Four local employers have been recognized for creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace by hiring persons with disabilities.
The Innovative Labour Solutions Awards were in three categories:
• Not for Profit Innovative Labour Solutions Award, given to Pacific Community Resources Society (PCRS Green Courier), with executive director Ingrid Kastens and operations manager Delois Cook.
• Innovative Labour Solutions Award, Employees 10 or less, given to Triple Flip, with assistant manager Vanessa Reed.
• Innovative Labour Solutions Award Category of those businesses with Employees 10 or more, given to two companies who tied: The Real Canadian Superstore, with store manager Gurpal Dhaliwal and Ocean Trailer, with president Sid Keay.
The awards were created by a partnership of The City of Surrey, the Rotary Club of Surrey, Milieu Employment Services, Community Living BC, and the Surrey Board of Trade.
The hosts also awarded Pathfinder Youth Centre Society, unanimously chosen, as the recipient of this year’s $1,000 award to a community organization that supports individuals with developmental disabilities access employment.
“We speak about the fact that we are in an economy where labour and skill shortages are the norm, not the exception. And that we need to work collaboratively to ensure that all Canadian citizens have the supports to ensure full labour productivity for our businesses," said Gerard Bremault, CEO of The Centre for Child Development and chair of The Surrey Board of Trade.
“If you are an inclusive employer, you will have a better workplace. You will make more money. But for the workers, it’s much more than that."