January 2009
Uniforms & Dress Codes:
A Shared Responsibility
A uniform is a set of clothing that is unique to a particular job or profession. Some uniforms may
be considered attractive, such as a Navy uniform, while others may be viewed as unfashionable or
unattractive, such as a fast food uniform. Whatever your opinion about uniforms, they are a necessary
part of many jobs. For both the employer and the employee, a uniform can create a sense of belonging
amongst staff and help identify people in a work group. The question is, who is responsible for
supplying, and more importantly, paying for a uniform?
We brought this question to Manitoba’s Employment Standards Branch, and were informed that recent
changes to Manitoba’s Employment Standards Code mean that employers are responsible for paying
for uniforms that are mandatory for employees, but not for clothing that is required to meet a business’
dress code.
For example, an employee of a fast-food restaurant might be required to wear a set of clothing that is
provided by that employer. If the clothing is specific to that business, has a standard colour and style,
and a company logo on it, the employee cannot be required to pay for the uniform.
On the other hand, if an employee of a retail store is required to wear black pants and a blouse, but they
have choice as to where they purchase the clothing, and the style of the clothing, the employee would be
responsible for purchasing the clothing.
The regulations can be confusing for some, so if you are in doubt, please speak to a Connect staff for
further information, or contact Manitoba Employment Standards at 983-6375 or visit their website at
http://www.gov.mb.ca/labour/standards/doc,deductions,factsheet.html
In The News
This year, Connect has had the opportunity to participate in two
publications describing the work that we do in the community.
Kevin Rollason from the Winnipeg Free Press wrote an article in the
Philanthropy section titled, “Connect-ions”. Kevin did a great job
expressing to the readers how Trevor Walker, who has worked at
Pollard Banknote for the past 13 years is considered an asset and
is an “indispensable” employee. Kevin describes the services that
Connect offers to the community and the support to the employees
and the employers.
In July, Connect was featured as the week’s City Heroes on
CityTV’s, Breakfast Television. Harold Guenther who works at
Winnipeg Hyundai since early June was interviewed along with
Glen Daman who is the General Manager. Glen Daman states that
Harold “brings a great attitude to the whole dealership and all the
staff love being around him”.
Glen encourages other employers to get on board with Connect
Employment Services.
New Partnerships
Mat Master
Winnipeg Hyundai
Giant Tiger Ellice
Tomatoe Pie Company
Bellamy’s Restaurant
Salisbury House Pembina
YM-YWCA Fermor
Contact Us
Moxie’s Classic Grill
We are always open to feedback. If you have comments questions or concerns, we
want to hear from you.
Marvelous Mascots
Connect Employment Services
188 Goulet Street
Winnipeg, MB, R2H 0R8
Tel. 204.474.1959
www.connectemployment.ca
Kelsey’s Restaurant
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Krista Bissett, Debbie Crease, Trevor Walker and Leslie Vitt
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Farewell Marion
Connect Employment Services would like to
announce the upcoming retirement of our longtime accountant, Marion Archer.
Marion started with Connect in 1997 as
an administrative assistant, but her job
quickly became focused on our bookkeeping/
accounting needs due to her qualifications and
expertise in that area. Working on a part-time
basis, Marion effectively prepared financial
statements, oversaw audit preparations,
provided information on trends and offered
great assistance and advice to the Executive
Director.
Marion is a woman of great wisdom and
integrity – a real asset to our organization.
Over the years, we had the privilege of
getting to know Marion and what matters to her
most - and we know that retirement will be an
opportunity for her to spend more time enjoying
her faith, family and friends.
Those of us in the business of employment say
that a good job match exists when a skilled and
qualified individual fits well into the work culture.
From our perspective, Marion was a great match
for Connect Employment Services. I think most
people would agree that when it comes to the job
you do, no matter what that job might be; you
enjoy it more when you are working alongside
good people. We consider ourselves fortunate to
have had the priviledge of working with Marion,
and we wish her good luck in her new beginnings.
Come Rain or Shine
Neither rain, nor lightning nor thundershowers
could stop a team of dedicated Connect volunteers
and staff from their goal of hosting our Annual
BBQ on August 21, 2008. Those hearty souls
who braved the weather to attend were rewarded
with a delicious picnic spread including hot dogs,
homemade salads and tasty desserts.
Luck did eventually shine on us, with the
thunderclouds clearing up promptly after dinner,
allowing everyone to take part in the fun and
wacky games that were prepared for this years
entertainment. Teams participated in a variety of
fun games, including a “Chopstick Challenge” and a
“Pizza Toss,” and the members of the winning team
were rewarded with Connect t-shirts.
