The Steinbach Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with enVision Community Living and South Eastman Rotary Club, are excited to launch the Embrace the Difference campaign on Sat. Jan. 16, at a Steinbach Pistons home game.
Embrace the Difference campaign launching on Saturday, January 16, 2016.
“As a Chamber of Commerce, we not only work on initiatives to directly promote and support the business community, but we also work on initiatives that will create a stronger community to live in, for our employees and for our families,” says Linda Peters, Executive Director at the Chamber. “Businesses need healthy communities, and communities need vibrant businesses.”
The purpose of the Embrace the Difference campaign is to raise awareness and promote the value of differences in our community, recognizing that accessibility and embracing differences allow for people of all abilities to contribute to life in our community. The campaign kicks off with a Sledge Hockey game at the TG Smith Centre on Jan. 16 from 6-7pm. This fun event is free and open to the public.
There’s way more to it than just “doing the right thing”, says Peters. “Doing the right thing is important for sure. But focusing on people’s abilities, instead of their disabilities can also be an answer to our looming workforce shortage.” By 2020, it is estimated that Canada could be short about one million workers due to an aging population and declining birth rates (Conference Board of Canada, 2000). “By working to improve quality of life in our community for those who are perceived to be living with a disability, we also improve mobility for our elders who built this great community we get to enjoy. We improve mobility for Mom’s with little children in strollers. The effects are far-reaching. It’s really all about respect, respect for everyone,” says Peters.
‘Embrace the Difference’ was selected as the slogan for this campaign as a result of a question asked of various people in our community. When asked, ‘If you had a captive audience, what would you say to them?’ one local young woman responded with ‘Embrace the Difference’. This young woman is Kiana Bergen, and in recent years, Kiana has faced some mobility challenges in this community where she grew up. Linda Peters indicates, “As a Chamber, we believe the community wants to respond to this statement, and we are simply creating an opportunity for folks to do so.”
The public is invited to hear more about the employment benefits part of this campaign when Mark Wafer speaks at the annual South Eastman Rotary Club Fundraising banquet on March 10, 2016. Mark Wafer owns 7 Tim Hortons franchises. He will speak on ‘The Business Case for Employing People with Disabilities’. Almost 25% of Mark’s workforce are people who live with a disability, and since he’s had this hiring practice, Mark says his bottom line has improved. In addition, the atmosphere throughout his organization has improved. Customers seek out his stores over other Tim Hortons stores in his region.
Let’s create opportunity for people of all abilities to contribute! ~ Linda Peters
Steinbach has often been identified as a very generous and giving community. The Chamber wants to celebrate that as well as raise awareness of the barriers that do exist, formulate possible solutions, and engage community partners in reducing those barriers. The Chamber believes that by creating a welcoming community atmosphere, Steinbach will continue to experience growth and prosperity. Without question, the single most important characteristic of an inclusive community is the overriding presence of respect. Steinbach needs to embrace an attitude that everyone has the right to be acknowledged as a valuable citizen, capable of making a positive contribution to their community.
