#AbleTo
share your stories

Students, graduates, business leaders and advocates are making their own #AbleTo pledges and sharing how they’re helping to close the employment gap in Ottawa.

Tony Labillois

#AbleTo
foster an inclusive workplace. [video]

Tony Labillois,
Assistant Director, Statistics Canada

Tony Labillois is living proof that persons with disabilities are talented and can help organizations meet their business goals.

Read more…
Claude Brulé

#AbleTo
support his students. [video]

Claude Brulé,
President, Algonquin College

Flexibility is the key to delivering the right support for students with disabilities when they need it.

Read more…
Jacques Frémont

#AbleTo
promote inclusivity. [video]

Jacques Frémont,
President, University of Ottawa

Post-secondary schools have a responsibility to enhance the career readiness of all students.

Read more…
Dean Mellway

#AbleTo
envision a world with parity in the workplace. [video]

Dean Mellway,
Special Advisor, READ Initiative

Dean Mellway wants all people to get the chance to embark on meaningful careers.

Read more…
Benoit-Antoine Bacon

#AbleTo
push accessibility as a priority. [video]

Benoit-Antoine Bacon,
President, Carleton University

Leaders lead. Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon understands and acts upon that basic truth.

Read more…

#AbleTo
create an equitable place. [video]

Rebecca Andre,
Carleton University

Rebecca is #AbleTo overcome stigmas associated with disabilities by challenging them directly.

Read more…
Lise Bourgeois

#AbleTo
support her students. [video]

Lise Bourgeois,
President, La Cité

Any individual can learn when they are equipped with the right tools, support and mentorship.

Read more…
Cedric Hodgins

#AbleTo
be an ambassador for people with disabilities. [video]

Cedric Hodgins,
Algonquin College

Employees with non-visible disabilities have much to contribute to their workplaces.

Read more…
Emily Tunnicliffe of Shopify

#AbleTo
remove barriers.

Emily Tunnicliffe,
Recruitment Lead, Campus Team, Talent Acquisition, Shopify

“Students and graduates with disabilities face many obstacles on the path to securing jobs and starting careers.”

Read more…

#AbleTo
ask and listen.

Mark Moore,
Recent graduate, Algonquin College

“Ask a question and listen to the answer. That’s my approach to make workplaces more inclusive for students and graduates with disabilities.”

Read more…

#AbleTo
rethink recruitment. [video]

Sean MacGinnis,
BuildAble

“Finding and hiring people with disabilities makes perfect business sense to me—for several reasons.”

Read more…

#AbleTo
connect employers with talent. [video]

Shannon Bruce,
EARN

“I want to work myself out of my job. I’m manager of business development at the Employment Accessibility Resource Network.”

Read more…

#AbleTo
be open.

Shannelle Blanchet,
La Cité

“I was diagnosed with a learning disability and with a chronic medical condition that often causes severe pain.”

Read more…

#AbleTo
make accessibility the norm.

Tara Connolly,
David C. Onley Initiative

“Accessibility cracks open workplaces, increasing diversity, fostering inclusion and fueling new thinking and knowledge.”

Read more…

#AbleTo
have hope.

Sydney Weaver,
Carleton University

“It’s up to us to get involved and stay involved.”

Read more…

#AbleTo
take the pledge

Choose and share your commitment to help close the employment gap that separates students and graduates with disabilities from their peers.