Record Participation in Light It Up! For NDEAM 2023 Reflects Increasing Conversation About Disability Inclusion in Communities Across Canada
477 locations in 140 communities across all 10 provinces, and in 2 territories, shone purple and blue light on disability awareness Thursday night
(Editors and writers note: the final list of locations and communities that participated in Light It Up! For NDEAM 2023 is attached at the end of this news release.)
Whitby, ON, Friday, October 20, 2023 — Billed as a national movement that ignites conversation about the importance of disability inclusion in employment, and in businesses and communities across Canada, Light it Up! For NDEAMTM 2023 did just that in a record way — as the amount of purple and blue light shone on disability awareness Thursday night, shows.
“Almost 500 locations in 140 communities participated this year,” says Jeannette Campbell, CEO of the Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN), which created and leads Light it Up! For NDEAM.
“That means there was a lot of engagement and conversation about disability-inclusive hiring between job seekers, families, community agencies, businesses and local governments, in many big cities, small towns and rural communities across the country.”
Hundreds of structures — from office towers; to small and medium businesses; to government buildings; to bridges; to municipal signs, and town and city halls; to public spaces and world-famous Canadian landmarks across the nation — were all lit purple and blue Thursday night.
Landmarks included the CN Tower, Niagara Falls, The Big Fiddle in Sydney, NS; the Terry Fox Memorial in St. John’s; The Big Nickel in Sudbury, ON; the Calgary Tower and Olympic Plaza; and the High Level Bridge in Edmonton.
Campbell adds, “Light It Up! For NDEAM happens on this scale because those conversations happen. And involvement is increasing year on year. Several communities across Canada joined the Light It Up! For NDEAM movement for the first time this year.”
ODEN started Light It Up! For NDEAM provincially in 2020 as part of its National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) campaign. The first year, 28 structures in 16 communities around Ontario participated. The event went national in 2021, with over 300 locations in 113 communities nationwide participating. In 2022, that increased to over 400 locations in almost 120 cities and towns across Canada. The participation in 2023 is a new record level.
“We make it easy for anyone to participate in Light It Up! For NDEAM. We want involvement to increase like this every year,” says Campbell, “because the more the involvement, the greater the impact.”
Light It Up! For NDEAM is having more impact than ODEN ever imagined it would when her organization started the event, she notes.
“That’s exciting and rewarding to see happening. The conversation it starts is having a lasting impact nationwide that can affect change. This is important, because access to employment is still a major barrier for people who have a disability.”
Over 600,000 employable Canadians who have a disability want to work, but are unemployed. Their talents, skills and abilities are not being tapped by employers, largely because many businesses are still unaware of the disability talent pool and how to connect with these job seekers. Light It Up! For NDEAM fosters connection and engagement efforts between local businesses, and community agencies that assist job seekers who have a disability.
Light It Up! For NDEAM is having other ripple effects in the disability sector. Traditionally, awareness campaigns during National Disability Employment Awareness Month are “siloed” in individual regions and provinces that celebrate NDEAM. Light It Up! For NDEAM has become an over-arching, unifying flagship event of regional NDEAM campaigns nationwide.
“We all have a common goal,” explains Campbell, “and that is, increasing disability awareness and confidence, leading to more, productive and equitable employment opportunities for Canadians who have a disability. Light It Up! For NDEAM has become a common national thread, with a unified message, that any organization can join in to help us all achieve that common goal.”
Light It Up! For NDEAM is the only event of its kind in Canada during National Disability Employment Awareness Month. ODEN leads the event, but it happens in collaboration with the Canadian Association for Supported Employment, MentorAbility Canada, Jobs Ability Canada and many community-based employment agencies across Canada.
The federal government has been involved in Light It Up! For NDEAM since 2021. This year, Public Service and Procurement Canada co-ordinated the illumination of 45 federal buildings across Canada, the most yet. They include The Public Archives and National Library of Canada in Ottawa; the National Printing Bureau in Gatineau, QC; two RCMP Division Headquarters, in Edmonton and Vancouver; the Canadian Grain Commission in Winnipeg; Government of Canada buildings in Collingwood, Timmins, London, Sarnia and Sudbury, ON; and the Greenstone Government of Canada building in Yellowknife, NWT.
Some provincial governments also support Light It Up! For NDEAM. The Manitoba Legislature in Winnipeg and Government House in St. John’s have illuminated purple and blue for the event since 2021. As well, the Government of Ontario illuminated five buildings around the province again this year. The Alberta Legislature participated for the first time.
