Guest Blog by Stacey Wu in collaboration with Natalie Hart, City of Ottawa

On December 3, 2024, we observed the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, an occasion to reflect on and promote the well-being and rights of persons with disabilities. This year’s theme (2025),  “Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future,” underscores the importance of recognizing and fostering the talents of persons with disabilities through mentorship.

Relaunching the Mentorship Initiative

Following the success of the initial initiative in 2022, the City of Ottawa relaunched a mentoring event from October 2024 to January 2025, in recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. In partnership with Performance Plus Rehabilitative Care Inc. (PPRC), which offers bilingual integrated employment services to job seekers with visible and non-visible disabilities, the city aimed to provide valuable career insights to mentees through mentor matches.

The Power of Collaboration

Stacey Wu, Outreach and Engagement Specialist within the City of Ottawa’s Community and Social Services, and Susan Forster from PPRC, worked together to organize and promote the event. Their goal was to connect job seekers with City of Ottawa volunteer mentors to explore career opportunities. Mentees were matched with City mentors for one-time sessions where they could inquire about daily tasks, responsibilities, and challenges associated with their fields of interest. This year, mentees could also tour City facilities or attend events with their mentors, adding a new dimension to the experience.

One notable in-person meeting was conducted in French between mentor Alice Ishimwe, Diversity and Inclusion Programs and Projects Specialist, and job seeker Deka, who was interested in becoming a Personal Support Worker. Alice remarked, “It was an honour and a great conversation. I wish you the best of luck in your journey for employment.”

Preparing for Success

In preparation for the event, Stacey and Susan updated City-specific resources, including comprehensive guidelines and promotional materials. They also created surveys for mentors and mentees to address any questions or concerns prior to their mentoring sessions. Post-session surveys gathered feedback and suggestions for future improvements.

Positive Outcomes

Stacey’s commitment to relaunching the mentorship with PPRC was driven by the positive feedback from both mentees and mentors in 2022. She was matched with a mentee named Florie, who was interested in outreach and events work. Stacey invited Florie to the 2024 Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition Job Fair, where Florie learned more about different departments and the City’s hiring process. The experience left Florie with new perspectives and a deeper interest in working with the community.

Stacey emphasized the importance of continued support from leadership and additional departments to ensure the ongoing success of the program. Collaboration and support at all levels are crucial to offering mentees opportunities for volunteering, internships, or employment.

Stories of Impact

Natalie Hart, Coordinator of Accessibility Initiatives in the Office of the City Clerk, also participated as a mentor. Her conversation with a mentee seeking employment in social services highlighted the ongoing effort of persons with disabilities needing to advocate for themselves. The mentee’s talent for storytelling and connecting personal experiences with future career aspirations was evident.

Susan Forster was excited to work with Stacey and the City again. She reflected, “What inspired me most about this partnership was seeing our clients gain confidence and enthusiasm about their chosen career paths. The mentor matches became conversations, which is what the mentor process is all about for us at PPRC.” She extended gratitude to all the mentor guides who volunteered their valuable time and knowledge to participate in the event.

Conclusion

The mentorship initiative which started during National Disability Employment Awareness Month demonstrated the incredible value that persons with disabilities bring to the workplace. The City of Ottawa, in collaboration with PPRC, successfully created an environment where mentees could explore career opportunities, gain valuable insights, and build confidence in their chosen paths. With continued support and collaboration, this program will continue to make a positive impact in the lives of persons with disabilities.