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THE LATEST FROM OPEN DOOR GROUP

Untapped Awards Event 2022 Welcomed over 300 Guests across BC

Untapped Awards Event 2022 Welcomed over 300 Guests across BC

On Sept 28th, 2022, Open Door Group, in partnership with the Presidents Group and BC WiN welcomed over 300 guests across BC to join Untapped 2022- BC Workplace Inclusion Awards event. Among them were businesses of all sizes, individuals, Untapped award nominees, finalists, recipients, service providers, government representatives, industry experts, and press agencies… who gathered to celebrate moving the dial on disability inclusion in the workplace here in British Columbia. The event took place in-person at Parq Vancouver and live streamed at Open Door Group Facebook page.

This event was not possible without the valuable contribution from our presenters, speakers, sponsors, supportive partners, volunteers, and event attendees. We would like to thank Elder Dalannah Bowen for Land Acknowledgement, the Honorable Carla Qualtrough– Minister of Employment and Disability Inclusion & Alona Puehse for the meaningful Opening Remarks, Dan Coulter– Parliamentary Secretary for Accessibility for a helpful and informative Welcome Remarks. We are also grateful to have Kristin Bower– Founding Partner at Leda HR as our MC, Yat Li– Senior Accessibility Consultant at Presidents Group & Jamie Miller-Dixon– Principal Consultant at MacLeod Silver HR Business Partner as our award presenters, Jim Meyer for a great live music performance, Lisa Beecroft– Co Chair of Presidents Group for an impactful Closing Remarks. Thank you- Untapped 2022 sponsors and supportive partners for your generous contribution. Thank you- Untapped attendees, award nominees & recipients to make Untapped Awards a memorable event. It was a wonderful opportunity to re-connect, meet new people, and share best practices on how to make our workplace more inclusive, diverse, and accessible for everyone!

photo of Untapped award 2022 participants, nominees, finalists, and recipients.

Photos of Untapped Award 2022 participants, nominees, finalists, and recipients. Photos were taken on Sept 28 at PARQ Vancouver.

This year, we were thrilled to receive 61 nominations across BC for Untapped Awards. Congratulations to all Untapped Award 2022 nominees, finalists, and recipients. Your efforts to build a more #diverse, #inclusive, and #equitable BC where everyone can thrive fuels a #barrierfree BC. To view the full list of Untapped 2022 Award nominees, top finalists, recipients, please visit this link

INCLUSION CHAMPION – Individual (Individual or Leadership)
  • Award Recipient: Rebecca Paluch
  • Award Finalists: Tess Menges, Taylor Chobotiuk
INCLUSIVE CULTURE CHAMPION – Non-Profit Organization & Public Sector
INCLUSIVE CULTURE CHAMPION – Social Enterprise
INCLUSIVE CULTURE CHAMPION – Small BC Business (1-99 employees)
INCLUSIVE CULTURE CHAMPION –Medium & Large BC Business (100+ employees)
INCLUSIVE CULTURE CHAMPION – Rising Star

Untapped photographer captured some great moments of the event. To view/ download your photos, please visit this link.

It will be great if you can help us spread the news on Untapped Awards by using hashtag: #Untappedawards Please ensure to tag us @OpenDoorGroup & @Accessibleemployers

Remember to check our Untapped website for more news on call for nominations, sponsorship opportunities, and 2023 Untapped event. Please don’t forget to check our innovative and free Disability Inclusive Employer Self-Assessment Tool to receive free report with resources and ways to improve DEI at your workplace: https://disabilityinclusion.ca/

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please feel free to contact us at Info@opendoorgroup.org.

We look forward to welcoming you to Untapped 2023 event!

-Jennifer Do, Open Door Group Communications & Marketing Manager-

Gardengate Salsa Challenge

16th Annual Gardengate Salsa Challenge

On Friday, August 26th, Gardengate celebrated another year of “Growing Food, Growing Futures” during its 16th Annual Summer Salsa Challenge! Participants, volunteers, and staff were joined by community service providers and Kamloops residents to celebrate another year of hard work and friendship.

