Owlware

Food Services and Hospitality Leadership Program

Employment Collaborator

Culinary training and work experience program

CREATE WIDER INCLUSION & LONG TERM SOLUTIONS

Create a truly diverse and inclusive workforce while providing a real platform of
experience for persons with disabilities

Uplift your community, brand identity, and create a positive impact by taking steps
towards Wider Inclusion & Long Term Solutions.

The Food Services and Hospitality Leadership Program is a Toronto based program by Owlware Ltd.

We assist the disAbility community with their career paths in the food industry & help companies lead the way to more inclusive hiring

Either fulfilling positions or getting some extra hands on deck, you can provide industry experience and help get someone’s foot in the door.

The Program

Taking place at ‘The Stop’ in Wychwood Barns Toronto, The ‘Food Services and
Hospitality Leadership Program’ is a certificate program that offers Torontontians of
all disabilities and backgrounds an immersive learning and work experience in the
field of ‘Food & Hospitality’.

Program Focuses

All candidates bring with them a multitude of skills and work experience in various occupations in the food service industry. Our program allows participants to elevate their skills in:
  • Entry- Level food prep training in a industry standard kitchen
  • Certifications in First Aid/CPR, WHMIS, HACCP and Food Handlers
  • Potential post-program job trials
  • Stock (FIFO) Including inventory control and kitchen assistance.
  • Customer service training
  • Pre-employment workshops, mentoring, and outreach support
  • On-site job coaching and support

Benefits To Working With Us...

  • Carefully screened and matched candidates
  • Government supports & subsidies
  • Supportive service and provisions provided to ensure retention and smooth transitions
  • Professional and motivated candidates

Working With Us

Placements & Employment Subsidies

Employment Wage Subsidy (part-time or full-time hours):

  • 50% - 90% Wage Subsidy across 12-15 weeks (based on approved applications)
  • Great for fulfilling positions, getting extra hands on deck, and providing candidate quality industry experience
  • Can be utilized in addition to the Work Experience Trial below

Work Experience Trial - 2 Weeks (part-time hours):

  • No cost to the employer - Candidates are paid a stipend directly from OWLware Ltd. covering any transportation, meals, etc.
  • 2-3 shifts a week across 2 weeks
  • Excellent for gaining additional helping hands while providing candidates experience and a foot in the door
  • Allows both parties to determine if it's the right fit for further growth into a potential

The Facts

More than 1 in 5 Canadians have a Disability
Does this number seem represented in the everyday businesses you engage with?
The Hospitality and Food Services Leadership Program assists in facilitating and closing this job gap for persons with disabilities and employers. It also ensures the right candidates are matched with the right businesses.
‘Not Yet Disabled’
The majority of our Canadian population is actually labeled as ‘Not Yet Disabled’. This is because all disabilities change with time and age. But at some point we will all become Temporarily, Permanently, or Situationally disabled within each of our lifetimes.
Employing someone with the extra knowledge and perspective of ‘accessibility’ in the workplace will help shape our future societal systems from the inside out. It sets the precedent for further industry normalization of inclusive hiring.

Our goal is to successfully train and place our candidates with employers able to offer quality employment and/ or work trial placements.

Employer Support

Your company and your new team member will always have a point person to ensure a seamless transition into the designated job role.
The point person is there to work alongside your team and answer any questions that may arise during their placement, internship, or employment.
We have provided this additional service as a resource if it’s needed, for both parties to adjust to the process and ensure a positive outcome for everyone involved.
OWLware is an equitable social service agency providing training and employment opportunities.
For further information please contact sean@owlware.com or angela@owlware.com

THE STORY

Our Instructor and Program

A successful chef for over 20 years in Toronto, Chef Smiley has years of experience delivering superior corporate catering and experience across multiple fine dining restaurants in the city.

In 2012, Chef Smiley was a victim of gun violence leading his journey to paraplegia. After a long road of recovery, Smiley went right back to work, feeding and teaching our students in the Toronto public school system.

Through the collaboration of Owlware Ltd’s 20+ years in uplifting the disability community, the ‘Food & Hospitality Leadership Program’ was developed to provide the disAbility community with basic entry level culinary skills and certification. Trainees acquire employment skills and also learn how to feed themselves nutritious and nourishing food.

Using The Stop’s kitchen at the Wychwood Barns, a charitable and community hub addressing food insecurity, the outcome of this program is to enable persons with disabilities an opportunity to excel basic industry kitchen skills, develop healthy cooking habits, and work with restaurants in the local BIA’s of Toronto.

“The most profound part of this experience is working with other disabled individuals and observing their growth and helping them find purpose in work.On a personal level it has improved my morale, my health and has given me purpose to work again.”  – Chef Smiley

TESTIMONIALS

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    Barry S. Participant
    Doing this program has taught me many things about how to be patient with yourself as a disabled person, because the industry is not always there for everybody who is disabled. But this program gave me the confidence to go out there and make a lifestyle and get a job.
    Read more
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    Aldene Participant
    This program was a very good program. I did it for six weeks and I landed myself a job.
    Read more
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    Graduate Roomate Support Worker
    I live with two graduates and they are over the moon with pride. I've seen so much growth in both of their lives throughout the course of this program. I've seen transferable skills in terms of their ability in the kitchen. And I see so much confidence and personal growth when it comes to the ability to do a job interview. My roommate has landed a position... so this is incredible from my perspective.
    Read more
  • Slide Image
    Julia B. & Andrew C. Participants
    I would like to thank Chef for this awesome session this year. He was very kind.... It was just a great program and I really enjoyed it.
    Read more
  • Slide Image
    Valerie. M Mother of participant Maddie M.
    This is a wonderful program, especially for people really keen on different kinds of food skills.... It helped upgrade qualifications and gave the experience of working with another chef.
    Read more
  • Slide Image
    Teresa B. Mother participan Julia B.
    It was great for Julia, she loved it, and she was happy every time she came into this building
    Read more
  • Slide Image
    Sister of Participant Andrew C.
    This is such an incredible incredible program. My brother Andrew had such an amazing experience. He's met amazing people, everyones been so supportive, he's learned so many great skills... I know he is going to go on to do great things with the skills he's learned from Owlware.
    Read more

Partnered With

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This Employment Ontario project is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.