April 2, 2025
The Alberta Employment First Network (AEFN) is delivering grants across Alberta to support DEAM events during October 2025. The purpose of DEAM is to promote employment inclusion and increased participation in Alberta’s economy, raise awareness, celebrate the contributions of workers with disabilities, and support employers to have inclusive hiring practices.
The AEFN DEAM grant maximum request is $5000 per organization – with a total of $35,000 in grant funds to be delivered across Alberta. All events will have a requirement to be accessible, with a strong recommendation to have an official accessibility audit complete. Please reach out to AEFN for accessibility contact. All events must include an accessibility overview for participants and a request for accommodation (if the accommodation is not provided). All events must provide ASL interpretation services. All DEAM Grant applications will be reviewed by the neutral DEAM Provincial Grant Subcommittee and are available to provide information and facilitate connections to accommodations services.
Examples of DEAM events include: Proclamation and/or Declarations by levels of government, conferences, panel discussions, Employer Awards Gala, mixer events and awareness campaigns.
The Objectives of DEAM are to:
• Increase awareness of this unique talent pool
• Increase understanding of disability as a type of diversity that builds workplace inclusion competencies
• Increase awareness of Alberta’s employment Service Providers and their role in talent sourcing
• Connect Employers, Service Providers and Community
• Create new ‘Workplace Inclusion Partnerships’ between Employers and Service Providers
• Increase awareness of Alberta Government initiatives supporting inclusive employment
• Increase collaboration between employment services in the province
• Increase collaboration with community across the province
Applications for Funding must be submitted by May 9, 2025, to director@aefn.ca.
Completed Applications must include: Request for DEAM Funding 2025 (PDF) DEAM Funding Budget Template 2024 (Excel).
