉquiTravail – 210 Charest Est Les entreprises QMD – 210 Charest Est Centre dentaire Charest – 210 Charest Est Transport Canada New Quebec Custom House National Historic Site (Canada Border Services Quebec Region)  

ONTARIO 

Belleville
Moira River Bridge City of Belleville Signature Sign Memorial Garden Agilec 

Bothwell
Michael Dawthorne (ODEN Board Chair) residence 

Bracebridge
Community Living South Muskoka 

Brampton
Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Ltd. — West Creek Blvd. Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Ltd. — King St. 

Cobourg
EARN offices 

Collingwood
E3 Community Services head office Town Hall Clock Tower Blue Mountain Village Government of Canada Building 

Dryden
City of Dryden — Dryden Welcome Signs (east and west city) Community Living Dryden–Sioux Lookout office building Clean More Service Northwest Employment Works Office AgriTech North Office Red River Co-op 

Flesherton
Life Directions Employment Centre (road sign) 

Gravenhurst
Employment North 

Guelph
March of Dimes Canada Guelph City Hall Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada — Guelph R&D Centre Government of Ontario – 1 Stone Road West 

Haliburton
Fleming College — Haliburton School of Art & Design Fleming College — Fleming CREW & Haliburton Learning Centre 

Hamilton
City of Hamilton Signature Sign 

Harrow
Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada — Harrow R&D Centre 

Hawkesbury
Groupe Convex — Express-Net 

Huntsville
Huntsville YMCA Employment and Learning Services Community Living Huntsville Offices Holiday Inn Express & Suites 

Kenora
Kenora Association for Community Living 

Kingston
City Hall Springer Market Square 

Kitchener
Agilec Employment Resource Centre 

Lindsay
Job Quest VCCS Employment Services Inc. Fleming College — Frost Campus Fleming College — School of Environmental  & Natural Resource Sciences 

London
City Hall Canada Life Fountain at the Forks J.A. Taylor Building RBC London Place Goodwill Industries Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada — London R&D Centre The Dominion Public Building Fanshawe College – Main Campus 

Markham
Markham City Hall 

Mississauga
Civic Centre Clock Tower Options Mississauga 

Newmarket
Region of York Administration Centre 

Niagara Falls Horseshoe Falls and American Falls 

North Bay
Community Living North Bay Main Office Building 

Oakville
Oakville Town Hall 

Orillia
Agilec Orillia Government of Ontario — Lincoln M. Alexander Building – 777 Memorial Drive 

Ottawa
“Ottawa” signature sign in Byward Market Canadian Museum of Science & Technology L’Esplande Laurier Canada Building (344 Slater) Sir William Logan Building Department of National Defence Carling Campus Building 5 

Peterborough
Muskoka–Kawarthas Employment Services YMCA of Central East Ontario Agilec Government of Ontario — Robinson Place – 300 Water St. 

Sarnia
City Hall Goodwill Industries Ontario Great Lakes Career Centre 

St. Catharines
Brock University Schmon Tower Government of Ontario — Garden City Tower – 301 St. Paul Street 

St. Marys
Community Living St. Marys & Area St. Marys Town Hall 

Sudbury
Elm Place Mall Canada Revenue Agency Taxation Data Centre Government of Canada Building 

Timmins
Timmins Museum National Exhibition Centre (“Timmins” interactive sign) 

Toronto
CN Tower Canada Life Bob Rumball Canadian Centre of Excellence for the Deaf Government of Ontario — Frost South Building – 7 Queen’s Park Crescent Canada Centre (200 Town Centre Blvd.) Environment Canada Building Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital 

Vaughan
City Hall 

Welland
Welland Bridge 13 

Whitby
Whitby Town Hall 

Windsor
Windsor City Hall Caesar’s Hotel & Casino Windsor

MANITOBA 

Beauséjour
Supported Employment Options building Association for Community Living – Beauséjour Branch Broken Head River Regional Library The Superior Inn & Conference Centre Red Apple Wayne Ewasko MLA Lac Du Bonnet Office Building Cottage Country Cannabis Crognali Realty Beauséjour Home Hardware Pennyweight Market The Floral Merchant Rexall Pharmacy Crosstown Convenience Beauséjour Chiropractic Needle Craft & Studio Brokenhead Sausage Beauséjour Co-Op Bumper-to-Bumper — Beauséjour Tire Ltd. Serenity Gift Shoppe Brio Insurance Access Credit Union Wayslin’s Law Office Agassiz Adult Education Centre Beauséjour Hotel 4L Communications — TELUS Stores Tarantism Dance Company Midnight Show Cannabis Meraki Hair Studio Stacy Johnson — COLDWELL BANKER RBC – Royal Bank Beauséjour Soaring Heights Technology Century 21 Sun Country Realty Beauséjour Rehabilitation Greg Penner Accounting Sobering Funeral Chapel & Crematorium Town of Beauséjour Offices Beauséjour GM Tim Hortons Spirit of the Boreal Botannicals Beauhead Seniors Association Ja-ed Professional Suites 

