Inclusive Workplace and Supply Council of Canada

IWSCC Virtual Networking: IWSCC Builds!
2026-03-18 15:00 - 16:00 (America/Toronto) | Virtual
IWSCC’s popular virtual networking format returns in 2026. Introduce your business to IWSCC Corporate Members in an easy-to-attend, low-stress virtual environment.
This event encourages Certified Suppliers and Corporate Members who work in, or want to collaborate with, sectors like:

Construction & Infrastructure
Utilities & Trades
Forestry & Mining
Health & Safety & Training
Property Management
Facilities
Security
Engineering

Agenda (ET):
3:00 – 3:15: Introductions and Housekeeping
3:15 – 4:00: Virtual Networking
Accessibility at this Event:
IWSCC Certified Suppliers who require an interpreter for networking can contact AlexD@iwscc.ca to request an interpreter or learn how to reimburse your costs.
Live Closed Captions are also available via Zoom.
Registration
This IWSCC Networking Event is invite-only for IWSCC Community Members. If you haven’t received an invitation to this event and would like to attend, please contact AlexD@iwscc.ca

Breaking Barriers: Building Belonging - BCPF Self-Advocates Conference 2026
2026-03-20 10:00 - 16:30 (America/Toronto)
*This In-Person Event is Sold Out*
Join BC People First for our learning and networking conference hosted by BC People First Society and this year featuring Self-Advocates for a Brighter Future in Esquimalt, BC.
Are you in the Victoria area and want to join us for the event?
This event is only for registered attendees. We need to know who is coming and only have so much space.
Please register by March 6th here.
If you have dietary restrictions or need any accessibility accommodations to take part – please let us know by March 6th.
We have a stronger voice when we push for changes in society together. Conferences make it easier for people to share information, ideas, and tactics. This gives self-advocates more tools for advocating for themselves and helps make policy better for everyone in our province.
Event attendees will get to connect with peers while gaining experience and knowledge in leadership development areas such as self-advocacy, human rights, presentation skills, networking, community building, government policy, and much more.
Come and support the presenters! Learn and connect with us!
This event is for:

BCPF members and other self-advocacy group members
Self-advocates or people interested in self-advocacy
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Doors open and networking at 10:00am. We’ll begin by 10:30am.
Presentations and activities from BCPF Members and our community partners include:

Tips for getting your voice heard and taking advocacy action
Human rights laws and using the CRPD for advocacy
Understanding and dealing with ableism
Plain language as a human right
Being brave and confident for self-advocacy success
How to speak up and be heard
Leadership looks like us!
Advocacy project overviews and successes
Mental health and disability justice
Being a self-advocate online and in the community
Brainstorming activities
Self-advocacy bingo game
Lunch and networking and door prizes!

Contact Information
This is an IWSCC Community Partner Event hosted by BC People First Society.
Visit the event’s official page and register here.
For questions about this event, including ticketing and accessibility, please contact the hosts at hello@bcpeoplefirst.com

IWSCC Webinar - Using RFPs to Build Your Brand: A Practical Approach for SMEs
2026-03-24 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Toronto) | Virtual
Rather than a broad “tips for procurement” session, the webinar will focus on a single, concrete lesson: how Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) can use the Request for Proposal (RFP) process as a strategic branding and positioning tool, regardless of outcome.
Participants will be guided through how procurement processes signal values, credibility, and capability, and how suppliers can respond to build long-term visibility and trust with buyers, even when a contract is not awarded.
Key Elements Include:

How RFPs function as brand touchpoints, not just transactional hurdles
Practical guidance on “right-sizing” responses to avoid over-investment and burnout
How to make strategic decisions about when to pursue, pause, or decline opportunities
Where SMEs can create differentiation without inflating scope or cost

Agenda (ET):

1:00 – 1:10 : Welcome, Context, and Reframing the Problem
1:10 – 1:25 : RFPs as Brand Touchpoints
1:25 – 1:45 : Right-Sizing: Protecting Capacity & Staying Visible
1:45 – 2:05 : Strategic Differentiation for SMEs
2:05 – 2:30 : Live Q&A and Applied Discussion

About EMC³ Consulting
EMC³ Consulting Corp. (Culture. Collections. Coaching. Powered by Purpose™) is an Alberta-based consulting firm that helps governments, cultural organizations, and creative entrepreneurs plan, manage, and grow with purpose.
Our mission is to make culture accessible, inclusive, and future-ready. Every project applies an equity and accessibility lens, ensuring that diverse voices and abilities are represented.
Founded and led by a neurodivergent, disabled, and 2SLGBTQ+ entrepreneur, EMC³ Consulting contributes to Canada’s creative economy by promoting inclusion, innovation, and sustainable growth in the cultural sector.
Accessibility Features at this Event:

Closed Captions (auto-generated)
American Sign Language (ASL) Interpretation for Spoken English

Register:
This webinar is free to attend, but requires registration. Click here to access the registration page.

