WATCH: The job market is tight in Canada, especially for those with disabilities. Christina Stevens has more on a pool of talent that is too often overlooked.
TORONTO — For Tim Hortons employee Rebecca Whiteway, 17, getting a job was a big achievement.
“It was extremely important to get this job, I was literally crying on the phone,” said Whiteway.
Suffering from depression, anxiety and an eating disorder had left Whiteway’s confidence low when it came to finding employment.
“I do need special treatment, like if I am having a bad day, or there’s an environment I can’t be in without a panic attack.”
Her employer Mark Wafer has been giving people a chance for over 20 years at his six Tim Hortons locations. It all started with a young man he hired with Down syndrome two decades ago.
“Very quickly I realized he was my best employee,” said Wafer.
He said employees with disabilities tend to stay in positions longer and are very reliable.
“If I look at my 46 employees who have disabilities in my business today, they are my best employees.”
The Government of Canada is giving an extra boost of support to youth with disabilities looking for work in the Durham Region.
WATCH: MP for York-Simcoe Peter Van Loan was in Pickering on Thursday to usher in a new partnership with the YEAH Foundation to help support disabled job seekers.
MPs Peter Van Loan and Corneliu Chisu made the announcement Thursday afternoon in Pickering.
READ MORE: Educate employers on the benefits of hiring persons with disabilities: Ability N.B.
The Yeah Foundation, an organization supporting youth in the Durham region through mentorship and programs, will receive $334,000 in funding.
“This specific project will help some 30 youth with disabilities overcome barriers to employment,” said Van Loan. “Project participants will benefit from group workshops and one-on-one training to learn or improve employment skills, such as time management and effective communications.”
“They will also gain valuable work experience with local employers in areas such as food services, office administration or in the retail sector.”
Van Loan said the program will benefit the entire community.
“We must ensure that everyone who wants to work has the opportunity to do so,” said area MP Corneliu Chisu at the announcement.
In a 2013 report, the Panel on Labour Market Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities stated that 800,000 working-age Canadians with disabilities were not working, even though their disabilities did not prevent them from joining the labour force.
Currently the feds provide $222 million annually in funding to support programs and services to improve the employment situation for disabled Canadians.
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