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Meet Brooks Hanewich, Gateway’s new Executive Director

Hello! My name is Brooks Hanewich and I’m soon to become the next Executive Director of Gateway Association. I’ve been asked to write a short piece about joining Gateway, and I have to say it has been a struggle to contain it to a few paragraphs. There are so many positive elements that boiling it down is tough, but here goes ...

First and foremost, I’m excited about the people -- from the people who turn to Gateway for supports and services, to the staff and board who are clearly inspiring, strong, and dedicated. Just the other day, I attended the Mayor’s Luncheon and witnessed, in the face of several big organizational changes, an inspiring, impactful event that ran as smoothly and flawlessly as an event could. Through it all, the staff were calm, professional, and engaging. I left that event knowing more clearly than ever that I had made the right choice and I was lucky to be joining such a strong team. To be fair, it shouldn’t have surprised me. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Gateway as a stakeholder over many years and I could always count on them to drive the discussion, push me and others to think differently, and ultimately deliver with a high degree of professionalism and warmth.

I suppose what I’m trying to capture is that Gateway is a perfect fit in regards to values. What I’m excited about is working with an organization that believes and fights for human rights and that does so in increasingly innovative and boundary-pushing ways. And I’m also excited about working for an organization that’s constantly reflecting and open to challenging perceptions about how things can be done. For me, it’s the perfect mix of good people, strong values, and the right amount of challenge that screams the sky’s the limit!

I have a lot to learn and we have a number of challenges ahead, but I can’t help feeling that this next phase at Gateway is going to continue to be fruitful and fun.

See you soon.

Brooks

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‘There are jobs for all people’

Michael Liber, owner of Baseline Dairy Queen in Sherwood Park, is a huge champion of diversity. He believes wholeheartedly in hiring people with disabilities in meaningful, paid roles and he trains managers at Dairy Queens across Canada on how to do it well.

Liber will be guest speaker at Gateway Association’s Mayors Luncheon May 4, an annual event the grassroots nonprofit association hosts with politicians and forward-thinking business leaders.

This year’s theme is Achieving Diversity Through Great Partnerships. Liber, who won Dairy Queen’s Innovator Award and Franchisee of the Year for Canada in January, hopes to share one of the keys to his success with the business community at the networking event.

“I want to make people aware. My Dairy Queen does the second highest volume of business in all of Canada,” says Liber. Why? “Diversity attracts our ‘fans.’ I have customers who will travel from other communities to come to my restaurant because I hire inclusively,” he says.

He sees his staff members and his community as his partners in nurturing diversity in his business. “It’s not just about the bottom line for me. It’s about watching people grow – not just those who live with disabilities, but all my staff,” says Liber. “I have huge diversity within the staff and it makes for great workplace culture.”

Liber says his decision to hire inclusively, which he has done in his store for the past 10 years, has a trickle effect in his restaurant that is hugely positive, especially the skill sharing among staff.

Liber says relying on a diverse workforce will always be part of his business model. “There are jobs for all people. … I treat everyone the same and I need people of all walks of life to run my restaurant and have success. It’s important everyone on my team gets that.”

Come hear Michael Liber speak, along with keynote speaker Mayor Mike Bradley, from Sarnia, Ontario, and guest speaker Corbin Bourree, managing director of Spud.ca’s Edmonton shop!

The luncheon is a fantastic networking opportunity and a connecting place for those in the business community and in politics across the province who support diversity in hiring.

We are excited to partner with St. Albert Mayor Nolan Crouse, the mayor who started our yearly Mayors Luncheon with us in 2012, Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson, and Strathcona County Mayor Roxanne Carr.

We are also pleased to welcome Grande Prairie Mayor Bill Given, Leduc Mayor Greg Krischke, Spruce Grove Mayor Stuart Houston, and Stony Plain Mayor William Choy.

When: Wednesday May 4, 2016, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Where: Chateau Louis, 11727 Kingsway Ave. Tickets: $42, which includes a plated lunch, at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/mayors-luncheon-2016-tickets-20112432828

Contact: Email sarah@gatewayassociation.ca to join our Mayors Luncheon list for updates.

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What would we do without our amazing volunteers?

We want to thank all the wonderful volunteer superstars who have helped Gateway Association this past year! You make our work better and add so much to the fabric of our organization. Thanks for all you do!