Beyond Awareness: Why World Autism Acceptance Day Matters
2026-04-02 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Vancouver) | Virtual
Join BC People First Society Board Member and #ActuallyAutistic neurodiversity consultant & educator, Jenine Lillian for a short presentation about persistent myths and misconceptions about autism followed by an open Q&A session. This event marks the annual World Autism Awareness Day, which many autistic individuals are renaming to World Autism Acceptance Day to encourage the shift from awareness to action.
This event is free and open to everyone.
As a neurodiversity consultant, Jenine regularly answers questions such as:

I’m not sure if I should get a formal disability assessment, what are the benefits of doing that?
I’ve recently been diagnosed as neurodivergent, what should I do next?
I feel like I’m always working, can you help me find balance?
Are there financial benefits available to Canadians with a formal diagnosis of a disability?
I’m neurodivergent and I want to start a small business, can you help?
Can I identify as disabled even without a formal diagnosis?
How do I ask for accommodations at work without risking my job?
My workplace says they’re inclusive, but I don’t feel supported. What can I do?

This is an IWSCC Community Partner Event, hosted by BC People First Society.
To learn more about this event, including registration, accessibility, and contact information, please visit the host’s official page with the link below.
Learn more about the event and register here.
Learn more about IWSCC Community Partners here.

IWSCC Virtual Networking: IWSCC Supports!
2026-04-23 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Toronto) | Virtual
IWSCC popular virtual networking returns in 2026. Participate in virtual roundtable networking for IWSCC Certified Suppliers and Corporate Members.
This event encourages Certified Suppliers and Corporate Members who work in, or want to collaborate with, sectors like:

Advocacy & Professional Speaking
Education & Training
Accounting & Financial Services
Auditing & Professional Services
Consulting
Human Resources
Staffing
Healthcare & Wellbeing

Agenda (ET):
1:00 – 1:15: Welcome & Housekeeping
1:15 – 2:00: Virtual Networking
Accessibility at this Event:
IWSCC Certified Suppliers who require an interpreter for networking can contact AlexD@iwscc.ca to request an interpreter or learn how to reimburse your costs.
Live Closed Captions are also available via Zoom.
Registration
This IWSCC Networking Event is invite-only for IWSCC Community Members. If you haven’t received an invitation to this event and would like to attend, please contact AlexD@iwscc.ca

Marketing for Mere Mortals: Authentic Connection & Growth
2026-05-06 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Toronto) | Virtual
Feel like marketing is a soulless grind? This workshop is for small business owners who want to skip the social media noise and connect authentically with real people. Learn why person-to-person marketing outshines digital hype for small businesses in BC, how to craft a genuine story, and practical ways to spread the word without feeling salesy. From effective business cards to networking that feels natural, you’ll gain tools to build meaningful business relationships that work for you.
Learning Outcomes:

Why Person-to-Person Marketing Works Better
Finding Your Marketing Style
The Foundations: Who & Why Before How
Practical, Sustainable Marketing Strategies
Measuring What Matters
Building Your Minimum Viable Marketing Plan

Cost to Attend
This event is free to attend for BC residents. For attendees outside of BC there is a $30 ticket fee.
IWSCC Certified Suppliers outside of BC can contact us at info@iwscc.ca to reimburse their ticket cost for this event. For more information, or for questions about ticketing please visit the official page.
This is an IWSCC Community Partner Event, hosted by Community Futures BC and Jenine Lillian Neurodiversity Consulting & Education.
To learn more about this event, including registration, accessibility, and contact information, please visit the host’s official page with the link below.
Learn more about the event and register here.
Learn more about IWSCC Community Partners here.

Reach: The National Forum for Disabled Entrepreneurship 2026
2026-05-27 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Toronto) | Virtual
IWSCC’s celebration of Canadian Disabled-Owned businesses returns on Wednesday May 27th!
Join us for an afternoon of dialogue, resource sharing, and community awards.
Early registration is now open! For more information about the 2026 Reach Forum, please visit the official event page here.