“Light It Up! For NDEAM was incredibly successful this year, in numerous ways. A lot of people across the country put in outstanding efforts to make it so successful,” says Campbell. “The awareness night is over for another year, but the disability inclusion conversation must keep going year-round. Disability needs to be part of every business conversation about diversity, equity and inclusion. Still too often, it gets left out.”
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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 NDEAMTM is a trademark of the Ontario Disability Employment Network.
Light It Up! for NDEAM 2023
Final List of Participating Locations
NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR
Carbonear
MRON Inc.
Conception Bay South
Ninepenny Brewing
Lupin Planning Group
Corner Brook
Joseph R. Smallwood Building
Labrador City
Labrador West Employment Corporation
Labrador Gateway Sign
Association for New Canadians
Labrador City Public Library
Mount Pearl
Goodlife Fitness (Merchant Drive)
Goodlife Fitness (Torbay Road)
Springdale
Green Bay Community Employment Corp.
Green Bay Youth Centre
St. John’s
City Hall
St. John’s Port Authority — Terry Fox Memorial
Wanda Butler – Happily Never After (home office)
Avalon Employment
Stingray Radio
Sobeys (Kelsey Drive location)
Cabot Tower at Signal Hill National Historic Site
Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work Office
Keyin College, Topsail Road Campus
Skills Canada Office
College of the North Atlantic (Prince Phillip Drive Campus)
John Cabot Building
Government House
Inclusion Canada NL Office
Wabush
Wabush Public Library
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Charlottetown
Confederation Centre of the Arts
City of Charlottetown – City Hall Clock Tower
RCMP “L” Division Headquarters
Jean Canfield Building
Summerside
City Hall
NOVA SCOTIA
Amherst
Nova Scotia Works Office
Victoria Square Monument
Antigonish
Nova Scotia Works Career Connections Office
Chamber of Commerce
Barrington
Southwest Employment Services – Nova Scotia Works Career Centre
Brookside
ADDvocacy & Life Skills Coaching Ltd.
Elmsdale
Nova Scotia Works/Futureworx Office
Fort Lawrence
NS Border Visitor Centre Lighthouse
Guysborough
Nova Scotia Works Career Connections Office
Municipal Building (Municipality of the District of Guysborough)
Halifax
Port of Halifax — Halifax Seaport District
TEAM Work Cooperative
Lower Sackville
Opportunity Place – Nova ScotiaWorks Office
Mill Village
Riverbank General Store
New Glasgow
Nova Scotia Works Career Connections Office
Town of New Glasgow – Glasgow Square
Town of New Glasgow – Carmichael Park Gazebo
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pictou County
Coast Tire and Auto Service
Tim Hortons/Wendy’s (Westville Rd.)
Stingray Radio (94.1 The Breeze & Q979)
NSLC (Eastside store)
Highland Community Residential Services Office
Autism Pictou County Office
IGNITE Atlantic
River Run Café
Pictou
Gazebo – Market Square, Water Street (Town of Pictou)
Municipality of Pictou County Building
Municipality of Pictou County Signature Sign
Shelburne
Southwest Employment Services – Nova Scotia Works Career Centre
Stellarton
Curious Crow’s Coffee House
Sydney
The Big Fiddle (Port of Sydney)
Truro
Futureworx Nova Scotia Works
Westville
Town of Westville Post Office Building
Yarmouth
Southwest Employment Services – Nova Scotia Works Career Centre
NEW BRUNSWICK
Moncton
Downing Street
Downton Place
Avenir Centre
Miramichi
Miramichi Pay Centre
QUEBEC
Gatineau
Portage III (GoC)
Portage IV (GoC)
30 Victoria (GoC)
Place du Centre (GoC)
Les Terrasse de la Chaudière (GoC)
National Printing Bureau (GoC)
Montreal
Monument-National
Complexe Guy-Favreau
Sofitel Golden Mile
Dominion Square
Quebec City
Quebec Custom House National Historic Site (Canada Border Services Agency)
Government of Canada Building (1550 d’Estimauville)
ONTARIO
Ajax
Agilec Employment Services
Barrie
City of Barrie — Signature Sign
Agilec Employment Services
Belleville
City of Belleville Signature Sign
City Hall
Fire Station #1
Moira Street Bridge
META Employment Services Building
Blenheim
Blenheim News Tribune
Town of the Blue Mountains
Blue Mountain Village – BLUE signature sign
Bothwell
Michael Dawthorne (ODEN Board Chair) Residence
Bowmanville
Participation House
Bracebridge
Bracebridge Falls
Agilec Employment Services
Brampton
City Hall Clock Tower
Coca-Cola Bottling Ltd. – Manufacturing, Distribution & Sales Centre
Brantford
St. Leonard’s Community Centre
Burk’s Falls
Agilec Employment Services
Burlington
Brant Street Pier
Cambridge
Community Living Cambridge — Head Office
Community Living Cambridge — Franklin Centre
Chatham
Chatham-Kent Civic Centre (atrium)
Coca-Cola Bottling Ltd. – Make Ready Centre Chatham
Community Living Chatham-Kent
Judy Lamarsh Building
Tecumseh Building
Collingwood
E3 Community Services HQ – 100 Pretty River Pkwy
E3 Community Services – 250 Pine Street
Town Clock
CWOOD Signature Sign, Hurontario Street
Government of Canada Building
Cornwall
Seaway International Bridge Pier
Eastern Ontario Training Board
City of Cornwall – Lights at Fountain (340 Pitt St.)
