Alberta Employment First Network

AEFN is growing, and we’re looking for two new team members to join us!

We’re currently hiring:

• Indigenous Engagement Coordinator
• Southern Alberta Engagement Coordinator

If you’re passionate about building relationships, working alongside communities, and advancing inclusive employment across Alberta, we would love for you to apply!

🔗 https://aefn.ca/we-are-looking-for-our-newest-team-members/

InclusiveWorkforcE

🎉 DEAM 2026 Grant Applications are NOW OPEN! 🎉

Have an event idea to promote in your community? Now’s your chance to bring it to life.

The Alberta Employment First Network (AEFN) is offering grants to support Disability Employment Awareness Month ( ) events across Alberta this October—and every year, the movement keeps growing. Here's how you can be a part of it...

Grant details:
👉Up to $5,000 per organization
👉$35,000 total funding available across Alberta

From workshops and panels to hiring events and community initiatives—we can’t wait to see what you create.

👉How to apply:

1️⃣Review all requirements
2️⃣Create an account on our new platform, Awardify, to access the application
🔗Link in bio

Have questions? Reach out anytime: [email protected]

Let’s make DEAM 2026 bigger, bolder, and more impactful than ever.

Save the date...

for the 5th annual DEAM IDEA Conference! Coming to Edmonton from October 6th - 8th at NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology)! 📣

This year's event will feature a networking event, a job fair, and many learning opportunities during Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Stay up to date with conference details by subscribing to our newsletter and check out the 2026 conference site page here : https://aefn.ca/2026-deam-idea-conference/

We can't wait to see you in October.

We are hiring! 📣

We are excited to announce that our team is GROWING and we are looking for amazing new additions to the team. These roles are full time and follow a hybrid work model.

AEFN is hiring for the following roles :

-3 Regional Engagement Coordinators for northern, central and southern Alberta

- Indigenous Engagement Coordinator

Applications remain open until March 20th 2026. The roles would start between the last week of April and first week of May.

Please apply through the following link :

https://aefn.ca/aefn-careers/

We are proud to be a Gold Sponsor of the upcoming 2026 ACDS Conference! Have you registered yet?

Impact 2026 Registration Now Open Impact 2026 Conference Registration Open Video

What can we actually do about the cuts to disability services in Alberta?

This is not a lecture. It’s about giving you real tools you can use and share with your family, friends, and allies so we can push back effectively and together.

If you care about disability rights in this province, this conversation matters.

Register now: https://www.albertandpcaucus.ca/events/events-calendar/post/learn-to-advocate

📣 📣 📣

AEFN, in partnership with Better Belonging, is exploring how a Disability Employment Service Provider (DESP) Collaborative can help organizations work together to better support Albertans with disabilities to find and keep meaningful employment.

We are inviting everyone who works within disability employment services to complete a short survey to identify the challenges you face in your work, and which of those challenges could be addressed collaboratively. ⤵️

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CN6YJJ8

This Needs Assessment survey takes approximately 5 minutes to complete and responses are confidential. Please share this survey with all employees who work in employment services.

Why are we exploring a Disability Employment Service Provider (DESP) Collaborative?

- to build capacity for employment service providers in the disability sector

- changes to the sector are affecting people with disabilities

- pain points to be addressed collaboratively

- resource sharing across the province

- to build a community of practice

Stay tuned for the future of this collaborative, and we appreciate our network taking the time to fill out the Needs Assessment survey.

Happy Holidays from Alberta Employment First Network! 😍

Have a wonderful end of year with your community and may you feel rested and rejuvenated for 2026. We have lots of work to do! See you next year, thanks for being a part of the AEFN community.

This year we were able to accomplish quite a few things, all with your help. ⬇
✨28 events supported
✨30+ speaking opportunities
✨hosted the 4th annual DEAM Conference
✨100% increase in attendance at the DEAM IDEA Conference
✨21 DEAM AEFN Grants given out

Curious about what else we did this year? Read the overview!
https://aefn.ca/alberta-employment-first-network-2025-year-end-wrap-up/

👋🏼

Today is International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) 👏

The theme for 2025 is : Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress

What does this really mean? It means that for all of us to move forward into an inclusive society (or work place!) , people with disabilities need to be included in all you do and in your communities. 📣

We hope you get to attend an IDPD event today or this week, check out the Alberta wide events on our calendar - https://aefn.ca/all-events/

There has been an uptake in IDPD events this year which makes us happy to see. Let's keep the momentum going!