An Introduction to Cultivating Safe Spaces with HRPA
2026-05-27 17:30 - 20:30 (America/Toronto)
Cultivating Safe Spaces (CSS) is a trauma-informed leadership framework that integrates Indigenous knowledge, neuroscience, and relational practice. It’s designed for people who know that lasting change requires more than good intentions; it requires the internal capacity to navigate discomfort, tension, and complexity without losing connection.
Through this workshop, you’ll learn to:

Cultivate safety, by leading with compassion rather than control, so people feel welcome to show up authentically.
Strengthen accountability, so words and actions align, creating agreements that last.
Self-regulate under pressure repairing harm without defensiveness or blame, so difficult moments don’t spiral.
Hold relationships as the outcome, rather than a deal, helping decolonize your workplace.
How to stay in relationship through conflict; growing stronger teams, instead of fracturing under pressure.

WHY IT MATTERS
Psychological Safety Isn’t Soft. It’s Strategic. When leaders prioritize psychological safety, the impact ripples across your organization, from team cohesion to better performance.

Retention: People stay where they feel safe to take risks.
Engagement: Teams that communicate openly through tension are more creative and resilient.
Trust: Shared accountability language builds credibility across every level of your organization.
Impact: When psychological safety is embedded in your culture, your DEI commitments move beyond slide decks to showing up in how people experience work.

When trust and inclusion become part of your organizational DNA, people work with you, instead of for you.
WHO BENEFITS
For People Ready to Lead Differently Cultivating Safe Spaces is designed for organizations that:

Want to strengthen belonging and retention across diverse teams.
Are committed to inclusion, equity, accessibility and reconciliation.
Are seeking practical tactics to reduce stress while increasing connection.
Are ready to move from performative policies to embodied practice.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The Cultivating Safe Spaces (CSS) enhances Human Resources Professionals’ ability to increase overall organizational effectiveness by teaching them to cultivate workplaces that provide a sense of connection and belonging. When employees feel safe, they show up authentically, share their ideas, and take healthy risks.
Understanding CSS positions HR professionals as Strategic Leaders and enhances their ability to shape how their organizations are led overall.
HR professionals with the emotional intelligence to recognize trauma, and deal with it in a way that leads to relationship repair, are more likely to help their organizations retain their staff, which ultimately leads to less employee churn. This results in their workplaces saving money and preserving organizational knowledge, while also managing the transfer of that knowledge to new employees.
When combined with the Four Necessary Conditions and the Protocols, the Perspectives create the environment where people can stay grounded, communicate clearly, and hold each other accountable even when the stakes are high. This helps HR professionals improve their: relationship management; and negotiation and influencing skills.
The Perspectives teach us to widen our view and to understand that everyone sees through the lens of their story, training, and position in a system. When we recognize that, we stop assuming we all mean the same thing when we say “respect,” “safety,” or “truth.”
Most of us have been taught to listen to be right, not to learn. In leadership, that habit erodes trust fast. Discipline in this framework is about improving communication and building credibility during uncertain or high-pressure times.
The Perspectives help leaders: see beyond their own experience; understand how power, identity, and conditioning shape perception; approach difference with curiosity instead of defence; and make space for multiple truths while staying focused on shared responsibility.

Target Audience
This session is intended for Human Resources Professionals and other Leaders who employ a team.
Registration and Host Information
Cost to Attend: This event is free to attend for Human Resources Professional Association (HRPA) members. Non-members can attend in-person in Belleville ON for $75, or virtually for $35.
This event is hosted by Empowered Path Inc. To learn more about this event, including registration, accessibility, and contact information, please visit the host’s official page with the link below.
Learn more about the event and register here.
Learn more about IWSCC Supplier Certification here.

Networking for Introverts
2026-06-10 21:00 - 22:00 (America/Toronto) | Virtual
Are you an introvert who dreads networking, feels overwhelmed in large gatherings, or struggles to make meaningful professional connections? This workshop is designed just for you! Join us for insightful strategies, practical tips, and friendly practice to leverage your introverted nature as a powerful networking tool. You’ll discover how to master the art of prepping and recovering from events, build authentic relationships, communicate effectively, and network without exhaustion—all while staying true to yourself.
Learning Outcomes:

Understanding Your Introverted Superpowers
Preparation: Your Secret Weapon
Quality Over Quantity: The Introvert’s Advantage
Navigating Networking Events with Ease
Follow-up: Where Introverts Shine

Cost to Attend
This event is free to attend for BC residents. For attendees outside of BC there is a $30 ticket fee.
IWSCC Certified Suppliers outside of BC can contact us at info@iwscc.ca to reimburse their ticket cost for this event. For more information, or for questions about ticketing please visit the official page.
This is an IWSCC Community Partner Event, hosted by Community Futures BC and Jenine Lillian.
To learn more about this event, including registration, accessibility, and contact information, please visit the host’s official page with the link below.
Learn more about the event and register here.
Learn more about IWSCC Community Partners here.

