Inclusion Alberta

03/12/2026

Siobhan at Costco Okotoks

Inclusion Alberta’s Rotary Employment Partnership is creating life-changing job opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities while providing an untapped labour market to Alberta’s business community. The partnership has created over 950 jobs to date in diverse fields such as trades, hospitality, manufacturing, childcare, culinary, the arts and office administration. Real work for real pay.

After completing high school, Siobhan watched her sisters move out, go to university, build careers, get married and have children.

But Siobhan, who has an intellectual disability, didn’t believe any of those things were possible for her. She had dreams of her own, but felt stuck on the sidelines, watching life pass her by.

When her family was introduced to Inclusion Alberta’s Rotary Employment Partnership, everything changed. Through the Partnership, Siobhan secured a job at Costco in Okotoks, where she has been a valued employee since 2022. Siobhan's role includes packing customer carts at check out, returning items to shelves, general store tidiness and during the summer months she also works in the garden center.

Siobhan’s manager, Kristen, says that customers frequently comment on Siobhan’s positive attitude and enthusiasm for her job, traits that Kristen says has a meaningful impact on other staff members as well.

“We can count on her to do whatever job we ask her to do—whether it’s packing groceries, putting product back on the shelves, or working in the parking lot bringing in buggies. She does every job with a smile.”

Siobhan takes great pride in her work and says her confidence has flourished. With her savings from working at Costco, Siobhan was able to purchase a home of her own earlier this year.

Congratulations to Siobhan on your great job and home ownership, and to Costco on your great employee!

Join inclusive businesses like Costco in Okotoks to take action to open doors, build inclusive workforces, and tap into an often-overlooked talent pool. Learn more about how you can tap into a valuable labour market by becoming an inclusive employer through the Rotary Employment Partnership. https://inclusionalberta.org/what-we-do/inclusive-employment/rotary-employment-partnership/

03/11/2026

Equity matters.
Inclusion Canada’s infographic sheds light on how MAiD affects people with disabilities, women, and people living in poverty.
A helpful overview of the risks and impacts.

The Special Joint Committee on MAiD has been brought back together. This committee of MPs and Senators will consider whether the government should legalize MAiD for mental illness. It meets for the first time tomorrow (Tuesday) evening.

We urge the committee to start by considering how Canada’s current MAiD law is working. Our infographic shows some clear problems. The data is from Health Canada’s most recent MAiD monitoring report, the 6th annual report:
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/health-system-services/annual-report-medical-assistance-dying-2024.html

View the accessible PDF version of the infographic here: https://www.inclusioncanada.ca/resource?view=ec236e5e-5cd5-4a97-9313-38a1c34dc3d6

03/09/2026

Unfortunately, due to low registration, we have made the decision to postpone the upcoming Creating a Home session this Saturday, March 14.

We remain committed to offering this session and plan to reschedule for a date in May. Creating meaningful homes for people with intellectual disabilities is an important topic, and we look forward to connecting on it soon.

We will share more details as soon as they are available.

03/09/2026

Here’s an opportunity to hear the Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services answer questions about funding for programs children and adults with intellectual disabilities and their families rely on.

Attending sends the message that the community is concerned and paying attention:

The Standing Committee on Families and Communities is a legislative policy committee with a mandate that relates to the areas of Assisted Living and Social Services; Children and Family Services; Education and Childcare; Hospital and Surgical Health Services; Justice; Mental Health and Addiction; Pr...

03/05/2026

Calgary and area families and FMS staff are invited to join us for a free workshop on Saturday, March 14th, on creating a home for your loved one with an intellectual disability.

Creating a Home
- Saturday, March 14th | 10am -3pm
-Inglewood Community Centre (1740 24 Ave SE, Calgary)
-Please register in advance at: https://forms.office.com/r/rABKpCcbib
_

Home is more than a roof overhead—it’s the place where we feel safe, shape our identity, and experience belonging. For people with intellectual disabilities, having a home of their own is just as essential as it is for anyone else. Yet, rising housing costs and the default reliance on group living often makes it challenging to imagine other possibilities.

In this session, we’ll explore practical and creative approaches to making a home of one’s own possible. Families, individuals and FMS staff will gain tools and strategies to design individualized support, consider affordable and inclusive housing options, and envision homes that truly reflect personal choice, stage of life, and individuality. Together, we’ll look at how to move beyond traditional models and make “home” a reality.

Key takeaways:
-Visioning and planning for a suitable home for your loved one
-Using individualized funding (FMS) to create tailored home supports
-Exploring creative and affordable housing strategies in today’s economy
-Building networks of support for long-term stability in community

Register at: https://forms.office.com/r/rABKpCcbib

03/04/2026

The House of Commons has unanimously supported Bill S-228, which would clarify in the Criminal Code that forcing or coercing a person to be sterilized is aggravated assault.

