Diversity & Cultural Awareness Award

Recognizes organizations that have developed initiatives and programs enabling them to promote cultural awareness, employment equity, and multiculturalism.

Finalist: Manitoba Hydro

Manitoba Hydro is a crown corporation and the province's major energy utility. They serve 537,000 electric customers across Manitoba and 265,000 natural gas customers in southern Manitoba.

Their desire to integrate people with different ability levels includes having 6% of the workforce comprised of people with disabilities - 96 new hires.

Project SEARCH is an innovative recruitment and retention program for high school students with an intellectual disability, providing a low risk opportunity to see how students fit and contribute in the business envrionment. Students are fully embedded in the business for their last year of high school, getting real-life work experience combined with training in employability and independent living skills. This life changing experience is tempered by the fact the students attend a classroom located at Manitoba Hydro Place where they start and end their day with a teacher for one hour.

Individualized work experience placements occur based on the student's experiences, strengths and skills. Students get support with accommodation, adaptations and on-the-job coaching. The goal is competitive employment, utilizing skills learned through work experiences.

The program has been a win-win. In June 2012, eight students graduated. Project SERACH will now be part of their regular diversity programming. Parents have reported that students have developed autonomy, increased self esteem and acquired skills they can use to secure futureemployment. Manitoba Hydro departments completed long-standing administrative backlogs through the efforts of the students.

Project SEARCH has become a source of pride for Manitoba Hydro. The students, teacher and classroom have become part of the organiation. Attitudes towards the employment of persons with intellectual disabilities are changing and hiring supervisors now consider person with intellectual disabilities more closely for vacancies. Project SEARCH has received local and national attention for its innovative approach.