Adrian Nieto

Ainsley de Bruijn

Allan Roberston

Amy Park

Andrew Dalwood

Andriko Lozowy

Anna Hill

Annie Pipke

Ashleigh McLeod

Audrey Gavin

Avril Juzwishin

Aysha McRorie-Moreau

Barb Williamson

Betty Hahn-Sidor

Bill Mitchell

Bobbi Palynchuk

Cameron Reschenthaler

Cheryl Kuzyk

Christine Spottiswood

Cindy de Bruijn

Cornell Tucker

Craig Robertson

Curtis Hall

Dale Fetterly

Danae Tilander

Danny Wristen

Darcy Hines

David Jardine

David Preston

David Veats

Donna Palfrey

Doreen Chopp

Doug Spottiswood

Erin Hiebert

Erwin Kilotat

Filomena Traficante

Frances Preston

Francis Sowinski

Gail Falkner

Glenda Elder

Glenn Havinga

Greg Morrison

Ian Meier

Jan Ardis

Jim Mancini

Jo-Ann Siebert

Jolanta Vermette

Julie Hill

Katey Zilka

Kaylee Spottiswood

Keira de Bruijn

Ken Ambler

Kendra Barber

Keri mcEachern

Kim Reschenthaler

Kriste Nicole

Kristie Nichol

Laurel Horning

Leah McRorie

LeAnne Woon

Leonard Lozowy

Loreen Gervais

Lori Crayston Almberg

Lyle Geoffroy

Mariah Kelsey

Mary Cherniawski

Matthew Story

Megan Tischuk

Megan Vickery

Melissa Bokenfohr

Mike Otto

Naia Tilander

Oxanna Lozowy

Patricia Patterson

Paul Leung

Renate Burwash

Richard Perry

Richard Preston

Ron Kirzinger

Sandra Zilka

Sarah Preston

Sarah Providence

Shane Zilka

Shawnay McRorie

Shelley Veats

Shelley Wywal

Shelly Veats

Sonya Babchuk

Susan Dunnigan

Sydney Carriere

Sydney Carriere

Tammy Novack

Ted Shields

Tom Zilka

Valerie White

Vickie Mancini

Yonique Providence

Zabrina Sweep

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Kyle’s the reason we’re cash mobbing Cineplex Odeon

Kyle has a passion for movies and filmmaking; he knows a lot about movies; and he’s a great resource if you want to know when a movie was made or which actors are in any particular film.  

Cineplex Odeon North Edmonton Cinemas hired Kyle to work the floor and to be a part of the theatre clean-up crew in June 2015. Cineplex Odeon had staffing needs, and Kyle, who lives with a disability, wanted a job that would satisfy his passion for film.

Kyle loves working at Cineplex Odeon. “I’ve met some great people that I wouldn’t have had a chance to meet otherwise, and made some new friends.”

Kyle also loves the free movie perks and the 10-per-cent discount he gets at a nearby tea shop, The Tea Place, just for being a North Edmonton Cineplex employee. Kyle likes his managers a lot, and he comes home happy after his shifts. He works hard and he hopes to take on new roles in the future. 

Gateway Association supports Kyle in his employment, and we support inclusive employers who build diversity into their hiring practices, too! One of the ways we do that is to cash mob inclusive employers who hire someone with a disability in a meaningful, paid role.

Tomorrow, that inclusive employer is Cineplex Odeon North Edmonton Cinemas, 14231 137 Avenue, Edmonton! Be a cash mobber for diversity. Show up April 2 and buy a ticket to a show with a start time between 1 and 4 p.m. Spend to support diversity!

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Lily Pods St. Albert now offers discounts to people with disabilities, their families

Lily Pods Float Centre in St. Albert is keen to support people living with disability and their families. There is lots of research on how floating helps with sensory decompression, stress and pain management, relaxation, and general well-being. The folks at Lily Pods have information sheets available at the their front desk on the benefits of floating with autism, addiction recovery, anxiety, fibromyalgia, and arthritis amongst many others.

Leslea Ciciarelli, owner of Lily Pods, wants to see all people live well. In that spirit, Lily Pods is now proud to partner with Gateway.

They are offering the following benefits:

Individuals living with a diagnosed disability: Pay what you can (truly … it is free if you can’t afford to float)

Immediate family members: 25% off each and every float (just say that Gateway sent you)

When you call and book an appointment, please let Lily Pods staff know you were referred by Gateway. If it is “pay what you can,” you can make arrangements when you book the appointment. 

Please give Leslea a huge THANK YOU if you have the chance to meet her.

http://lilypodsfloatcenter.com/lily-pods-float-center-is-proud-to-be-a-partner-with-gateway-association/

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We're so excited for ‪#‎MayorsLunch2016‬ May 4! Take advantage of earlybird ticket pricing at http://bit.ly/1UNR5P5 Don't miss this opportunity to network with ‪#‎forwardthinkers‬ in politics and business from across the province.

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Barb Williamson, Gateway's Director of Research and Marketing, chats with the hosts on AMI Live at 5 out of Toronto about our We Belong App and its success across Canada on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016.

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Be the best possible support for someone on his or her journey to build a better life. Join us for this full-day workshop for professionals March 10. Register at http://bit.ly/1P0IgeT

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Your young child's future can have meaning and purpose. Sign up for this FREE workshop Feb. 10 and come dream with us! To register, click http://bit.ly/1UeFrKZ

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Great topic for this month's #FamiliesForward meeting. No need to register. Just drop in this Thursday, Jan. 21 at 7 p.m.!

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Feeling overwhelmed? We can help :) Sign up for this FREE workshop March 19 and we'll tackle the topic of systems together. To register, visit https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/navigating-the-systems-for-youn…

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Are you ready to tackle employment for someone who lives with a disability? We can show you how! Sign up for this FREE workshop March 5 and come explore with us! To register, visit https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/employment-matters-registration…

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We raised $2,591 during our Christmas Giving campaign. From Dec. 1 to Dec. 25! We are grateful for every gift that finds its way to us. This money will be used to offset support we provide to families that is not currently funded. Thank you so much to all who contributed. Every. Little. Bit. Helps. :)  

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Click on this link to see the Telus Optik Local ‪#‎TheWorkingOriginals‬ story of Gateway job seekers Sean, who works at Whitemud Equine Centre, and Terrance, who works at Bon Ton Bakery ...

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Click on this link to see ‪#‎TheWorkingOriginals‬ story of Nicole, a Gateway job seeker who works at The Organic Box ...

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Thanks to Telus Optik Local and producer/director Brandy Yanchyk for including Gateway in ‪#‎TheWorkingOriginals‬ documentary series. Click on the link to see the story of Sara, one of Gateway’s successful job seekers, who works for the City of Edmonton ...

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Great article by The Globe and Mail with Anthony, Deb, and David, on the real challenges of retirement planning for families with adult children who live with disabilities. A must read ...