By Alex Smyth

As the days get longer and the warmer weather approaches, spring leads to more days enjoying the sunshine and outdoors. While we are not at a point of returning to the pre-pandemic “normal” we all aspire to, there are many things that have opened up again for our enjoyment. 

One of my favourite places to visit in Toronto has been the Toronto Zoo. I have always enjoyed checking out the animals and learning more about the natural world around us. It had been a while since I visited last, and was eager to return to a place that brings me so much joy. 

I was excited to learn that I would the get the chance to learn about a couple more animals with Animal Class. This time it would be the flamingo and hyena, two animals I soon realized I knew little about. Yes, I knew flamingos were long, pink birds that were surprisingly adaptable to their environments, but I did not know about their behavior, their ability to wrap themselves with their necks, or the social structure that they form in their groups. 

It was truly fascinating to watch the personalities of the individual flamingos show themselves while we were there. There was one female in particular that harassed and essentially bullied the other groups of flamingos as she tried to assert her dominance of the group. I watched as she would go and push around and bug other flamingos, but she would meet resistance as a group of three or four of them would stand their ground and squawk back until she left. It was the truest showcase of the fight for social dominance in the herd, but also the bonds and relationships that the birds would form with others in their groups. I had never paid that much time or attention to a particular group of animals at a zoo before and I was glad I did because it opened a new appreciation for the complex social structures they have. 

Plus, when they got tired of all the squawking and fighting, they would nestle themselves to sleep by laying their heads and necks on their bodies, which seemed impossible to do given the size of their necks. However, they are able to bend and position their necks to wrap around the top of their bodies, preserving warmth and providing comfort. It looks strange, uncomfortable and slightly unnatural, but it was fascinating to watch.

When visiting a zoo, especially one the size of Toronto Zoo, you can be forgiven for overlooking the less popular animals like the flamingo, and focusing your attention on the big cats, rhinos, giraffes, apes and bears. But next time you visit, I recommend that you slow down a little bit and spend some time observing the wide array of other animals the zoo has, like the flamingo, because you may be surprised just how much you learn from them. Who knows, they may even become your new favourite animal! 

Watch AMI This Week, Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv, to learn more.

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By Grant Hardy

Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside has unique needs, with many in the community struggling with addiction and poverty. But there is a growing number of organizations, called social enterprises, that are entering the community to serve the public and address the issues inhabitants know all too well about. I have covered many such social enterprises throughout my career at AMI, and they are always incredible stories to share, with amazing and friendly people who open their hearts and minds both to us and to the communities they serve.

Mission Possible is one such social enterprise, and I invite you to check out the segment we produced on them for AMI This Week. The organization helps individuals break the cycle of poverty and achieve greater success in their lives. There are several arms to Mission Possible, including hot meal programs, employment readiness and pre-employment training, and even paid work experience. Of particular focus was the Employment Readiness Program. It helps marginalized community members ultimately transition into meaningful employment, including developing a résumé, gaining work experience, possibly filling gaps in said résumé, and determining the skills and abilities that serve them best. 

I spoke with two people who were positively impacted by the Employment Readiness Program. Alan struggled with alcoholism and became marginalized, but thanks to Mission Possible he now realizes his skills and abilities lend themselves to a career assisting other people who are marginalized. For example, he has knowledge on how to apply for certain tax credits they may be entitled to. Shauna and her family also struggled with drug addiction, but now she’s been able to transition to a meaningful job as a front desk worker at an SRO (single room occupancy hotel) in the Downtown Eastside.

Mission Possible is also able to provide a helping hand in other ways, such as through hot meals to community members who need them.

Ultimately, everyone we spoke to praised the community and inclusive aspects present in Mission Possible. It is obvious the staff are passionate about this project and organization, and determined to make their communities better. Now that’s inclusion, and it’s done in an incredibly respectful way that takes into account the needs of the vulnerable residents they serve. I invite you to tune into our piece to learn more about Mission Possible.

Learn more about Mission Possible on AMI This Week, Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv.

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By Jillian Gillis

Recently, the AMI Halifax bureau team got to visit a new, welcoming, and inclusive café. The North End Baking Co. and Café is a social enterprise run by Prescott Group, which opened in fall 2021. The café employs and provides training for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

The Prescott Group is an organization that has been around for a long time, supporting participants to make connections and friendships within their community, whether that's employment, volunteer work or recreational. They have a variety of social enterprises and programming to help participants to learn various life skills and explore different interests.

I am a huge believer in inclusion and equal opportunities, so when I heard about the North End Café, I couldn’t wait to check it out for myself. The café is focused on giving the group participants the opportunity to make a fair wage and gain valuable on-the-job experience in a safe and supportive work environment.

I was even more delighted to find out that the staff member I would be interviewing was an old schoolmate of mine! Katie Isenor and I met in grade primary, we haven’t had a chance to catch up in person in a long time, so it was nice to reconnect. I was impressed with Katie’s service and confidence in her job abilities.  

