OPENING DOORS TO LIFELONG
LEARNING AND CAREER SUCCESS

COVID-19 - Open Door Group's Latest Updates

Effective March 18, 2020: resource centres and in-person services to close at all Open Door Group locations. Virtual Services available through phone, email, and video conference where available.

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OPEN DOOR GROUP

Built on the fundamental belief that everyone has the ability to succeed, Open Door Group is a non-profit organization that has been serving communities across British Columbia since 1976. Today, we continue to provide tailored employment services to individuals and businesses in order to build strong workforce ecosystems and thriving local communities.

Our mission is opening doors to lifelong learning and career success. We are committed to providing genuine care and a tailored service approach to everyone that walks through our door. Whoever you are, wherever you may be in your career journey, we are here to support you.

Darcell at her desk at Sprott Shaw College

LEARN ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS

WorkBC Employment Services

Jobs in Demand

Opportunities Fund

Thrive

Gardengate

OUR IMPACT IN 2018/2019

people found employment through Open Door Group

of employers would recommend Open Door Group to others

people accessed the Thrive program to build skills and work towards personal goals

pounds of produce harvested by Gardengate participants

Check out our full 2018/2019 Annual Report here.

WE’RE MOVING

Open Door Group’s head office is moving! Starting April 1, 2020 our new address for head office will be:

#900 – 1200 Burrard St.
Vancouver, BC V6Z 2C7

UNTAPPED 2020

UnTapped is an annual campaign that celebrates BC Businesses and individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to fostering diverse and inclusive workplaces. The campaign begins on December 3, 2019 and culminates with a Gala event on September 17th, 2020 in Vancouver, B.C.

In its 8th year, UnTapped 2020 will focus on inclusion of persons with disabilities. Between December 3 and February 14, nominations are open to recognize businesses of all sectors and sizes. Approved nominees are featured through a social media campaign showcasing these different businesses and specific examples of how they are moving towards being inclusive employers. In the months leading up to the gala, webinars will take place featuring experts and advocates on inclusion in the workplace. The webinars will provide attendees – businesses and community agencies across the province – tangible knowledge on how they can become an inclusive workplace and tap into this talent pool. Finally, on September 17, over 300 people will gather at UBC’s Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre to celebrate the individuals and businesses who have shown demonstrated leadership, impact and innovation in being inclusion champions in the workplace and community.

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GARDENGATE FACILITY EXPANSION PROJECT

Since Gardengate’s inception in 2000, we have been operating out of a 700ft space, half of which is not heated, and unusable during the chilly winter months. Over the years, our program has grown but our space has not. Just as plants need repotting in order to thrive, we too need room to grow.

Our proposed new facility, equipped with a fully functioning commercial kitchen, will allow us to serve more participants and expand the range of skills we help nurture, such as cooking, carpentry, sales, marketing and machine maintenance.

However, we need help in order to see this project completed and are excited to announce that we will be launching our first ever fundraising campaign to aid in this expansion. With help from our communities our goal is to raise $500,000 by May 2020, begin the planning and permitting by June 2020, break ground in October 2020, and celebrate the project’s completion by August 2021.

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KAL TIRE

A Canadian company with 250 locations across Canada, Kal Tire has been working with our Kamloops team to meet their recruitment needs for several years. As a business, Kal Tire experiences spikes of seasonal demand as local residents switch from winter tires to summer tires and back, so much of their hiring is seasonal.

We work with them to help them find the right candidates for their business philosophy: individuals who are bondable, physically able to do the job, have great customer services skills, and have the flexibility to work long hours from time to time. Because Kal Tire is focused on hiring staff who have the right skills and the right attitude, and willing to train on the job, we have also been able to help them leverage our services to create opportunities for diverse candidates while meeting their HR objectives.

Since the beginning of our partnership, we have been able to match Kal Tire with 7-8 candidates to fill seasonal positions. Some of the top candidates have gone on to be hired into full time positions where they continue to contribute to the company today.