From 12:30-3:00PM, Gardengate welcomed everyone to drop-in and sample salsas from 11 community teams and cast their vote for the People’s Choice and Team Spirit awards. The Chef’s Choice was awarded by a local Salsa expert. Other event highlights included a photo booth, garden tours, music, food and plenty of opportunities to catch up with old friends and make new ones.

This year, 11 teams joined the Gardengate Salsa Challenge to compete for the best salsa sauce:

·       Overlander’s Mexican Spice Girls ·       Gardengate Gauchos ·       Kamloops Food Policy Council
·       Kamloops Immigrant Services – KISalsa ·       Dengarry’s 8th Street Salsations ·       CMHA’s Clubhouse Tamales
·       South Hills Tertiary’s Viva Southills Salsa ·       ICS’s Options and Opportunities, ·       IH MHSU’s Red Hot Community Peppers
·       Open Door Group-Opportunities Fund & Career Pathways to Success ·       Kamloops Food Bank  

 

Here are the winners of the 2022 Gardengate Salsa Challenge:

  • Salsa cup as decided by the mystery judge – Overlander’s Mexican Spice Girls
  • People’s Choice salsa – Kamloops Immigrant Services – KISalsa
  • Team Spirit award – South Hills Tertiary’s Viva Southills Salsa

Open Door Group- Gardengate Salsa Challenge participants- 2022

 

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this year’s Gardengate Salsa Challenge. Your laughter, your presence, and your salsa recipes made it a memorable summer afternoon. We love seeing the community in action. For those of you who were unable to attend the event this year, we captured some great moments:

salsa challenge gardengate participants

Image: photo of 2022 Gardengate salsa challenge participants. From top to bottom: Kamloops Immigrant Services – KISalsa, CMHA’s Clubhouse Tamales, and South Hills Tertiary’s Viva Southills Salsa

Image: photo of 2022 Gardengate salsa challenge participants.

Image: photo of 2022 Gardengate salsa challenge participants. From top to bottom: Open Door Group, and South Hills Tertiary’s Viva Southills Salsa

Image: photo of 2022 Gardengate salsa challenge participants

Image: photo of 2022 Gardengate salsa challenge participants. From top to bottom: Overlander’s Mexican Spice Girls, South Hills Tertiary’s Viva Southills Salsa, and Gardengate Gauchos

This event was not possible without the generous contribution from our sponsors. Thank you Remax for providing us with the tent and K 97.5 Classic Rock Radio for supporting the event!

Gardengate salsa challenge 2022 sponsors

Image: Photo of the 2022 Gardengate sponsors: Fresh is Best Salsa &co., The Fun Factor, The Chopped Leaf, Open Door Group- Gardengate, Kelly O Bryan’s, Let’s Move Studio, BC Wildlife Park Kamloops, The Home Depot Kamloops, Senor Froggy, Canadian Tire Kamloops, Safeway Kamloops, Starbuck Kamloops, Oxygen Yoga & Fitness, DQ Kamloops, Kamloops Community YMCA-YWCA

About Gardendate program: Gardengate is a space of healing and recovery for individuals living with addictions or mental health conditions. Through activities in the garden, we’ll support you to work towards personal goals such as healthy eating, active living, or vocational training.  More info: https://www.opendoorgroup.org/programs/gardengate/

#Opendoorgroup #gardengate #gardengatesalsachallenge #communityevent #Kamloops

Open Door Group Kamloops Team Celebrated Pride Week!

Open Door Group Kamloops Team Celebrated Pride Week!

Open Door Group (ODG) was thrilled to celebrate and support LGBTQ2+ culture with Kamloops Pride Week every August.