Essex
Community Living Essex County
Flesherton
Life Directions Employment Supports North Office
South East Grey Support Services South Office
Flesherton Home Hardware
Gravenhurst
Employment North
Guelph
City of Guelph — Market Square
Ontario Government Building, 1 Stone Road West
Haliburton
Fleming CREW Employment Centre
Fleming College – School of Art & Design
Hamilton
Hamilton Signature Sign
Hamilton City Hall
Path Employment Services
The Career Foundation
Huntsville
Community Living Huntsville
Innisfil
Agilec Employment Services
Kenora
Kenora Association for Community Living
Kingston
City Hall
Springer Market Square
Coca-Cola Bottling Ltd. – Kingston Distribution Centre
Kitchener
Agilec Employment Services
Lanark County
Performance Plus Rehabilitative Care (Home Office)
Lindsay
Fleming College – Frost Campus
London
City Hall
Canada Life
J.A. Taylor Building
RBC Place London
Fanshawe College
Goodwill Career Centre
Coca-Cola Bottling Ltd. – London Distribution Centre
Dominion Public Building
Richard Pierpoint Building
Markdale
Rossiter Boats
Markham
Civic Centre
Gateway Sign
Meaford
Town of Meaford – Meaford Water Tower
Midland
Rooted Cafe
Mississauga
Civic Centre Clock Tower
Career Connection (Community Living Mississauga)
Options Print Shop
Newmarket
Region of York Administration Centre
Riverwalk Commons
Fred A. Lundy Bridge
Niagara Falls
Horseshoe Falls and American Falls
North Bay
Community Living North Bay – Main Office
Yes Employment Services, Nipissing
March of Dimes Canada – Kennedy Building
Fleming CREW Employment Centre
Salvation Army
Capital Centre (Marquis Signage)
Cascade Casino North Bay
Alliance Public School
North Bay & District Chamber of Commerce
Clark Communications Building
Kind Forest School
Amelia Rising Offices
Suswin Village
Vossos-Luoma & Associates
City Hall
Oakville
Oakville Town Hall
Chartwell Building
Orillia
Agilec Employment Services
Ontario Government — Lincoln M. Alexander Building
Paper Planes Pay Café
Ness Law/Hartley House
Ontario Provincial Police Headquarters
Ottawa
“Ottawa” signature sign in Byward Market
Chemical and Radioactive Ores (NRCan)
Geological Survey Building (NRCan)
Geomatics Canada (NRCan)
Sir William Logan Building
Michael James Flaherty Building
Department of National Defence – Carling Campus Building 5
Skyline Complex (Canadian Food Inspection Agency)
Thomas D’Arcy Mcgee Building
L’Esplanade Laurier
Owen Sound
City Hall
Paris
Penman’s Dam
Peterborough
Ontario Government — Robinson Place
Muskoka-Kawarthas Employment Services Office
Alternatives Community Program Services
Fleming College (Sutherland Campus)
YMCA Employment Services Office
Sarnia
City Hall
Government of Canada Building
Simcoe
Community Living Access Office
St. Catharines
Ontario Government — Garden City Tower
Sudbury
Canadore College
College Boréal Campus
The Big Nickel
Government of Canada Building
Taxation Data Centre
Timmins
Timmins Museum National Exhibition Centre — “Timmins” Signature Sign
College Boréal Campus
Government of Canada Building
Toronto
CN Tower
Canada Life
Exhibition Place — Princes’ Gate
Ontario Government — Frost South Building
3D Toronto Sign – Nathan Phillips Square
Humber College – Welcome Centre
Environment Canada
Canada Centre (200 Town Centre Court)
First Gulf
Vaughan
City Hall
Wallaceburg
Community Living Wallaceburg
Civic Square Park
Rulmeca Canada Ltd.