I also got to chat with an employment coach from Prescott Group. Adrienne McCormick works with the staff as they perform their duties, serve customers and build on their skill sets.

All the products they sell are gluten and peanut-free, and there are also dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan options available. Everything is made fresh next door in another Prescott enterprise. They serve a range of baked goods and host a full-service lunch twice a week.  

I had never tried anything gluten-free before, so while at the café I had to taste test one of their blueberry muffins. It was so yummy, and I would have never guessed that it was gluten-free! I look forward to returning to try their other selections of baked goods. 

Tune in for this story on the North End Baking Co and Café on AMI This Week, Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern, on AMI-tv.

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By Alex Smyth

As someone who lives with a disability, I’ve always had an interesting relationship with the job market. My choices for employment have always been narrowed by the physical limitations of my sight and hearing. I have been able to work in a variety of fields that didn’t feel limiting due to my disability, but I did, however, have a smaller pool of jobs to choose from. 

The number of times I have automatically been excluded by a posting due to the phrase “must possess a valid driver’s licence” is far too high to count. That said, despite those challenges and limited opportunities when given the chance to showcase my skills and abilities I have been successful. Why am I talking about my struggles with work? Because I can guarantee almost every single person who identifies as having a disability will have a similar or worse experience than mine. 

That’s why programs that support, train and provide opportunities for the disability community to gain work experience are so critical to ensuring that members of the community are given a chance. Project Search Toronto, operated by Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, along with six other organizations, is a program working to tackle that issue. 

Their program provides full-year work experience and transition-to-work development that is rarely offered for students with disabilities. In a critical time where youth are getting into their first jobs and gaining valuable experience, this program works to ensure that members of the disability community get that same chance. Focused within Holland Bloorview, the students in the program are working towards a career in the healthcare industry, so having the chance to spend the year working in a top-class facility like Holland Bloorview is hugely beneficial. 

Currently operating with 10 students at a time, the program allows participants to experience the work environment in a number of different departments and have the ability to move from department to department for each placement. While there, I met Keon, who was working at the welcome desk; Alex, who was working with client services; and Marija, who was working with child-care. All of them raved about the program, the teachers, and the experience. 

The program coordinators and teachers I met reiterated the impact that Project Search has on those who participate. I’ve always felt like experience is so valuable for any job, and that’s what helps separate this program from other co-ops that are available for students. They don’t get the amount of work experience that these students do. They may get a few weeks or a few months on a job, but in this program, it’s the full year. 

And not only do the students work, but they are learning skills that are applicable to the field, and to the independent worker as well. From WHMIS training to learning how to navigate the bus and subway, to learning how to disclose their disabilities during the interview process, these are all valuable lessons and experiences that will stay with the students after they graduate from the program. 

When I come across stories and services like Project Search, it tends to leave me a bit disheartened because I know the 10 students in that program are set up for success which is fantastic, but I then think of all of those who aren’t in a program like this, whether it was because they didn’t get into one or they didn’t know that these opportunities were available, and how much harder it is going to be for them to find meaningful work opportunities. 

While different in nature, when I was in school for journalism, I was selected for an internship that was established for students with disabilities. It was a huge opportunity for me to get my first real taste of the industry and gave me that valuable experience that I would not have gotten otherwise. Without that internship, I don’t know if I would be in the position that I am in today. So, I know first-hand how important these programs are for members of the disability community.

Hopefully, greater awareness and appreciation for the impact of employment programs like Project Search will lead to a place where all students with disabilities will have the same opportunities to reach their career goals and enjoy a career they love, just like me. 

Learn more about Project Search by tuning in to AMI This Week on Monday, December 20, at 8 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv. 

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Image courtesy of the Project Search Toronto Classroom team.

By Emily Ramsay

The Ottawa Bureau team recently got to meet Zoey Schvan, an entrepreneur who has started to build a name for herself as a mentor for people who are interested in entrepreneurship and creating their own businesses. Something that is unique for the work that she does is that she has naturally grown clientele within the disability community. 

Since she was a child, Zoey felt there was always a natural pull toward entrepreneurship – her parents and grandparents were all entrepreneurs. Growing up with a rare genetic disorder called Familial Dysautonomia, she embraced entrepreneurship because of the autonomy and control it was able to give in both her work and life.

Now a certified business coach and mentor, Zoey leads training workshops in an inclusive and accessible environment in her work with organizations like incubator13, a social enterprise at the Rideau Rockliffe Community Resource Centre, an accessible Employment Skills and Entrepreneurship Hub that engages and empowers youth under 30. Zoey was brought on to help collaborate on their entrepreneurship program, running workshop series’ focusing on youth called “Demystifying Entrepreneurship,” and leading a “Monthly Disabled Entrepreneurship Meetup” throughout the pandemic on Zoom.

Zoey’s goal has been to create a space where “business meets accessibility” by sharing her knowledge with the youth of tomorrow.

You can learn more about Zoey on AMI This Week, Monday, December 13th, at 8 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv.