October 6-8
Celebrate Disability Employment Awareness Month with AEFN
In celebration of Disability Employment Awareness Month, the Alberta Employment First Network (AEFN) presents the 5th annual DEAM IDEA Conference — a multi-day learning and workforce development experience focused on strengthening inclusive employment practices across Alberta.
📍 Hosted this year in Edmonton at Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
As workforce pressures continue to grow across sectors, organizations are looking for sustainable ways to attract, retain, and support talent. Inclusive hiring is increasingly recognized as a key driver of workforce stability and organizational strength — not only expanding access to skilled talent, but improving retention, team performance, and long-term business resilience.
This year’s programming also comes at a pivotal time, with significant changes to disability supports underway. Understanding these shifts, and how they intersect with employment practices, will be essential for organizations planning for the future of their workforce.
The DEAM IDEA Conference brings together practical tools, sector insights, and real-world experiences that support stronger recruitment strategies, healthier workplaces, and more sustainable employment outcomes for people experiencing disability and mental health-related barriers.
What This Year Focuses On
Across three days, programming explores the intersection of workforce needs and inclusive employment practices, including:
- Mentorship approaches that strengthen retention and employee success
- Mental health and navigating workplace change
- Talent pipeline development and sustainable recruitment strategies
- Tapping into opportunity populations to address labour shortages
- Prime Contractor requirements and ADAP updates and implications
- Practical approaches to inclusive hiring that strengthen organizational performance
Each session is designed to translate learning into real, actionable workforce strategies that can be applied across sectors and roles.
