About AEFN

Creating employment opportunities for Albertans with disabilities

Alberta Employment First Network brings Albertans together to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities. This network exists to fill gaps in employment identified by people with disabilities and employment service providers.

Our purpose

The purpose of AEFN is:

To build upon existing foundation for connection and collaboration by employment ecosystem stakeholders across Alberta.
Our mission is to eliminate workplace barriers and enhance employment opportunities for Albertans with disabilities through a range of province-wide delivery events and employment services to create Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) within the workforce.

The short-term vision

Increasing opportunities for connection and collaboration between diversity, equity and inclusion employment community stakeholders’ results in improved employment outcomes for Albertans with disabilities.

The long term vision

A sustainable Alberta Employment First Network (AEFN) with diverse membership is having an impact in supporting business excellence, improving employment inclusion, fostering workplace diversity and celebrating the many and varied contributions of workers with disabilities in Alberta.

What We Do

Creating Talent Pipelines

We strive to level the playing field, helping job seekers with disabilities find rewarding work that resonates with their skills and interests.

Collaborative Workforce Solutions

We build capacity within our network by providing resources, tools, and training that enable our members to better serve their clients and promote inclusive employment.

Building Employer Capacity

We partner with businesses of all sizes across Alberta, advocating for workplace diversity and inclusivity, while providing them with the resources to hire, train, and support employees with disabilities.

Mobilizing Regional Networks

We offer insight, data, and recommendations to policymakers, to shape legislation that fosters inclusive employment and removes barriers for individuals with disabilities.

How Can We Help You?

Employment service providers

Learn more about how we work with employment service providers.

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Community members & job seekers

Learn more about how we work with community members and job seekers.

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Employers

Learn more about how we work with employers.

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Our team

Enhancing employment outcomes, fostering inclusion, and empowering businesses for a diverse and accessible workforce.

Angela Flaman CCIP

Director (she/her)

Angela Flaman is a values-driven leader and Director of the Alberta Employment First Network (AEFN), a provincial, pan-disability network dedicated to advancing inclusive employment across Alberta.

Angela's professional journey is rooted in both advocacy and service. As an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter, she worked alongside Deaf and hard of hearing individuals, gaining firsthand insight into the barriers to communication, accessibility, and inclusion. These experiences continue to shape her leadership approach, grounded in respect, dignity, and culturally responsive engagement.

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Angela brings extensive experience in leadership, stakeholder engagement, and community development, guided by a strong commitment to equity, accessibility, and the belief that meaningful employment is a fundamental human right. Known for her collaborative and relationship-centered approach, she works alongside service providers, employers, disability advocates and government partners to advance Employment First principles and create sustainable workforce solutions where all Albertans can thrive.

Mariebelle Sawma

Communications Coordinator (she/her)

Mariebelle is a marketer, writer, and creative communicator passionate about using storytelling and strategic communication to create space for marginalized communities. Her career has spanned frontline and marketing roles, experiences that have shaped her belief in the power of communication to advocate, connect, and drive meaningful change. She currently works as a Communications Manager with Alberta Employment First Network, where she brings together her marketing expertise and commitment to social advocacy.

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A trilingual speaker of French, English, and Arabic, Mariebelle holds a B.A. in English from Mount Royal University and is an avid reader with a deep love for language and storytelling. Outside of work, she writes poetry, attends protests, and can usually be found at an indie film screening.

Ashton Bennett

Marketing Manager

As Marketing Manager at AEFN, Ashton brings a creative, community-focused lens to the work of building connections, telling meaningful stories, and creating opportunities for people and organizations to find their place in the bigger picture. With a background in psychology and counselling and more than a decade working in the disability services sector, she brings a deep understanding of people, relationships, and the power of authentic connection.

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A lifelong Calgary community enthusiast, Ashton is happiest when she’s connecting with people, collaborating on creative ideas, discovering a great local event, or finding a new way to bring a story to life. She approaches marketing as both an art and a strategy — balancing creativity with sustainable processes, thoughtful planning, and approaches that can actually be maintained over time.

Outside of work, you’ll likely find Ashton with a camera in hand, at a live music show, wandering a community festival, hunting down an exceptional meal, or looking at the world through a slightly more artistic lens. She’s endlessly curious about people and places and has a particular appreciation for the moments, stories, and connections that make a community feel like a community.

At the heart of her work is a passion for potential — finding creative ways to amplify voices, connect people and ideas, and help good work reach the people who need to see it.

Meghan Pollard

North Region Coordinator

Meghan Pollard is the North Region Coordinator with the Alberta Employment First Network (AEFN). With a background in employment services, workforce development, and community engagement, she brings extensive experience connecting job seekers, employers, service providers, and community partners.

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In her role with AEFN, Meghan works across Edmonton and Northern Alberta to strengthen relationships, identify regional needs and opportunities, and support greater collaboration within Alberta’s disability employment sector. She is passionate about bringing people together, amplifying regional voices, and building connections that lead to meaningful action and more inclusive employment opportunities.

Muneeb Khan

Central Alberta Engagement Coordinator

Muneeb is a grassroots organizer and community builder who serves as the Central Regional Engagement Coordinator for the Alberta Employment First Network (AEFN). He brings a genuine passion for connecting with people from all walks of life, building the kind of authentic relationships that turn into lasting partnerships and real change.

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At AEFN, Muneeb is driven by a commitment to advancing the disability sector across Alberta, working alongside employers, service providers, and community members to create meaningful and sustainable impact. A natural problem solver, he approaches every challenge with a solution-oriented mindset, always looking for practical ways to move the work forward.

Outside of AEFN, Muneeb can usually be found at a live sporting event, concert, or comedy show. He loves the energy of a good crowd. Whether it's around a table sharing great food, swapping stories and laughs, or celebrating different cultures, he's always looking for ways to bring people together and build community.

Tosin Etuhoko

Southern Alberta Engagement Coordinator

Tosin Etuhoko is the Southern Alberta Regional Engagement Coordinator, bringing experience in research, marketing, business development, and community engagement. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of British Columbia and has experience building partnerships, engaging diverse stakeholders, and developing strategic communications. As a lifelong advocate for inclusivity, she is passionate about fostering meaningful connections, creating opportunities, and building pathways that empower marginalized individuals and communities. Outside of work, she enjoys performing cultural dances, baking, and adding to her ever-growing puzzle collection.