Mark Wafer knows what it’s like being qualified for a job but being turned down due to a disability.

The Toronto Tim Hortons franchise owner has reached out to former Goodwill employees after 16 stores and 10 donation centres in Ontario abruptly closed a week ago leaving 430 workers without jobs.

Wafer has six Tim Hortons restaurants in Scarborough, where he has been hiring people with disabilities since 1995 and his offer carried on social media is extended to both disabled and nondisabled employees.

“We have employed 126 people with disabilities over the past 20 years, all in meaningful and competitively paid positions,” Wafer said via email. “These range from entry level to management and cross all disability types, from developmentally challenged to deaf, blind, physical, mental health and episodic conditions, such as MS.”

So far, four people have contacted Wafer at mwafer@xplornet.com and two have made appointments for job interviews this week.

No stranger to disability, Wafer is deaf, having been born with only 20 per cent hearing ability. Unable to keep a job as a young man, he has become a successful businessman and an advocate for the disabled by hiring people with disabilities.

His outlets currently employ 250 people and 46 staff members have disabilities.

“The reason I reached out to these former (Goodwill) employees is because I know many of them have disabilities,” Wafer said. “The unemployment rate for people with disabilities in Canada today is dismal at about 70 per cent. The participation rate is only about 18 per cent.

“Therefore those who were let go by Goodwill faced a daunting job search and success would be unlikely. We have a proven track record of inclusion and wanted to make sure those employees knew we were prepared to hire them, assuming they have the skills and/or can be trained to do the job,” he added.

“Mark speaks the language and tells how much his business has improved, how absenteeism has declined and everything just works better,” said City of Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley. “When you hear that from a business person, it is incredibly powerful.”

In 2010 Bradley issued a challenge to mayors across Ontario to hire people with disabilities for municipal jobs. “In the past it was looked at as being done out of pity or charity, and it’s not that; it’s social justice and smart business to do the right thing,” he said.

“We accommodate everyone in the workplace one way or another, whether it be flex hours or allergies. But when you say it regarding the disabled it sounds like you’re doing them a favour.

“The benefits are huge and I point to people like Mark and David Onley (Ontario’s 28th Lieutenant Governor) for bringing attention to the issue,” he said.

Bradley, along with Wafer, Onley and Joe Dale, director of the Ontario Disability Employment Network, work with the disabled advocacy group Community Living and others in spreading the challenge to mayors and businesses.

The Sarnia mayor said there are dozens of cities and towns across the province that have taken up his Mayor’s Challenge, but so far Toronto isn’t one of them. Bradley said he was told last December there would be a meeting set up with Toronto Mayor John Tory for this January, but he was later notified that wasn’t going to happen and he was referred to a city councillor.

“No disrespect to the councillor but the Mayor’s Challenge is all about the mayor leading the community and creating the culture,” said Bradley.

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He hopes that as the leader of Canada’s largest city, Tory reconsiders the meeting.

“Much of this is related to private sector companies still buying into a series of myths and misperceptions about hiring those with disabilities,” said Wafer. “That they work slower, are sick more often, require more supervision or costly accommodations, and perhaps work less safe and all of these are simply stereotypes. My business proves this.”

Although the positions are being offered at all six of his Tim Horton outlets, the main address for applications is: 1 William Kitchen Rd, Toronto (Scarborough) ON M1P 5B7.

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