Walkerton
VPI Employment Services
Walpole Island
Walpole Island First Nation Employment and Training
Whitby
META Employment Services Building
Windsor
City Hall
Caesars Windsor
St. Clair College Centre for the Arts
St. Clair College South Campus
MANITOBA
Beauséjour
Supported Employment Options
Beausejour Chevrolet GM
Breezy Oaks Inn and Tavern
Co-op Administrative
Soberings Funeral Chapel
Bumper to Bumper
Serenity Gift Shoppe
Headlines for Hair
Beau-Head Seniors Centre
Beausejour Town Office
Brio Insurance
Guardian Pharmacy
Access Credit Union
Wayslins Law Office
Beausejour Chiropractic Centre
Home Hardware
Red Apple
Needle
Aggasiz Adult Education
Auto Pac “The Co-operators”
Beausejour Physio
Tarantism Dance Company
Meraki Hair
Coldwell Banker
Century 21
Beausejour Optical
Daien Denture Clinic
Clipper
Happy go Lucy’s
Dawson Chiropractic Centre
Airliner
HUB International
Crognali Realty
Cottage Country Cannabis
Ja-ed Professional Suites
Midnight Show Cannabis
Eastman Dental
Association for Community Living – Beausejour Branch
Beausejour Hotel “BJ”
Howard Hotel
Pennyweight Market
The Floral Merchant
Telus 4L Communications
Brokenhead Sausage
Beausejour Community Church
Spirit of the Boreal
RBC Royal Bank
The Clipper Weekly
Network4Change
Tim Hortons
Lac Du Bonnet
Cottage Country Cannabis
Casey’s Pub
Access Credit Union
Community Futures
LB Physio and Wellness
Luccis Tool
LDB Library
Mrs. Luccis Second Hand
Mrs. Luccis Resource Centre
Dancyts Fine Foods
Manitoba Made
Red Apple
Rona
HUB International
Lac Du Bonnet Dental Clinic
Grans Bake Shop
Lakeview Steakhouse & Pub
The Lac Du Bonnet Clipper
St. Georges
Rapid Water Market Deli
Stonewall
Town Hall
Town of Stonewall Signature Sign
Winnipeg
Winnipeg Sign at The Forks
Oldfield, Kirby & Gardiner Bldg. (55 Donald Street)
WASO Employment Services (836 MacLeod Ave.)
Canada Life (Winnipeg Head Office)
Esplanade Riel
Reaching E-Quality Employment Services
RBC Convention Centre
IG Field
Canada Life Centre
Winnipeg Police Service
Manitoba Legislature
Red River College Polytechnic (Exchange Campus)
Canadian Grain Commission
Connect Employment Services (Employment Office, 188 Goulet St.)
SASKATCHEWAN
Biggar
Prairie Branches Enterprises – Biggar Activity Centre
Prairie Branches Enterprises – Biggar Group Home 1
Prairie Branches Enterprises – Biggar Group Home 2
Estevan
City Hall
Hudson Bay
Parkland Co-op
Humboldt
Humboldt & District Community Services Office
La Ronge
North Saskatchewan Special Needs
Lloydminster
Bea Fisher Centre – Administrative Office
Mistusinne
SARC – Lloyd Montgomery (personal residence)
Moose Jaw
City Hall Clock Tower
North Battleford
Prairie Employment Program Inc. Office
Porcupine Plain
Slobodian Pharmacy
Quilly Willy Early Learning Centre
Parkland Co-op Grocery Store
Porcupine Opportunities Program – Main Office
Porcupine Opportunities Program – Glenwood Home
Porcupine Opportunities Program – ELSP Home (138 1st Ave.)
Porcupine Opportunities Program – ELSP Home (205 Cooper St.)
Porcupine Opportunities Program – ABM Home (205 Cooper St.)
Porcupine Opportunities Program – Playtondale Home (136 1st Ave.)
Laundromat/BitsNPieces
RCMP Detachment
Preeceville
Mackenzie Society Ventures
Prince Albert
Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch School
Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch (714 28th St. East)
Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch (329 38th St. East)
Wintersun420
YWCA (1895 Central Ave.)
