DAWN Summit Brings Employers Together to Break Down Barriers
Hiring a Diverse Workforce Employer luncheon, keynote by equity leader Muhammad Ahsan, CCIP, and a Job Fair on October 26 at the Best Western North Bay
Employers and Service Providers across the Nipissing region are participating in the Diversity at Work Nipissing (DAWN) Summit and Job Fair on Monday, October 26, 2026, at the Best Western North Bay. Under the theme Hired to Stay: Building Workplaces Where People Thrive, the day pairs practical guidance for businesses and organizations with direct access to a diverse pool of job seekers.
The Summit opens at 11:00 a.m. with keynote speaker Muhammad Ahsan, CCIP, a recognized leader in equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility and antiracism. His address entitled “Belonging Goes Both Ways: We Hired You. Do We Hear You?” will focus on breaking down the barriers that keep employers from recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce, from hiring practices that unintentionally screen out qualified candidates to the workplace conditions that help new hires stay and succeed. Following the keynote, employers will connect over an employer luncheon before the job fair opens.
Participating Yes Employment Services (Nipissing) clients will have exclusive early access to employers from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m., and the multisector job fair opens to the public from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. Job seekers are encouraged to bring copies of their résumé. The DAWN Summit is presented by the Diversity at Work Nipissing program at Yes Employment Services (Nipissing) and The Labour Market Group, with funding from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Event schedule, Monday, October 26, 2026, Best Western, North Bay Time Activity 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Booth setup and networking 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Keynote: Muhammad Ahsan, CCIP 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. Employer luncheon and networking Exclusive Yes Employment Services (Nipissing) client exclusive job fair 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. Multisector job fair open to the public About Yes Employment Services (Nipissing) and Diversity at Work Nipissing Yes Employment Services (Nipissing) is a community-based nonprofit governed by a volunteer board of directors.
Since 1982, it has been North Bay and area's primary employment service provider, helping people of all ages find work, access training or return to school, and serving as the first call for employers filling positions at every skill level. Diversity at Work Nipissing (DAWN) is a Yes Employment Services (Nipissing) program funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada that supports newcomers from their first Canadian job to long term economic stability.