Canada has a troubling history of sterilizing people with intellectual disabilities without their consent. When past board member Roy Skoreyko learned about the bill, he shared his own experience and spoke out so others would know this legislation is about them.

We join Inclusion Canada in congratulating Roy for his courage and commitment to ensuring this never happens again.

Thank you to People First of Canada, to the MPs who spoke in support of this legislation, and to all advocates continuing to work toward justice and human rights for people with intellectual disabilities.

Inclusion Canada applauds the House of Commons for unanimously supporting Bill S-228. Bill S-228 would amend the Criminal Code to clarify that forcing or coercing a person to be sterilized is aggravated assault.

Canada has a troubling, well-documented, and ongoing history of sterilizing people with an intellectual disability without their consent. When Inclusion Canada’s board member, Roy Skoreyko, learned about Bill S-228 he said, “that happened to me.”

Roy met with Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes MP Jamie Schmale, a champion for Bill S-228. Roy asked the MP to help other people with an intellectual disability who were sterilized to know that this bill is about them. Roy was certainly heard!

Let week, MPs from four parties spoke about Bill S-228. Each one said the words “disability” or “eugenics.” Thank you to MP Schmale who mentioned Roy by name and said Bill S-228 “tells people that their voices were heard, that what happened to them was wrong and that they will not be ignored.”

See the link to the debate in the House of Commons here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk7cWpmcREY

We congratulate Roy for his courage and commitment to ensure what happened to him, never happens to anyone else.

For more information about Roy’s story and his determination to fight against abuse and advocate for disability rights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-4VKS4ZEGA

Thank you also to People First of Canada for your continued advocacy and to those MPs who acknowledged people with an intellectual disability and expressed support for this legislation. We will continue to monitor its movement in Parliament.

02/27/2026

A reminder that tomorrow (Feb 28) is the last day to take advantage of early bird pricing for the 2026 Inclusion Alberta Family Conference! Full conference tickets are $250, and will go up to $300 March 1st.

More info on the Conference and the link to get tickets below:

02/27/2026

*MEDIA RELEASE: Budget 2026 once again leaves children and adults with intellectual disabilities and their families at the bottom of the government’s priorities.

While total government spending grew by 5%, supports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities failed to receive the 3.7% increase needed to match population growth and inflation. Families will continue to suffer without supports as years-long waitlists keep growing.

Despite broad opposition, Budget 2026 also forges ahead with creating the Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP). ADAP will deepen poverty for tens of thousands of adults with disabilities and their families.

Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) and the new Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP):

To create the bureaucracy for a second program parallel to AISH, the Program Planning and Delivery budget for AISH and ADAP increases by 107% or $45.7 million this year. This massive administrative expansion is being undertaken to reduce support by $200 per month compared to AISH. ADAP assumes people with disabilities can work their way out of poverty, ignoring systemic barriers and Alberta’s labour market realities.

Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) and Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD):

Since Budget 2019, real per capita spending (i.e. spending adjusted for inflation and population growth) in PDD has fallen by 4.3% and in FSCD by 9.5%. The invisibility of children and adults with intellectual disabilities and their families in Budget 2026 is reinforced by government’s continued unwillingness to disclose how many 1000s are on waitlists or to offer any plan to provide them with the supports they require.

“It is heartbreaking to know thousands of children, adults and their families remain forgotten—left to navigate impossible situations alone—while our communities lose out on the gifts and contributions people with intellectual disabilities are ready to offer,” says Tina Trigg, parent of a daughter with intellectual disabilities and President of Inclusion Alberta. “When government fails to provide access to supports, it isn’t only services that are denied; it’s the hope of a life of possibility.”

Disturbingly, government left $51 million of last year’s PDD budget unspent. The Ministry of Assisted Living and Social Services had the budget to support many adults with intellectual disabilities who are without services, excluded from social and economic participation, and denied a life of possibility. It chose not to.

“We hear from families who are experiencing job loss, worsening mental and physical health, and financial hardship because they cannot access critical supports,” says Trish Bowman, Inclusion Alberta’s CEO. “So-called ‘cost savings’ found by denying access to PDD and FSCD and reducing financial benefits with ADAP are an illusion. Without these supports, pressure shifts to already strained systems—schools, ERs, shelters, and mental health services.”