This event is made possible thanks to the hard work
and participation of many volunteers. If you would
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be interested in volunteering to plan or help out
at next year’s BBQ, please contact Lori Watson
Sewell at 474-1959.
The Winning Team! From left: Danielle Saranchuk, Shirley
Bainard, Kari-Anne Macklem, Jody Levreault, Josh Malcolmson
and Danny Malcolmson
High School Students Soaring
to New Heights
In August, we wrapped up our 4th
successful Summer Work Exposure
Program at Connect. For this year’s
program, our slogan was “Soaring to
New Heights”. Our success can be
attributed to the hard work and focus
that the students showed. A strong
summer support team at Connect, as
well as the employers really went the
extra mile to help the students achieve
their goals. Nine students soared to new
heights in the program and two of those
students were successful in being offered
paid employment during the school year.
Thank you to our employers that
made these placements so meaningful
and enjoyable, including McDonalds,
Fabricland, Shoppers Drug Mart, Best
West Pet Foods, Sears, Mark’s Work
Back Row: Cullen Sanders, David Wall, Grant Bainard, Brian Gross, Alexander
Prange. Front Row: Samantha Normand, Alieta Meikle. Missing from picture:
Darren Goldberg, Piotr Garbowicz, Todd Mellen, and Ashlei Klassen
Warehouse, Scrapbooking by Design, Wal-Mart, and HMV.
A big thanks to our funders, which include Service Canada
and Manitoba Family Services.
SETS Celebrates First
Anniversary
The SETS project (Supported Employment Transitions for Students) has now reached its first
anniversary with fifteen students having participated in the project since its inception. We are
thrilled to report that private funding has been extended until the end of June 2009, allowing
us to continue to support those students currently in the project as well as accept new students.
The project has given students the opportunity to find entry-level, part-time work while balancing
the demands of school and other activities in their lives. They have been doing a great job of it!
Congratulations to Kristin Mellon (Dollarama) and Brendon Hogue (Marquise Facilities) who have
now been employed for over 1 year! Long-term funding is being pursued to maintain the efforts of
this unique, successful project.
www.connectemployment.ca
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Great Accomplishments
Connect client Brita Hall is a high performance athlete in both summer
and winter cross country skiing. This past February 2008, Brita
competed in the Special Olympics National Winter Games in Quebec.
Brita won three Gold Medals in the 5k, 7.5k and 10k in Cross Country
Skiing. She is Canada’s top female Cross-Country Skier in Special
Olympics in those categories and is Manitoba’s only Cross Country
Skier chosen to join Team Canada to compete next February 2009 in
the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Boise, Idaho, USA.
In the past, Brita attended the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer
games in Shanghai, China and received the Gold Medal in the 800m
track competitions.
Congratulations Brita for all of your accomplishments and good luck in
February!
The Freedom Tour
“An institution is not just a place, it is the way people think.”
Pat Worth
People First members are fighting for the right of all people who are labeled with an intellectual disability
to live in the community, not in institutions. Last August, a group of 16 self-advocates traveled from
Winnipeg to Calgary to raise awareness about people still living in institutions. The tour ran from August
18th until August 29th, and Connect client Mark Blanchette was a participant. They traveled in an RV
across the Prairies starting in Winnipeg, with stops in Portage La Prairie, Dauphin, Moose Jaw, Regina,
Saskatoon, Edmonton, and Red Deer. Mark stated that “he would do it again” and that “it felt great”.
Mark also did the narration in a film that was produced about the tour.
On September 25th, 2008, People First of Canada hosted the national premier of the film at the IMAX
Theater in Winnipeg. People First of Canada was able to complete the tour with the partnership of
People First Chapters of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the National Film Board of Canada.
Going for Gold
For more information on the tour, you can visit the website at www.freeourpeople.ca. If you haven’t
already seen it and would like to purchase the DVD you can contact People First at 5-120 Maryland
Winnipeg, MB R3G 1L1 or 204-784-7362.
The Duke of Edinburgh Program is a real adventure
from beginning to end! It is a self directed development
programme for young Canadians aged 14 to 25, that
encourages young people to develop a range of interests,
participate in their community and sustain a commitment.
No two awards are exactly the same, with each person
choosing their activities and building their award in their own
way.
Danny Malcolmson on left, Steven Roy on right
There are three levels of the Duke of Edinburgh Award
Program: Gold, Silver and Bronze. In order for participants to
win Gold, they have to put in more than 200 hours towards
their chosen activities.
