Local landmarks will be turning purple and blue next Thursday as part of a nationwide effort to celebrate disability inclusion, accessibility and equality at work.
Now in its sixth year, the Light It Up! For National Disability Employment Awareness Month initiative brings together over 400 landmarks, buildings, and businesses in more than 100 communities across the country.
Amy Widdows, CEO of the Ontario Disability Employment Network stated this is “more than a lighting event, it’s about lighting the path for equity, and opportunity for every person in every community.”
Quinte region landmarks that will be lit up include:
BELLEVILLE
Belleville Signature Sign
Bridge Street Bridge
Fire Station #1 Memorial
QUINTE WEST
Quinte West Signature Sign
Veterans Skyway Bridge
TRENT HILLS
Town Hall Clock Tower
These sites will join around 800 locations across Canada in celebrating inclusion, belonging, and access to meaningful work for all people.
This year’s event supports ODEN’s 2025 national campaign, Inclusive Employment Across Canada: Building a Workforce Without Barriers.
The campaign calls on businesses to understand inclusion as an economic advantage. Research from Accenture shows that companies prioritizing disability inclusion outperform peers with 2.6 times more net income and 25 percent higher productivity.
More on the initiative, including a full list of participating locations, is at this link.
(BROCK ORMOND)