From the week of August 22- 28, Kamloops streets and store windows were wrapped in rainbow flag colors, the city event calendar was filled with dances, parties, comedy, drag, youth focused events to highlight inclusivity and diversity. Pride Week 2022 was organized by Kamloops Pride to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/questioning and two-spirit (LGBTQ2S+) people in the Kamloops area. This year, ODG participated in two main events: Pride Resource Carnival on August 26 and the 2022 Downtown Pride Parade on August 28.

On Friday afternoon, our team had a chance to join dozens of community and service providers at Sahali Secondary School Gymnasium-255 Arrowstone Drive, Kamloops BC for the Pride Resource Carnival.

Image: Open Door Group at Kamloops Pride Resource Carnival, August 26, 2022Image: Open Door Group at Kamloops Pride Resource Carnival, August 26, 2022

Image description: 6 photos of Open Door Group booth at the Kamloops Pride Resource Carnival and its event participants.

Our booth was filled with fun, laugher, and joy! Thank you for stopping by our booth to play games, win prizes, learn about our #free employment programs & training opportunities, while provide us with your ideas on how to build an inclusive and diverse community where everyone can thrive. Thank you for all the positive messages and valuable feedback to our team.

Open Door Group team at Kamloops Pride Resource Carnival, August 26 2022

Image: Open Door Group team at Kamloops Pride Resource Carnival, August 26 2022

Image description: image of Open Door Group team at the Kamloops Pride Resource Carnival. Our team members from top left to right: Jordyn, Belle, David. From bottom left to right: Jennifer, Anjali, Louise, and Tori.

In the morning of August 28, ODG team was excited to prepare and participate in the Kamloops Downtown Pride Parade! We were amazed to witness how downtown Kamloops was transform to a whirl of rainbow colours, music, honking and cheering as the Kamloops Pride parade participants danced along Victoria Street!

Open Door Group team at Kamloops Pride Parade, August 26 2022Image: Open Door Group team at Kamloops Pride Parade, August 26 2022

Image description: image of Open Door Group team at the Kamloops Pride Parade. All team members dressed in ODG Happy Pride t-shirts and held Pride banner to walk the parade at downtown Kamloops.

“It was so encouraging! The carnival and Parade went very well and was filled with fun and supportive individuals, reaching out to the Pride community felt very impactful and welcomed…Continuing to offer our support will make a warm welcome to other LGBTQIA2S+ individuals and we can be a supportive ally in the community!” said one of our ODG Kamloops team members, Tori Elter who helped to organize and participate in Kamloops Pride Week this year.

Image: Open Door Group team at Kamloops Pride Parade, August 26 2022

Image description: image of Open Door Group team at the Kamloops Pride Parade. All team members dressed in ODG Happy Pride t-shirts and held ODG banner to walk the parade at downtown Kamloops. From left to right: Louise, David, Devon, Anjali.

The parade was the perfect way for us at ODG to wrap up the amazing #PRIDEWEEK at Kamloops that finally returned after a two-year of the pandemic.

-ODG Kamloops team-

#Kamloops #KamloopsPrideWeek #HappyPride #OpenDoorGroup #Beloudstayproud

 

 

 

 

“Aashtum nichimos! Oota! Oota!” (Come here, Sweetheart. Hurry!) Reconnecting to Indigenous Culture and Family through Language

“Aashtum nichimos! Oota! Oota!” (Come here, Sweetheart. Hurry!)

Reconnecting to Indigenous Culture and Family through Language

Trish Kelly is a citizen of the Métis Nation of BC, with family ties back to the Red River. She is as an accessibility and inclusion consultant and led the development of the Disability Inclusive Employer Self-Assessment tool for Open Door Group. To recognize Indigenous History Month, Trish will share her experience reconnecting with her Métis language and the proud history of the Métis as an act of resistance and love.  

