The Alberta Employment First Network (AEFN) is delivering grants across Alberta to support DEAM events during October 2026. The purpose of DEAM is to promote employment inclusion and increased participation in Alberta's economy, raise awareness, celebrate the contributions of workers with disabilities, and support employers to have inclusive hiring practices.

The AEFN DEAM grant maximum request is $5000 per organization - with a total of $35,000 in grant funds to be delivered across Alberta. All events will have a requirement to be accessible, with a strong recommendation to have an official accessibility audit complete. Please reach out to AEFN for accessibility contact. All events must include an accessibility overview for participants and a request for accommodation (if the accommodation is not provided). All events must provide ASL interpretation services.

All DEAM Grant applications will be reviewed by the neutral DEAM Provincial Grant Subcommittee and are available to provide information and facilitate connections to accommodations services. 

Does your event... 

 • Increase awareness of the talent pool of people with disabilities 

 • Increase understanding of disability as a type of diversity that builds workplace inclusion competencies 

• Increase awareness of Alberta's employment Service Providers and their role in talent sourcing 

• Connect employers, service providers and community 

• Create new 'Workplace Inclusion Partnerships' between Employers and Service Providers 

• Increase collaboration between employment services in the province

What is an example of DEAM event? 

  • Proclamation and/or Declarations by levels of government
  • Conference
  • Panel discussions
  • Employer Awards Gala
  • Mixer events that include employment service providers , community, and employers
  • Awareness campaigns.

Past DEAM events 

Other DEAM events can be found on the AEFN calendar! Just click on the month of October to see what happened in 2023, 2024, and 2025. 

https://aefn.ca/all-events/