Technology Innovator Awards 2018

10 Corporate Vision / Technology Innovator Awards 2018 , Best Business & Digital Technology Training Provider - Canada Make AChange Canada is a federally incorporated non-profit organizationwith charitable status that provides peoplewith disabilities and those facing other challenges to employment the skills they need to thrive in today’s competitive jobmarket.We profile the organisation to find outmore. Formed in 2004 as the Canadian Society for Social Development, the organisation gained status as a registered charity in 2005 and began offering the Business Abilities and IBDE Web Essentials/Web Advanced programs during that year, before rebranding as Make A Change Canada as part of its 10th anniversary celebrations in 2015. Currently the charity has assisted more than 2300 service users, and recently became a certified educational institution under Employment and Social Development Canada. As an organisation formed with entrepreneurship as its basis, Make A Change Canada retains a strong entrepreneurial focus to this day. Therefore, Make A Change Canada is anticipatory rather than reactionary, fluid rather than static, which is a necessity to thrive in today’s business and technology environment. Through its online educational programs and assistance, Make A Change Canada is committed to building diversity in the technology sector, and is a pioneer in providing online business and coding education for people facing barriers to employment. For many of the organisation’s service users it is not easy or possible to travel to community locations to participate in educational programs. Many need to take medication during the day, manage chronic pain, take frequent breaks, lie down or rest, or receive one-on- one support from a personal attendant throughout the day. Others may live with conditions such as extreme social anxiety and may not function well in public, while others may find it impossible to commute due to mobility issues (e.g., pain, accessibility, etc.), the need to provide ongoing care for family members, or a lack of adequate transportation. As such, Make A Change Canada works with its service users, collaborating and offering online, web-based solutions that can be used with ease and in their own time, including online web development and design courses and business/ marketing programs, as well as free online webinars in planning and marketing a business or start-up, and advice on technology topics, year-round. The organisation’s business advisors are seasoned entrepreneurs who are knowledgeable and experienced in all aspects of business, the new economy, and e-business. Program staff provide one-on-one assistance through telephone, email, Skype, and through the charity’s virtual classroom. In addition, the team provides training workshops and classroom sessions each week online, where students develop the skills needed for TI180013