Fostering Inclusion Across BC

This year, Inclusion BC hosted a series of powerful events that all work toward the same vision: creating a world where everybody belongs. From the conference to hands-on career mentoring and youth-focused job summits, these initiatives are shaping stronger, more inclusive pathways for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Everybody Belongs 2025: Bringing Communities Together

The Everybody Belongs Conference brought together people from across BC and beyond, self-advocates, families, service providers, educators, and community leaders, for days of learning, connection, and celebration. This gathering focuses on inclusion in education, employment, community living, and social policy by offering workshops, panels, and keynote presentations rooted in human rights and lived experience.

Participants had opportunities to share ideas, explore new practices, and strengthen relationships that support inclusive communities. The conference remains a cornerstone event for anyone working toward equity and full participation.

MentorAbility: Opening Career Opportunities Across British Columbia

MentorAbility is a national initiative delivered in BC through Inclusion BC that creates short, customized mentoring experiences for people. It offers a simple but powerful model: connect a person exploring work with an employer or professional in a field of interest. These matches help mentees gain confidence, build skills, and explore career paths while giving employers a chance to engage directly with potential future employees and employment services.

This year, MentorAbility has delivered across the province both in person and virtually:

• Almost 100 mentoring experiences
• Participation in 25 events

Across BC, MentorAbility is creating real opportunities by strengthening community partnerships and helping employers get involved in practical, meaningful ways. The program continues to expand, reflecting a growing appetite for inclusive workforce development and community-driven engagement.

Youth Employment Summit: Connecting Young People to Careers

The Youth Employment Summit (YES!) is a series of one-day events designed to support young people as they explore career options, connect with local employers, and learn about training and post-secondary opportunities. This year’s Langley and Kelowna Summits were successful, with over 500 registered and dozens of exhibitors from employers, trades, post-secondary institutions, and community organizations.

The event featured exhibitor booths, breakout sessions, and hands-on opportunities to engage directly with employers and community partners. Youth gained valuable career insights, built new connections, and accessed resources that helped them take meaningful steps toward employment. The Langley Summit demonstrates the impact of community-driven collaboration and sets the stage for the upcoming YES! events in Nanaimo and Prince George, continuing to expand inclusive workforce participation across BC.

Bringing It All Together: A Shared Commitment to Inclusion

While each stands on its own, together they highlight a shared message: inclusion grows stronger when communities actively work together.

• The Everybody Belongs Conference strengthens knowledge, advocacy, and leadership.
• MentorAbility creates accessible, person-centred career exploration.
• The Youth Employment Summit connects emerging workers with real opportunities across multiple regions.

These efforts reflect Inclusion BC’s ongoing commitment to building a province where everyone has the opportunity to contribute, participate, and belong. By working together across sectors, communities, and regions, we can continue to build pathways that support inclusion in meaningful, practical, and lasting ways.