Vancouver Island Community Connections, a local organization that helps adults with developmental disabilities find meaningful employment, has recognized two Comox Valley businesses for their inclusive hiring practices.

Blue Toque Sports Swap and Strathcon Industries Maintenance & Repair Products have each been singled out for their 鈥渁bility to see beyond disability,鈥� strengthening both their business and the community by hiring employees of diverse abilities.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e leading by example,鈥� says VICC director Lesley Gibson. 鈥淟ots of people talk about promoting an inclusive workplace, but Blue Toque and Strathcon are doing it.鈥�

Brad Haugan, owner of Strathcon Industries, recently hired 20-year-old Tyler Barker through VICC鈥檚 Community Employment Program, which matches pre-screened employees with employers that have suitable job vacancies. Initially hired on a trial basis as a 鈥減arts-picker,鈥� Barker quickly established himself as a valuable member of the Strathcon team, working with a high degree of organization and accuracy.

鈥淚f you don鈥檛 take the chance, you never know how it鈥檚 going to work out,鈥� says Haugan. 鈥淩egardless of one鈥檚 education, experience or ability, parts-picking is a demanding job that lots of people haven鈥檛 been able to master. I鈥檇 really encourage business owners to try the VICC program.鈥�

Barker splits his work time between Strathcon and Blue Toque, whose owners Paul and Salinas LaPerriere also hired him to cover one shift a week. Echoing Haugan鈥檚 praise, they say Barker has been a great asset, helping them open in the morning, organize the shop鈥檚 massive inventory and generally keep things flowing at a steady pace.

鈥淭his is a situation where everybody wins,鈥� says Paul. 鈥淚t works for us because we got a great new employee, it鈥檚 great for Tyler because he found a job and a schedule he enjoys, and it鈥檚 good for the community because maybe it will help eliminate some of the stigma that still exists. It was totally worth getting involved.鈥�

VICC鈥檚 Community Employment Service customizes jobs to match the needs of employee and employer. Once a position is created, an employment specialist provides on-the-job training at no cost to the employer, which Gibson says has been one of the keys to the program鈥檚 success.

鈥淎ny employer knows that hiring and training can be two of the most frustrating parts of running a business,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e take that frustration out of the equation.鈥�

For more information, contact a VICC employment specialist at viccemployment@gmail.com or 250-338-7201.