Marketing for Mere Mortals: Authentic Connection & Growth
2026-09-16 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Toronto) | Virtual
Marketing your business doesn’t have to revolve around social media.
Discover practical, relationship-based marketing strategies that help build visibility through networking, referrals, partnerships, email marketing, community engagement, and word-of-mouth. Participants will develop their core marketing message, create an elevator pitch, and leave with a simple marketing plan they can begin using immediately.

Virtual Zoom Webinar
Free to Attend
Registration Required

Register for this Webinar Here.
Doing Business Differently
This webinar is Part 1 of a 3-Part Learning Series. Learn more about Part 3 with the link below:

(October 21) AI Tools: Your Employee of the Month
(November 18) Networking for Introverts: Embracing Your Quiet Strength

About the Speaker
Guest educator Jenine Lillian (they/them) is an educator, librarian, instructional designer, consultant, and #ActuallyAutistic advocate with more than 30 years of experience helping people connect with information, ideas, and each other. Their work combines professional expertise with lived experience to create engaging, evidence-informed learning experiences that are practical, accessible, and immediately useful.
From entrepreneurship and AI to accessibility and neurodiversity, Jenine is known for transforming complex topics into interactive workshops that are welcoming, informative, and grounded in real-world application.
Visit their website at www.jeninelillian.com, or contact Jenine directly at info@jeninelillian.com

AI Tools: Your Employee of the Month
2026-10-21 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Toronto) | Virtual
Curious about AI but unsure where to begin?
Explore practical AI tools that can help reduce repetitive work, improve productivity, and support business growth while maintaining your authentic voice. Participants will leave with practical prompts and a personalized AI toolkit they can begin using right away.

Virtual Zoom Webinar
Free to Attend
Registration Required (link below)

Register for this Webinar Here.
Doing Business Differently
This webinar is Part 2 of a 3-Part Learning Series. Learn more about Part 3 with the link below:

(November 18) Networking for Introverts: Embracing Your Quiet Strength

About the Speaker
Guest educator Jenine Lillian (they/them) is an educator, librarian, instructional designer, consultant, and #ActuallyAutistic advocate with more than 30 years of experience helping people connect with information, ideas, and each other. Their work combines professional expertise with lived experience to create engaging, evidence-informed learning experiences that are practical, accessible, and immediately useful.
From entrepreneurship and AI to accessibility and neurodiversity, Jenine is known for transforming complex topics into interactive workshops that are welcoming, informative, and grounded in real-world application.
Visit their website at www.jeninelillian.com, or contact Jenine directly at info@jeninelillian.com

Networking for Introverts: Embracing Your Quiet Strength
2026-11-18 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Toronto) | Virtual
Effective networking isn’t about becoming the loudest person in the room.
This interactive workshop shares practical networking strategies designed for introverts, quieter professionals, and anyone who wants to build meaningful business relationships while staying true to themselves.

Virtual Zoom Webinar
Free to Attend
Registration Required (link below)

Register for this Webinar Here.
About the Speaker
Guest educator Jenine Lillian (they/them) is an educator, librarian, instructional designer, consultant, and #ActuallyAutistic advocate with more than 30 years of experience helping people connect with information, ideas, and each other. Their work combines professional expertise with lived experience to create engaging, evidence-informed learning experiences that are practical, accessible, and immediately useful.
From entrepreneurship and AI to accessibility and neurodiversity, Jenine is known for transforming complex topics into interactive workshops that are welcoming, informative, and grounded in real-world application.
Visit their website at www.jeninelillian.com, or contact Jenine directly at info@jeninelillian.com

Evolve: The National Forum for Veteran Entrepreneurship
2026-11-25 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Toronto) | Virtual
Celebrate Canadian Veteran-Owned Businesses with IWSCC at the 4th annual Evolve Forum!
Evolve is an annual virtual presentation hosted by IWSCC to advocate and celebrate one of Canada’s fastest-growing communities of business owners.

Insightful talks by Canadian Veteran Entrepreneurs
Resource presentations from allies and support organizations
Awards celebrating IWSCC Veteran-Owned community members

Evolve is open to everyone and free to attend! Register early, or learn more about the event on the official page with the links below.
Register Early for the 2026 Evolve Forum
Learn more on our official event page