Connect for Clients is a social network for clients to get together with friends for the purpose of
participating in fun activities on a monthly basis. Josie Pope, Jason Pope, Marguerite Saranchuk, and
Danielle Saranchuk have done a wonderful job of organizing the group and events over the past several
years. All the particpants and their families would like to give a huge round of applause and express
their thanks for all their hard work and all the fun that has been had. The opportunity to get out for a
social evening and spend time with friends is always appreciated.
In April 2008, two Connect clients, Danny Malcolmson
and Steven Roy won Gold in the Duke of Edinburgh Award
Program. They were presented with their awards by Prince
Edward at a ceremony held at the Fairmont Hotel.
Danny’s and Steven’s accomplishments were also featured in
an article in the Winnipeg Free Press on April 12th, 2008.
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Connect 4 Clients
Needs You!
As Josie, Jason, Marguerite and Danielle will be stepping down as organizers, the Social Group is in
immediate need of volunteers willing to help organize future events to ensure the continuance of these
social activities. Please contact Josie at 453-1152. Let’s keep this club going!
Steven Roy and Prince Edward
www.connectemployment.ca
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Coalition Seeks Legislation to
Ensure Barrier-Free Manitoba
On December 3, 2008, Barrier-Free Manitoba launched a campaign calling for the development of
provincial legislation that would eliminate barriers faced by Manitobans with disabilities.
Barrier-Free Manitoba is a non-partisan, non-profit, cross-disability initiative that was founded by
representatives from several Manitoba organizations that serve people with disabilities. The coalition
believes that legislation is necessary to ensure that the human rights of Manitobans with disabilities are
respected, and that barriers to their participation in daily life are removed.
The legislation being called for by the coalition would cover all disability groups and would include the
creation of clear and measurable standards regarding accessibility, as well as a process for monitoring
and enforcing the standards set out in the legislation.
Working models of similar legislation currently exist in the United States, the UK and Australia. Ontario
is currently the only Canadian province with legislation similar to that being proposed by Barrier-Free
Manitoba.
For more information about Barrier-Free Manitoba contact: Barrier Free Manitoba, RPO Box 65, 971
Corydon Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3M 3S3, [email protected]
Client Advisory Committee
The Client Advisory Committee (CAC) was created to provide the clients of Connect Employment
Services with an opportunity to discuss issues of importance and make the Board aware of these issues.
Through taking turns running meetings and reporting to Board members, the CAC helps Connect clients
develop leadership skills.
During meetings, the CAC plans activities like an annual Client Drop In, which provides an opportunity
for all clients to get together during the holiday season. The CAC also advises the Board and staff of
Connect Employment Services of any personal development resources the clients could benefit from,
such as music workshops, what to do in an emergency situation, or how to build self-esteem.
The Client Advisory Committee is open to all clients of Connect Employment Services and we urge you
to consider bringing your voice to the meetings. If you are interested in participating, or learning more
about the Client Advisory Committee, please contact Todd Lettley, at 474-1959.
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Province launches
marketAbilities
campaign
“Hiring people with disabilities is good business.”
- Gord Macintosh
An awareness campaign was launched in December 2008
by the Province of Manitoba that is intended to promote
employment for people with disabilities. The campaign,
called marketAbilities, features people with disabilities who
are successfully employed in the community, and encourages
employers to hire people based on their abilities. The
campaign promotes this message through a variety of methods,
including advertising on billboards, radio and newspapers.
The campaign website includes a segment titled “Celebrating
Progressive Employers and Capable Employees.” and features
a series of success stories from Perspectives In Change. One
of the success stories is that of Connect client Darryl Muir.
Darryl is a longtime employee of Canada Safeway, and has
been featured in other articles and promotions by Connect. (To
read Darryl’s story, visit www.gov.mb.ca/fs/pwd_work/success/
safeway.html)
One of the key components in the campaign is the inclusion
of a process for employers to connect with agencies like to
Connect to find employees to meet their needs. The toll-free
number and email address that is included in marketAbilities
advertising enables employers to submit job openings, that
are then distributed to agencies throughout the province that
service people with disabilities. This distribution channel
is an important piece of the campaign, as it provides a path
for employers to connect with potential employees with
disabilities.
For more information about marketAbilities, please call 1-866966-8123 or email [email protected]
www.connectemployment.ca
Upcoming
Events
Sweet
Success
Celebrating the successes
people with intellectual
disabilities working in the
community.
April 16th, 2009
University Club at the
University of Manitoba
Connect’s Annual
Recognition Awards will
be presented during this
event. Please take a
moment to complete the
enclosed nomination form
and recognize a Connect
client, staff, volunteer or
employment partner for
their efforts.
For information on
sponsorship opportunities
or tickets, please contact
Lori Watson Sewell at
474-1959
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