“Taanishi Kiiyawow, Trish Kelly dishinakashon. Aen femme Michif niiya. Prince Albert pi Carleton oschi niiya, maaka Squamish niiwiikin eekwa. Gonneville, Delorme, Larocque, pi Chartrand son mes nom de famii.” (Southern Michif language)

I just introduced myself in Southern Michif, one of the languages of the Métis Nation, a language that I am just getting to know now in mid-life. I’m not fluent, but if Stats Canada is right, there are only several hundred fluent speakers across the country. But I think it’s fair to say that more Métis people are reclaiming our languages every day and I hope to be a small part of the language revitalization of Michif; for myself, for others like me who grew up without access to our culture, and specifically for my mother.

As far as I know, my mother only knew one sentence in Michif. She had a complicated relationship to her indigeneity, but I think if she’d known more, she would have taught me. While her family experienced discrimination, she had a great bond with her Métis grandmother, and she held on to that love and pride for where she came from despite the racism and exclusion her family experienced.

Her parents discouraged the speaking of Michif. Being indigenous at all, and definitely being Métis, was a dangerous identity to claim. The family tried to pass for white, an experiment that succeeded in keeping my mother and her siblings from being forced into day schools or residential schools, but at the cost of access to our culture and language.

About two years ago, I read the seminal book The Northwest is Our Mother by Jean Teillet who applied a lawyer’s thoroughness to telling the history of the Métis Nation from its inception. Her book gave me a new degree of pride in my lineage and lit me up with a desire to learn the language.

I signed up for a Michif course, and in one of the early classes, my teacher said, “Be gentle with yourself when you are learning this language.” He advised us to celebrate each word we learned and said that the most important phrases we could learn were how to tell our family that we love them.

And one class, I heard a phrase that was familiar to me. It was the one phrase of Michif my mother had taught me. She’d said her grannie always seemed to calling it after her on their trips out on the prairie. “Aashtum nichimos! Oota! Oota!” In that class that I learned the meaning of this phrase to be “Come here, Sweetheart. Hurray!” It was like coming out of a patch of bad cell reception into a good signal again. It was as if I was hearing this message directly from my great grandmother herself, telegraphed to me through two generations of poor connection, but the love was still there.

For many Canadians, Indigenous History Month is a time to come to terms with the facts and the truth that must come before reconciliation. For me, it is a chance to remember the love that my family bravely held on to with such care through generations to gift to me.

Written by: Trish Kelly, a citizen of the Métis Nation of BC

UnTapped Awards 2022 Nominations are open!

a boy with disability is holding a notebook, while chatting with a women who is showing him her cellphone. There is a lady on wheelchair on the right corner of the photo

UnTapped Awards 2022

Reconnect. Renew. Reinvigorate

Nominations are open!

We are thrilled to let you know that Open Door Group signature event, in partnership with Presidents Group and BCWiN: UnTapped Awards 2022 is back in-person this year, after two years of hosting virtually.

UnTapped BC Workplace Inclusion Awards is an annual event that celebrates BC Businesses and individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to fostering accessible and inclusive workplaces.

Do you know an individual, business, non-profit, public sector organization, or social enterprise who is a Diversity Champion? Please help us recognize, acknowledge and honour their extraordinary accomplishments by nominating them for the BC Workplace Inclusion Awards

Our Nominations are open from June 15th– August 21st, 2022. The Awards event will take place on September 28th from 11:00 am-2:30 pm PST at PARQ Vancouver, our Untapped 2022 official venue sponsor.

Nominations are accepted in 5 different categories:

  • Individual or Leadership
  • BC Small Business (1-99 employees)
  • BC Medium & Large -Sized Business (100+ employees)
  • Non-Profit Organization & Public Sector
  • Social Enterprise

We also encourage self-nominations! NOMINATION DEADLINE – AUGUST 21, 2022.

The top finalists will be featured through a social media campaign showcasing examples of how different individuals, organizations, and businesses across BC are champions for accessibility and inclusion. Their stories will become a call to action for people inside and outside of the UnTapped community inspiring others to commit their time and effort toward making the world of work more equitable, accessible, and inclusive!

We will announce top finalists and the winners at the Awards Event at PARQ Vancouver, from 11:00 am- 2:30 pm. Our nominees will receive one complimentary free ticket. Additional tickets are also available for nominee at a special discounted price (up to two tickets) for their family & friends to attend the event.

For more information, please visit our website at: https://untappedseries.ca/

For sponsorship opportunities, please visit: https://untappedseries.ca/sponsorship/

Media contact person: Jennifer Do, Marketing & Communications

Jennifer.do@opendoorgroup.org

#UnTappedAwards #Diversity #HR #Inclusive #DiversityChampion

Disability Inclusive Employer Self-Assessment Launched for Canadian Employers

News release

Disability Inclusive Employer Self-Assessment Launched for Canadian Employers

Open Door Group and Presidents Group developed free tool for Canadian employers.

VANCOUVER June 2nd, 2022 – In time for National AccessAbility Week, Open Door Group and Presidents Group, two BC organizations committed to improving employment for people with disabilities in Canada, are pleased to launch a new tool to help employers create workplaces that are measurably more disability inclusive.

The two organizations collaborated to dive deep into recent international research on what practices truly increase inclusion and retention of people with disabilities in the workplace. The organizations conducted a literature review seeking the most promising practices leading to disability inclusion and an environmental scan to evaluate what resources are available to employers who wish to expand their diversity and inclusion scope to include people with disabilities.

The result is an online 35 question self-assessment that is free to access and takes about 15 minutes to complete. The assessment identifies top practices in areas such as hiring and retention, employee benefits, physical and digital accessibility, mental health, and metrics. Employers who complete the self-assessment download their results report of up to 20 pages of resources including quick reads and valuable resources like training programs, templates and guidebooks.

Alona Puehse, Chief Executive Officer at Open Door Group says this initiative helps bridge the gap between employers who see the value in making their workplaces welcoming to this vast talent pool and the knowhow it takes to get started.  “We often work with employers of different sectors and sizes who want to be more disability inclusive, but a barrier is just knowing where to start,” Puehse explains. “This free, accessible, and evidence-based tool is intended to help fill that knowledge gap. In 15 minutes, employers can get a sense of where they’re at, and what tangible practices they can adopt to become more disability inclusive.  In this competitive labour market, employers can’t afford to miss this aspect of workplace inclusion.”

Presidents Group senior staff Yat Li is a communication professional with a hearing disability. Li says, “Ensuring a web-based tool that is inclusive of people with disabilities is important. Designing online content that includes people with disabilities is both the right thing to do and easy to accomplish.” Robin Silvester, President and CEO of Port of Vancouver as well as the Co-Chair at Presidents Group, says “It was important to design this tool to be compliant with international web accessibility content guidelines (WCAG 2.1 AA) so that people with disabilities, including disabled employers and employees with disabilities looking to evaluate their own companies can use the tool. Additionally, we worked with professional writers and accessibility testers with disabilities to develop this tool. We did it on time, on budget, and I think it is going to have a huge impact.”

The tool can now be accessed at DisabilityInclusion.ca.

Quick Facts

  • In Canada, 20% of working age adults (25 and over) have a disability.[i]
  • And yet, disability is the overlooked equity deserving group. Even organizations with mature diversity and inclusion efforts miss naming disability as a dimension of diversity.[ii]
  • People with disabilities experience higher rates of unemployment than nondisabled Canadians. Among Canadians aged 25 to 64 years, disabled people are less likely to be employed (59%) than those without disabilities (80%).[iii]
  • Nearly 650,000 Canadians with disabilities can work but are not currently employed.[iv]
  • People with disabilities say employers have a long way to go to reach disability inclusion. A 2021 poll by Angus Reid and Rick Hansen Foundation found (40%) of those living with a disability say that companies fall short when it comes to hiring those who are disabled.[v]

Associated Links

  • Disability Inclusive Employer Self-Assessment ca
  • Open Door Group org
  • Presidents Group ca

About Open Door Group

Open Door Group is a CARF-accredited, not-for-profit organization and registered charity providing employment services to thousands of individuals across BC each year. Open Door Group works with individuals who are interested in preparing for, finding, and keeping meaningful employment and employers of all sectors and sizes. In addition to employment services, they produce BC’s Untapped Workplace Inclusion Awards.

