Your Workshop Leader is Louie DiPalma

By expanding your search for talented employees and making your workplace accessible, you create a win-win situation: you find the right people for the jobs you need to fill and you create an inclusive atmosphere where anyone can work and boost your productivity.

What are we talking about? It’s about Discovering Ability — and matching you with perhaps some of the best employees you will ever have.

The Muskoka Lakes Chamber of Commerce invites employers from across Muskoka to join us for a free Discover Ability Workforce Workshop. Please RSVP to katelyn@muskokalakeschamber.ca

Event Details:

  • What: Discover Ability Workforce Workshop
  • When: Thursday, April 11, 2-4:30pm
    • Registration at 2pm, training until 3:30pm and questions and networking to 4:30pm
  • Where: Port Carling Legion, 4 Bailey Street, Port Carling
  • Cost: Free for both Chamber members and non members: All employers welcome. Note: We need a minimum 20 attendees for this workshop to go ahead.
  • Who: Your workshop is led by Louie DiPalma of the Discover Ability Network and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (see his bio below)
  • Your hosts: The Muskoka Lakes Chamber of Commerce, Agilec and the Port Carling Legion

Why is hiring a person with a disability good for my business?

>People with disabilities make up more than 15% of Ontario’s population This means that more than 50% of Ontarians have a disability themselves or have a close family member with a disability. And they want to work.

Fact: Studies show 90% of employees with disabilities rated average or better on job performance than their co-workers. 86% rated average or better on attendance.

>Did you know…there are Employer Incentives to hiring people with disabilities. Like wage subsidies.

Are you AODA compliant? AODA stands for Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act — and it’s something you can’t ignore.

This session will help businesses of all sizes know what is expected from them under the Act, and why hiring workers with disabilities could be the best call you make for your business, especially at a time when staff shortages are at an all time high.

Not planning to attend? Read this first: Unemployment is at its lowest than it’s been since the 1970s. You know how hard it is to get good, reliable staff. This session will show you how to connect with people eager to work. Isn’t it worth an hour of your time to learn how to do that?

Meet your Workshop Leader

Louie DiPalma is the Vice President, SME Programs at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce responsible for developing and implementing initiatives that are designed to strengthen the business climate in Ontario. During his career with the Government of Ontario, Louie held senior management positions in policy, planning and operations with the Ministry of the Solicitor General and Correctional Services, Ministry of Tourism and Recreation and Ministry of Health Promotion. As a longtime advocate for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the workforce, Louie is passionate about promoting the business case for hiring persons with disabilities.

Please feel free to save and share the image below to encourage other employers to come out to this important workshop.