CLEC’s “Luncheon with the Mayors” focuses on employment
- Ron Giofu
- 6 hours ago
- 4 min read
Community Living Essex County (CLEC) reconnected with mayors and other municipal leaders, this year with an emphasis on employment.
The 20th annual “Luncheon with the Mayors” event was held last Thursday afternoon at St. Mary’s Hall in Maidstone with municipal representatives from across Essex County – including several from Amherstburg – hearing more about the organization and what they can do to employ those with disabilities.
The theme this year was “Be Seen, Be Heard, Belong,” with guest speaker Kevin McShan being an advocate for employing those with disabilities. McShan, who hosts a podcast called “Let’s Have This Conversation,” has championed employment for those with disabilities to where he has received opportunities at the provincial level to do so.
McShan encouraged municipal leaders to use their societal and political capital to be more inclusive.
McShan told the crowd it is important to judge a job seeker based on their skills rather than focusing on their disabilities.
According to McShan, research shows hiring someone with a disability leads to a 72 per cent increase in productivity.
“People with disabilities have equal rights within our society,” said McShan. “People with disabilities have to pay taxes too.”
Hiring someone with a disability not only helps them financially, it also gives that person a sense of belonging, he said. He said he wants to see a reinvention of the way people are hired, recruited and onboarded.
“When you give people with disabilities a job, you are giving them pride and purpose,” he said.
Using the theme in his remarks, CLEC’s manager of community relations and resource development Tony DeSantis noted it was the 20th year for municipal leaders gathering.
“You are helping people with intellectual disabilities to be seen, be heard and belong,” he told the roughly 115 people in attendance.
CLEC 1st vice chair Chad Sutherland thanked the leaders for coming, but not before he led a tribute to Sue Desjarlais, the board chair who passed away last month.
Desjarlais, also a LaSalle town councillor and ERCA board member, was on the CLEC board for 11 years, with Sutherland pointing out Desjarlais’ passion and devotion to the not-for-profit agency. Sutherland said “her impact was far reaching” and she worked hard to promote the agency’s goals.
Warden Hilda MacDonald said it is important to feel included, and that is something most people want to feel. MacDonald, also the mayor of Leamington, promoted the importance of improving a person’s quality of life regardless of disability, colour of skin or culture.
CLEC executive director Karen Bolger noted the agency supports over 700 people with an intellectual disability and their families. She said they deeply value the relationships they have with municipal partners and other organizations in the community and those groups are playing a vital role in helping people CLEC supports reach their full potential.
Lakeshore Mayor Tracey Bailey, also the executive director of the Community Support Centre of Essex County, used examples from both sides of her career in explaining the importance of employing people with disabilities. She said those supported by CLEC play a vital role with the Community Support Centre while the Municipality of Lakeshore works with CLEC’s Career Compass program to hire staff for the municipality. Those working for Lakeshore are stationed at such locations as the Belle River Marina and the Atlas Tube Centre.
Ron Ricci, past president of the Leamington Roma Club, also pointed out what hiring those with disabilities have also done for that organization. He said they have an employee with a disability and that employee not only does his job, but he makes others around him better. The staff member was born with a disability but Ricci said working alongside of him has taught others patience, kindness, inclusivity and teamwork.
“When we open our hearts to everyone, we all rise,” said Ricci.
Community Living Essex County is based out of Essex, but operates homes across the county where those supported live. They also operate resource centres in the county, including Channel Resource Centre in Amherstburg.
Upcoming CLEC events include the agency presenting “The Downs,” a play written and performed by Sheryl Scott. That is held at The Bank Theatre (10 Erie St. S. in Leamington) this Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and available through www.banktheatre.com.
The Charity Golf Classic returns to Sutton Creek Golf Club July 10. More information on that is found at www.communitylivingessex.org/events/charity-golf-classic/.
CLEC’s “Luncheon with the Mayors” focuses on employment
By Ron Giofu
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