About Presidents Group

Formed in 2013, the Presidents Group is a network of 25 change-driven BC business leaders who are champions for more accessible, inclusive workplaces. Representing businesses of all different sizes and sectors, including crown corporations, transportation, tech, and food and beverage, the Group also plays an advisory role to BC’s Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. The Group’s vision is to make British Columbia the province with the highest employment for people with disabilities.

Notes:

  1. [i] https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/89-654-x/89-654-x2018002-eng.htm
  2. [ii] https://www.mercer.com/content/dam/mercer/attachments/private/gl-2021-the-state-of-disability-engagement.pdf
  3. [iii] https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/89-654-x/89-654-x2018002-eng.htm
  4. [iv] https://www.crwdp.ca/sites/default/files/documentuploader/ont_cluster_report_accessible.pdf
  5. [v] https://www.rickhansen.com/sites/default/files/downloads/rhfpostelectioneng.pdf

Alona Puehse- Upcoming CEO of Open Door Group

Alona Puehse- Upcoming CEO of Open Door Group

Diversity, Workforce, Multicultural, Interview

Alona Puehse, incoming CEO of Open Door Group

The Open Door Group Board of Directors is thrilled to announce Alona Puehse as incoming Chief Executive Officer upon current CEO, Tom Burnell’s retirement on March 1st, 2022.

 

Over the past 13 years, Alona has demonstrated her ongoing commitment to furthering Open Door Group’s mission of opening doors to lifelong learning and career success.  She has held the role of Chief Operating Officer for the past four years and we are delighted to appoint her as incoming CEO.   Under her leadership, we have no doubt the organization will continue with great momentum and she will bring a strong vision for Open Door Group’s next chapter.” Bill Rana, Chair, Open Door Group Board of Directors.

 

By way of background, Alona came to Open Door Group from the private sector in 2009, bringing with her a strong track record in international business development and a fierce desire to support people through employment and economic independence. Her passion and entrepreneurial vision quickly became a beacon within the organization. She has a genuine passion for diversity and inclusion, social justice, and lifelong learning, demonstrated through her achievements at Open Door Group and her work in the community as a volunteer.

 

I’m honoured to be selected as the incoming CEO. Open Door Group has always operated on the fundamental belief that all individuals have the ability and right to succeed. The meaningful work we do – together with our community, government and business partners, is important, now more than ever.  We are facing many unprecedented issues in the economy, the climate, socially – all having profound impacts on how we look at work. To take on these challenges and opportunities with such a dedicated team, is the greatest honour.” Alona Puehse

 

Alona will be starting her role as CEO on March 1st, 2022. The Board extends its gratitude to Tom Burnell for his 27 years of dedicated service which involved many significant accomplishments, including growing Open Door Group from a small, Vancouver-based organization delivering skill development workshops to people with disabilities, to what is now one of the largest non-profit organizations in the province serving thousands of British Columbians to build skills and achieve career success.

Contact us today

Benefits that a diverse workforce will bring to your business.

Benefits that a diverse workforce will bring to your business.

Diversity, Workforce, Multicultural, Interview

Why is diversity in organizations important?

We live in a diverse society, of people with different ethnicities, Persons with Disabilities, LGBTQIA2S+, men and women. In a society with such cultural diversity, it is necessary and important that organizations develop a mature posture to face differences. Diversity in the workforce means acknowledging employees differences and supporting inclusion for a variety of different perspectives, which is highly beneficial planning and executing a business strategy.

What are the benefits of having a diverse workforce?