Regina
City Hall – front foyer
Autism Resource Centre
South Saskatchewan Independent Living Centre
Clare Parker Homes (Drop-In Centre)
Saskatoon
SARC Administration Building
Light of the Prairies – 925 McKercher Dr.
Light of the Prairies – 1638 Edward Ave.
Light of the Prairies – 1528 37th St. W.
Light of the Prairies – 810 McCormack Rd.
Government of Canada Building
Cheshire Homes (2901 Louise Street)
Cheshire Homes (2903 Louise Street)
Crocus Cooperative
Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch (456 Witney Ave. South)
Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch (1424 1st Ave. North)
Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch (1639 1st Ave. North)
Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch (3004 33rd St. West)
Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch (2930 33rd St. West)
Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch (1635 Avenue D North)
Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch (326 West Hampton Blvd.)
Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch (607 3rd Ave. North)
SaskTel Centre
Autism Services of Saskatoon
Community Living Association of Saskatoon Inc.
Swift Current
Nutrien Division Office
Swift Current Broncos Hockey Club
Giant Tiger
RBC
The Landing Studio/Life in Action Studios
Thoosa Therapy
Partners in Employment
Standard Motors
Super 8 Motel
Swift Current and District Chamber of Commerce
Bumper to Bumper – Great West Auto Electric
Embers Hair Design
SPCA
SARCAN
Original Joe’s
Dorie’s House Treatment Centre
Akropol Restaurant & Lounge
Starbucks
City of Swift Current – City Hall Billboard
SaskAbilities
SWT–Antelope Terminal (Gull Lake)
The Social Bowl
Golden West RadioOptical Image
Unity
Prairie Branches Enterprises – Unity Day Program
Prairie Branches Enterprises – Unity Group Home 1
Prairie Branches Enterprises – Unity Group Home 2
Waldheim
Karis Disability Services (formerly Christian Horizons)
Weyburn
Weyburn Wor-Kin Shop
City Hall
Geraldine Bocian, Dominic’s Mental Health – personal residence
Wilkie
Prairie Branches Enterprises – Day Program
Prairie Branches Enterprises – Wilkie Group Home 1
Prairie Branches Enterprises – Wilkie Group Home 2
Prairie Branches Enterprises – Wilkie Group Home 3
Yorkton
Partners in Employment
SaskAbilities
Yorkton Chamber of Commerce
ALBERTA
Blackfoot
Coca-Cola Bottling Ltd. – Lloydminster Distribution Centre
Calgary
Calgary Tower
TELUS Spark Science Centre
TELUS Garden tower (in partnership w/Warrington PCI)
Olympic Plaza
Arts Commons
Reconciliation Bridge
Deaf & Hear Alberta Building
Edmonton
Coca-Cola Bottling Ltd. – Edmonton Distribution Centre
Canada Place
RCMP “K” Division Headquarters
High Level Bridges Rogers Place
Alberta Legislature
Sir Winston Churchill Square
Lethbridge
City Hall
Lloydminster
Bea Fisher Centre – Employment Supports Office
Red Deer
City Hall
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Burnaby
Neil Squire Society Head Office
Coquitlam
Fountain — Lafarge Lake
Light columns — Guildford Way and Pinetree Way
Dawson Creek
Dawson Creek Society for Community Living Administration Building
Dawson Creek Society for Community Living Opportunity Centre
Kiwanis Performing Arts Centre
Northern Lights College
District of Mackenzie
Mackenzie Rec Centre
Nanaimo
The Bastion
Penticton
Penticton Lakeside Resort and Conference Centre
Southeast Okanagan Events Centre
Starbucks (300 Riverside Dr.)
Starbucks (1301 Main St.)
Boston Pizza
Port Moody
City Hall
Surrey
Burnaby Fraser Tax Services Office (BFTSO), GoC
Vancouver
BC Place
Green Timbers — RCMP “E” Division Headquarters
TELUS Sky tower (in partnership w/Westbank Corp. & Allied Properties)
Property 16956 (GoC)
Vanderhoof
Connexus Community Resources Office
Parkview Place
Riverside Place
Victoria
P.L. James Place
Whistler
Fitzsimmons Covered Bridge
Williams Lake
City Hall
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Yellowknife
Greenstone Government of Canada Building
NUNAVUT
Iqaluit
Nunavummi Disabilities Makinnasuaqtiit (NDMS)
The Law Society of Nunavut
Pinnguaq