This - one-day Symposium will bring together Employers and Hiring Managers; Job Seekers & Community Champions to collaborate and share their combined knowledge and experience to create workplaces that are inclusive of all levels of ability.
Symposium Program
08:00 - 08:30 Registration
08:30 - 09:00 Welcome Remarks
09:00 - 10:00 KEYNOTE SPEAKER
MARK BRAND Social Entrepreneur/Restauranteur
Mark Brand is one of North America’s foremost social entrepreneurs. With eleven businesses under his belt, he is an example of a new form of leadership that encompasses good in every step. Determined to breathe new life into our struggling and disjointed communities through his work in social impact business, Brand shares his message on the importance of sustainable business models that make a difference, while also creating successful bottom lines.
Five years ago, Brand took over Save On Meats, a Vancouver butcher and diner that has provided food security and access since 1957. In 2013, he created The Token Program, an alternate currency to feed those in need without a cash exchange. Since then, over 100,000 tokens have been redeemed, filling 100,000 empty stomachs, and creating interactions between those who have, and those in need.
In addition, in partnership with his charity A Better Life Foundation, more than 1.8 million meals have left Save On’s doors to feed those who struggle. ABLF works with community agencies, marginalized individuals, and governments to create tangible waves of change.
Along with managing the five companies under the MB Inc umbrella, Brand is a graduate of THNK, a Stanford fellow, A Professor of Innovation at USC, Executive Chef for Pope Francis’s Laudato Si Challenge, and an advisor to corporations and agencies working to make real change.
It’s through his cooking, philanthropic efforts, systems design, and love for the community that he’s found a unique balance in business and purpose.
More information about Mark - https://vimeo.com/173661086
10:15 Nutrition Break
10:30 - 12:00 noon Three concurrent workshops are offered within your registration category. Please sign up for the ONE that is most relevant to you. The workshops continue after lunch.
Access an untapped workforce and improve your bottom line and plan for the future needs of your organization.
Sign up for this interactive workshop and receive your Accessible Service Excellence Certificate from
Learn how to successfully market yourself in this thriving economy; discuss openly amongst your peers about workplace accommodations and how and when to disclose your disability challenges.
12:00 - 1:00 Lunch
1:15 - 3:00 Workshops Continued
3:00 End of Symposium