LiveWorkPlay is celebrating the launch of two exciting internship partnerships that will create meaningful employment pathways for people with disabilities, strengthening opportunities for workplace inclusion across the Ottawa region.
Project Xenia opens doors in hospitality
LiveWorkPlay is proud to partner with À pas de géant / Giant Steps as part of Project Xenia, a national initiative focused on creating more equitable employment opportunities for autistic and neurodiverse individuals within the hospitality industry.
This June, five young people supported by LiveWorkPlay began gaining valuable hands-on experience at the Fairmont Château Laurier, exploring a range of career pathways across kitchens, housekeeping and human resources. In just a few short weeks, participants have already demonstrated growing confidence, developed new workplace skills and gained valuable real-world experience.
Congratulations to Ariana Boyce, Luca Casagrande, Aryana Jusdani, Sean Lim and Randall Proulx on their dedication and commitment throughout the program.
LiveWorkPlay extends its thanks to Giant Steps for bringing Project Xenia to Ottawa and helping expand opportunities for inclusive employment. Appreciation also goes to the leadership and staff at the Fairmont Château Laurier for fostering a workplace where participants feel welcomed, supported and valued. Their commitment to inclusion is providing participants with the opportunity to build skills, explore future career pathways and gain experience in one of Canada’s most respected hospitality environments.
Project SEARCH launches in Ottawa
LiveWorkPlay is also excited to announce its partnership in bringing Project SEARCH to Ottawa.
Project SEARCH is an internationally recognised transition-to-work program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Delivered over the course of a school year, the program combines classroom learning with three rotating workplace internships, providing participants with practical experience and the skills needed for long-term employment success.
Beginning in September, Project SEARCH will be based at The Ottawa Hospital through a collaborative partnership between LiveWorkPlay, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) and The Ottawa Hospital.
As part of the program, interns will complete approximately 38 weeks of workplace learning supported by a dedicated team including a teacher, workplace mentors and a Skills Trainer. LiveWorkPlay is proud to take on the Skills Trainer role, providing ongoing guidance and support to participants throughout their internship journey.
Preparations are already underway following a week of in-person training led by Project SEARCH Program Specialist Cindy Burns, who travelled from Georgia to work with the Ottawa partnership team. The training provided valuable insights into the internationally recognised model and offered an opportunity to connect with established Canadian Project SEARCH sites during the Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE) conference.
Joshua Gray will represent LiveWorkPlay as the program’s Skills Trainer, working closely with staff from the OCDSB and The Ottawa Hospital to support the inaugural group of interns. In the coming weeks, participants will attend a meet-and-greet session, receive information about their September start date and complete the onboarding requirements needed to begin their hospital internships.
These two partnerships reflect LiveWorkPlay’s ongoing commitment to creating inclusive employment opportunities and empowering people with disabilities to build confidence, develop workplace skills and pursue meaningful careers.
Cindy Burns, (L) who travelled north from Georgia as a Project SEARCH Program Specialist with our Ottawa team.