Welcome distinguished guests, employers, clients, partners, and friends to our 9^th annual open house and employer appreciation ceremony.  It is with a sense of great pride that I speak to you today, because I know how significant this day is for some of you; and I know the genuine dedication that my staff and board put into seeing the success of persons with disabilities in the four strait area counties. 

Employment is a human right.  A right that the majority of us take for granted.  However, when you have been someone that may have been laughed at, stigmatized, isolated, and physically or mentally unable to participate in society, because of a barrier, it hurts and is subhuman.  The stigma and discrimination is real.  I have witnessed it just recently by professionals in this community; who deemed the discussion of disability employment issues as “insulting.”  It gives me great personal and professional satisfaction to be an advocate, an advocate for those who need a hand, or who feel unable to advocate for themselves.  Friends, we are making a difference.  The agencies of the Collaborative Partnership Network of Nova Scotia, of which East Novability is a part, and the agencies of the Canadian Association of Supportive Employment of which we are also a part, are making a difference.  It is no coincidence that persons with disabilities are returning to the labour market faster than any other minority group in the province of Nova Scotia over the past decade.  The results of our programs are paying off for the people that need them the most.  This represents clients that have been out of the work force for a month, year, 5 years, 10 years, 15 years and more, as well as those who never have worked because of a disability.  Our programs are saving the governments of our provinces thousands if not millions of dollars a year in social support payments, while having the combined effect of putting money into the economy.  The government wins, the tax payer wins, our communities win, and most importantly the client like Jillian Johnson, Mary MacLellan, Frances St. Louis, and Jenna Pye wins; amongst many others. 

The other winner is the business community.  Businesses have a tough road ahead.  Aside from factory closures, power rate increases, and a high Canadian dollar; is a pending labour shortage in the immediate years ahead compounded by out migration from rural NS.  More and more businesses across the country and right here in the strait area are starting to take a serious look at the skills and abilities of persons with disabilities.  So what if you can’t do 10/10 tasks, but can do 6 or 7 perfectly.  You still are skilled.  Have any of us ever been able to do all requirements of our job descriptions to perfection?  PWD represent the answer to the pending labour shortage, and employers are discovering that when they take on a pwd they end up hiring the most loyal and dedicated of employees often with low expectations, who just want to work and do a good job right in their home community.  Today we say thank you to the employers that have realized this here on a local level.  Carreer beacon should not be your first call, but East Novability instead. 

Chris Cook reading from Dr. Nagler’s “What’s Stopping You”

Chris Cook, Cyril MacDonald, and client winner, Jenna Pye

Client Award winners: Jenna Pye, Jillian Johnson, Frances St. Louis, (left to right)

Left to right, Chris Cook, Jenna Pye, Jillian Johnson, Frances St. Louis, and Cyril MacDonald