The BC Employment Network (BCEN) formally kicked off as the “Employment Training Network” in 2007 after many months of informal networking among agencies from around the Lower Mainland. The Network worked hard in the early years to establish the curriculum for the four courses that are delivered throughout BC (and occasionally in other provinces) today.

Janice Barr was Executive Director for the Richmond Society for Community Living at the time the Network was founded. “In the early days, there was a lot of work among the Network partners and other groups around the province. The work was never intended only to benefit our own organizations – it was intended to support people with developmental disabilities across the province.”

“Employment has been the frontier for inclusion services for the past two decades. Today, employment is becoming mainstream for people with developmental disabilities. BC Employment Network have been key provincial leaders in this shift,” noted Jack Styan, VP Strategic Initiatives and Shelley Gerber, Provincial Employment Coordinator, CLBC.

"Advancing the employment aspirations of youth and adults with intellectual disabilities is at the heart of the BCEN. Collaboration is a very effective strategy to discover solutions to complex challenges", says Dan Collins, CEO of Inclusion Langley Society. The members of the BCEN have repeatedly demonstrated that when we work together, we are agents for positive change and growth.

Delta Community Living Society CEO Anita Sihota adds “the Network has proven to be a wonderful collaboration towards our shared goal of encouraging and supporting individuals to secure and maintain employment. The BCEN will be working with partners on hosting the World Employment Conference in 2023 along with continuing to provide employment training across the Province.”

Milestones

  • June 2023

    BCEN, CASE and Inclusion BC co-host the “Second World Supported Employment Conference” in Vancouver

  • April 2022

    The Network partners with CLBC to deliver Employment Training across the Province for the next three years

  • June 2021

    Cranbrook Society for Community Living joins BCEN

  • January 2020

    Eight BCEN partners kick off the three-year IMPACT Employment Research Project for Youth with Disabilities with funding from the BC Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction

  • February 2019

    Semiahmoo House Society joins BCEN

  • September 2019

    Community Living Society joins BCEN

  • November 2018

    BCEN partners with CLBC to deliver 6 Employment Training events across the Province

  • October 2018

    BCEN hosts “Transforming Day Services – Take 3” and “Youth Employment Summit” in Vancouver

  • June 2015

    BCEN co-hosts the CASE Conference in Victoria

  • January 2015

    The Network is renamed the “British Columbia Employment Network” and introduces its logo

  • April 2014

    The Network publishes “The Launching Pad: Exploring Micro-Enterprises for People with Developmental Disabilities”

  • January 2012

    The Network partners with Douglas College to deliver Employment Training

  • October 2011

    “Re-inventing Day Supports Take 2” Event in Burnaby

  • June 2010

    Pilot of Course #4: Marketing presented for the first time

  • November 2009

    Course #2: Supported Self Employment and Course #3: Customized Employment presented for the first time

  • September 2009

    New members joined; AimHi, British Columbia Association for Community Living, Community Living British Columbia, Community Living Victoria, Mainstream Association for Proactive Community Living, Powell River Association for Community Living.The Network is renamed the “British Columbia Employment Strategy”.

  • March 2009

    BCEN hosts “Re-Inventing Day Supports” Event in Richmond

  • May 2008

    Course #1: Supported Employment presented for the first time

  • April 2008

    The Network partners with Kwantlen University College to deliver Employment Training

  • September 2007

    First official meeting of the “Employment Training Network” with the six founding partner agencies: Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion,Chilliwack Association for Community Living,Delta Community Living Society,Langley Association for Community Living, North Shore Disability Resource Centre, and Richmond Society for Community Living.

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