Performance and Reputation as a Progressive Employer

A business or organization that values ​​diversity is more accurately reflects the world. Valuing diversity also contributes to a company’s reputation. After all, it is an attitude of awareness and responsibility towards society. In addition, learning about the diverseness that employees have in the workforce is disseminated in the social environment by the professionals themselves. When they go to other environment, they reproduce the behaviors learned at work. With that, they become examples for other people.

Knowledge and Experience

Diverse cultural perspectives can inspire creativity and drive innovation. Local market knowledge and insight makes a business more competitive and profitable. Cultural sensitivity, insight, and local knowledge means higher quality, targeted marketing. Since it means that employees will have different characteristics and backgrounds, they are also more likely to have a variety of different skills and experiences.

Employee Retention

When there is a lot of exclusion in the team due to the difficulties of living with differences, it is common to leave the company. Sometimes, because they cannot support the segregation dynamic among colleagues, some team members prefer to leave their jobs. This process is very problematic. Intolerant teams tend to have a high turnover rate because professionals do not account for the exclusion. With a diverse group that welcomes differences, employees feel more secure and welcomed. This contributes to cooperativeness and a sense of belonging. Thus, turnover is much lower in the company.

Productivity, Creativity and Motivation

In an environment that values ​​differences and brings diversity as an element that adds to the business, employees feel they have more freedom to have authenticity and genuineness at work. This contributes to more originality in the production of their work. Further, the diverse environment provides conditions for new ideas and more engaged and creative team, ready to unlock their potential.

Increased Profits

Companies with a diverse workforce make better decisions, which gives them a serious advantage over their competitors. As a result, companies with diversity in the workplace achieve better business results and reap more profit.

Reduce Recruitment Costs Working with Programs like the OPPORTUNITIES FUND 

Employers who hire a new employee utilizing Opps Fund may also be eligible to receive disability support services such as the provision of funding for technology or equipment, workshops (such as Mental Health First Aid for their staff), and on-site job coaching for their new employee.

Where to Start?

It is only possible to learn to respect diversity through learning and understanding. Inclusion programs in the company are a great alternative to promote employee engagement, to educate your team, promote interaction with different customs and to raise awareness about inclusion in the work place environment. These iniciatives help professionals mature and also strengthen ties between colleagues.

OPEN DOOR GROUP  provides support to business and employers who want to improve diversity in their workforce. Connect with us to learn how we can help you.

Contact us today

Our condolences to the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation and all Indigenous communities.

Our condolences to the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation and all Indigenous communities.

Trigger warning: loss, death
 
Horrific news of the 215 children’s remains found at the former Kamloops residential school. Our condolences to the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation and all Indigenous communities.
 
The 215 children and all other lives so wrongly taken, may you rest in peace, and may your families find healing. Lives taken, families torn apart, intergenerational trauma – this is a painful reminder of the atrocious history of Canada’s treatment of Indigenous People. We acknowledge that this deep rooted racism still exists today, and we must do better.
 
Support available:
Support is available for anyone affected by the lingering effects of residential schools, and those who are triggered by the latest reports.
 
The IRSSS can be contacted toll-free at 1-800-721-0066.
 
A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for former students and those affected. Access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419.
 
Within B.C., the KUU-US Crisis Line Society provides a First Nations and Indigenous-specific crisis line available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It’s toll-free and can be reached at 1-800-588-8717 or online at www.kuu-uscrisisline.com.

New home for Thrive

New home for Thrive

THRIVE has a new home!!! It is in the Vancouver- Fairview neighbourhood in a beautiful heritage house. We don’t have a THRIVE signage yet but the entrance to the office is from the back alley.

The new Thrive office is location is:
1151 W8th Ave
Vancouver, BC  V6H 1C5

Between Spruce and Alder Street

Our office is open for programming and 1:1 appointments. Please see our office hours on the website. If you need to connect with us, email us at thrive.registration@opendoorgroup.org or call 604-876-0773.

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