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Take the 'Chill' out of Winter

If I asked lets say a 100 people, "how many would much rather stay at home and keep warm under woolen blankets rather than go to work"... how many would you think say ‘yes’?  Would you be one of them? 

Even though most of us would much rather hibernate during these cold winter months, it is even more important to become motivated and take advantage of the great opportunities that are out there.  

If you are currently looking for employment, you can do that by possibly attending employment fairs, employment workshops, networking events and ofcourse sending out your resumes to the many job opportunities out there.  Employers are actively recruiting candidates during the winter months and community agencies across the GTA are either posting them on their job boards or organizing their own employment fair – some with the opportunity to interview on the spot!

To access a listing on upcoming employment fairs / conferences, click here:
http://maze.realeasy.ca/users/jobfairs/eventlist.aspx

To access our job board click here:
http://maze.realeasy.ca/users/jobbank/jobpostings.aspx

To access our volunteer board, click here:
http://maze.realeasy.ca/users/jobbank/jobpostingsvol.aspx

If you are looking to gain new skills and create new networks, Mazemaster / Youth@bilities along with the Scarborough Centre for Employment Accessibility are holding a series of workshops.

To find out more, click here:
http://maze.realeasy.ca/maze/youthabilities/dec.pdf

Don’t forget to access our Bulletin Event Board for upcoming events. 
http://maze.realeasy.ca/users/events/eventlist.aspx

 

 

If you would like to add an event / activity to any of these sections, contact youthabilities@mazemaster.on.ca

 

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Nancy

 

In the modern workforce, many legislations have been introduced to protect the rights of the individual.  Among these are the policies that form Employment Equity.  Critics of this movement argue that Employment Equity results in lowering qualifications for the purpose of glorifying the image of organizations, so as to make them appear more diverse. 

This is a point of view that does not sit well with me.  Persons of minority have been discriminated against for so long, due to reasons beyond our control, whether it be related to sex, race or disability.  Now that we are being given a chance to really exercise our talents in the workforce, many assume that our entrance or advancement is the result of decreased standards. 

As an individual with a disability I have come across this point of view on many occasions.  Several persons have assumed that I have been given a job because of my blindness and not my abilities…so as to meet a quota, rather than reflect the desired qualifications of a position.  This narrow-minded frame of thinking really frustrates me because my disability is being viewed over my ability. 

I am a firm believer in employment equity because I feel that it is the key to opportunities, and without its existence persons of minority would still be discriminated against. 
I truly believe that stereotypes cannot be overcome without Employment Equity because assumptions would take precedence over curiosity.  Nevertheless, I do recognize that it is not yet a perfected policy, and that a lot of work has to be done on it. 

The introduction of employment equity has shifted the dynamic of the public sphere, and I think the controversy concerning the act stems from fear of change. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that when protective policies are introduced they are usually done for the betterment of the whole; for reasons of progression verses limitation.

Employment Equity is not a free card for a person of minority, nor is it a guarantee for job employment.  It fights for equality for all persons, but at the same time it can be seen as restricting because we are robbing persons of their individuality to place everyone on the same playing field.

 With that said I would like to argue that we are all equal, but we are not all the same; consequently, when someone is interviewed for a job the focus should be on ability.  It is not a question of equality, but rather one of equity. 

Equity challenges society to meet the needs of people and provide them with the resources to achieve at their highest level.  In addition, equity encourages us to acknowledge the individual worth of each person (an important factor that went unacknowledged within the infrastructures of society until the late 1980’s). 

I think that before we depreciate the value of this movement we really need to understand what it stands for, and the benefits and affects it has on our society.  Apart from offering access to opportunities for the individual, employment equity has increased Canada’s ability to compete in the global market; moreover, having a diverse workforce has allowed for better service to a diverse customer base (which is the makeup of a multicultural Canada). 

The purpose of affirmative action is to eliminate barriers, and is a necessary component for the growth of society.  Before we can put persons on the same playing field, we need to make sure that the proper tools are in place to protect their rights and cater to their needs.

By:  Nancy Pereira
Advocacy Correspondent