Selkirk
Selkirk City Hall 

Winnipeg
“Winnipeg” Signature Sign at The Forks Manitoba Legislature Reaching E-Quality Employment Services ( Top SW corner of 1200 Portage) WASO Inc. Employment Services 201 Portage Courtyard Media Panel IG Field RBC Convention Centre 

SASKATCHEWAN 

Biggar
Prairie Branches Enterprises Inc. (104 6th Ave East) Prairie Branches Enterprises Inc. (106 6th Ave East) 

Estevan
Estevan City Hall 

Humboldt
Humboldt City Hall 

Kerrobert
Prairie Branches Enterprises Inc. 

Lloydminster
Ability Development Services Employment Supports Building Bea Fisher Centre Inc. Administrative Building 

Moosejaw
SaskAbilities—Partners in Employment 

Prince Albert
Wintersun 420 Limitless Gear Clothing Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch (1308 5th Ave E) Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch (714, 726, 742, 486, 490 28th St. East) Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch (1832, 1833 17th Ave West) Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch (2325 1st Ave East) Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch (815 13th St. West) 

Regina
SaskAbilities – Partners in Employment Julianna Pizza (5064 4 Ave) 

Saskatoon
SARC Administration Building Cheshire Homes of Saskatoon Prairie Sun Brewery Cora’s Restaurant River Landing East Tower River Landing Nutrien Tower River Landing Plaza SaskTel Centre Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch (519 Ave S) Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch (456 Whitney) Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch (1424 1st Ave N) Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch (607 3rd Ave S) Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch (1639 1st Ave N) Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch (3002 33rd St W) Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch (2932 33rd St W) Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch (1635 Ave D N) Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch (326 Hampton Blvd.) 

Swift Current
Original Joe’s SaskAbilities – Partners in Employment Swift Current Chamber of Commerce Southwest Community Futures Standard Motors Bumper to Bumper SWT – Antelope Lake location (Southwest Termina) City of Swift Current Giant Tiger Lucky Charlies Mercator Financial Sarcan Super 8 Motel 

Unity
Prairie Branches Enterprises Inc. (Main Street) Prairie Branches Enterprises Inc. (6th Ave East) Prairie Branches Enterprises Inc. (2nd Ave West) 

Watrous
Interlake Human Resources Town of Watrous 

Weyburn
The Wor-Kin Shop City Hall 

Wilkie
Prairie Branches Enterprises Inc. (2nd Ave East) Prairie Branches Enterprises Inc. (6th St. West) Prairie Branches Enterprises Inc. (5th St. East) Prairie Branches Enterprises Inc. (4th St.West) 

ALBERTA 

Calgary
Calgary Tower TELUS Spark Science Centre Olympic Plaza Arts Commons Stephen Avenue Galleria Trees Deaf & Hear Alberta Offices 

Edmonton
High Level Bridge Fairmont Hotel Macdonald Canada Place 

Lacombe
Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada — Lacombe R&D Centre 

Lethbridge
City Hall Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada — Lethbridge R&D Centre 

Red Deer
City Hall 

BRITISH COLUMBIA 

Coquitlam
Fountain — Lafarge Lake Light columns — Guildford Way and Pinetree Way 

Cranbrook
REALM Services Inc. 

Delta
Milieu Family Services Inc. offices 

Grand Forks
Sunshine Valley Community Services offices 

Ladner
Delta Community Living Society 

Langley
Work BC Langley 

Nakusp
Arrow & Slocan Lakes Community Services — Work BC 

Nanaimo
The Bastion 

Summerland
Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada — Summerland R&D Centre 

Surrey
RCMP “E” Division Headquarters (Green Timbers) Burnaby Fraser Valley Tax Services Office (9737–9755 King George Blvd.) 

Vancouver
BC Place Burrard St. Bridge City Hall Property 16596 (formerly the Henry Herbert Stevens Building) 

Victoria
P.L. James Place 

Whistler
Fitzsimmons Covered Bridge 

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES 

Yellowknife
Greenstone Government of Canada Building