Education:

Added funding to hire educators could benefit all students, but classroom support alone is not enough. The government’s ‘Aggression & Complexity in Schools Report’ was clear that failing to provide support in the early years adds to challenges at school. According to the report, making families wait over three years for FSCD support means “missed opportunities during formative years, contributing to longer-term difficulties in behaviour, learning, and emotional regulation” and “schools are then left to manage these challenges.” It is urgent that the Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services implement the report’s call for immediate action to increase FSCD funding to reduce wait lists.

For immediate release – February 27, 2026 Budget 2026 once again leaves children and adults with intellectual disabilities and their families at the bottom of the government’s priorities. While total government spending grew by 5%, supports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities ...

02/24/2026

🐦 Early bird tickets are now on sale for the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗹𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, our biggest event of the year happening April 17-18 at the Fantasyland Hotel in Edmonton!

Until February 28th, full Conference admission tickets are $250 (price increases to $300 on March 1st). Each additional attendee in a family/group is only $50!

Learn more and get tickets at: https://inclusionalberta.org/2026-inclusion-alberta-family-conference/

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: Learn to plan for an inclusive, good life in community with 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘁 𝗞𝗹𝗲𝗲𝘀 on Friday, April 17.

This is a practical hands-on day where families, allies and support staff will have the opportunity to learn to think in surprisingly ordinary ways to imagine and plan for an inclusive, good life in community for, and with, their loved one with an intellectual disability.

𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗮𝘆-𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻:
-The essential building blocks for a vision that will sustain you and your family member.
-Strategies to bring about the things that really matter – roles, relationships, and places of belonging.
-How to see and use the abundance of resources you may not even know are at your fingertips by looking at what is right in front of us in a different way.
-What to do while life is not moving forward as quickly as desired – or how to ‘pick the low hanging fruit’ which awaits you with minimum effort, resources, and stress.

Learn more and sign up for Janet's workshop at: https://inclusionalberta.org/2026-inclusion-alberta-family-conference/

02/24/2026

*𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐒𝐂𝐃.*
Children, families, and schools suffer when FSCD (Family Support for Children with Disabilities) is denied.

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥.
The Alberta Government’s ‘Aggression & Complexity in Schools Report’ was clear that failing to provide support in the early years adds to challenges at school.

But many families wait over three years for FSCD support—meaning children often start school without early learning or therapeutic supports.

𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬.
The report found that many children with disabilities start school without early intervention.

This means “missed opportunities during formative years, contributing to longer-term difficulties in behaviour, learning, and emotional regulation.

Schools are then left to manage these challenges.”

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐒𝐂𝐃.
The report calls for immediate action to increase FSCD and related supports—to reduce wait times and meet urgent needs.

We’re calling on the Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services to provide timely services to all eligible families.

𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬.
Access to FSCD helps children learn and thrive, keeps families together, and allows parents to stay in the workforce.

Without it, pressure shifts to already strained systems—schools, ERs, shelters, and mental health services.
_

Learn more in our report, ‘Too Little, Too Late’: Experiences with Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD)’: https://inclusionalberta.org/connections/action-urgently-needed-contact-your-mla-about-fscd-pdd

02/19/2026

Inclusion Alberta’s Rotary Employment Partnership is creating life-changing job opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities while providing an untapped labour market to Alberta’s business community. The partnership has created over 950 jobs to date in diverse fields such as trades, hospitality, manufacturing, childcare, culinary, the arts and office administration. Real work for real pay.

Benjamin recently joined The Calgary Stampede Catering Team as a Porter in a casual part-time role. In this position, Benjamin works varied shifts and is responsible for setting up and tearing down event and function spaces, coordinating multiple meeting rooms, and ensuring all conference requirements are met with precision. Along with supporting operations behind the scenes, Benjamin also plays an important guest-facing role, helping to create authentic and memorable experiences for all BMO Centre and Stampede Park visitors.

Benjamin says that the staff made him feel welcome and he has really enjoyed the event catering environment.

“I am ready to take on any task handed to me,” says Benjamin. ” I can’t wait to meet all the bookings that come to us. I hope they have a great experience like I have.”

His enthusiasm and commitment to excellence make Benjamin a valuable addition to the team, and his employer is looking forward to seeing the great work he continues to bring to Stampede Park events.

The Rotary Employment Partnership team is grateful to The Rotary Club of Downtown Calgary, who made the warm connection to The Calgary Stampede.

Congratulations Benjamin on your great new job, and The Calgary Stampede on your excellent new hire!

Join inclusive businesses like The Calgary Stampede to take action to open doors, build inclusive workforces, and tap into an often-overlooked talent pool. Learn more about how you can tap into a valuable labour market by becoming an inclusive employer through the Rotary Employment Partnership:

Inclusion Alberta’s Rotary Employment Partnership is creating life-changing job opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities while providing an untapped labour market to Alberta’s business community. The partnership has created over 950 […]