Accessibility and
Statement of Commitment

Statement of Commitment

Fiera Foods respects the principles of dignity, integration and equal opportunity for all people. We are committed to identifying and removing barriers that prevent accessibility and we will integrate our commitment whenever possible to meet the accessibility needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner. We are dedicated to keeping up with our policies and relevant legislation in order to support a barrier-free society. Our executive team and Human Resources department will collaborate and work together to deliver on this commitment. Our key goal will be on improving accessibility within the following areas:

Customer Service

Fiera Foods strives to provide its goods and service in a way that respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities. We are committed to give people with disabilities the same opportunity to access our goods and services in a similar way as other customers.

Training

Fiera Foods is planning on providing Customer Service related accessibility training to employees who provide service to our Customers on our premises and also plans to provide training on accessibility laws and on the Human Rights Code as it relates to people with disabilities. We will create and implement departmental training plans ensuring all associates receive role specific training in accessibility.

Employment

Fiera Foods is committed to fair and accessible employment practices and will accommodate people with disabilities during the recruitment and assessment processes and upon hiring. Our Human Resources team will share our commitment within our postings and throughout the selection process, including advising new hires of our accommodation policies and update staff on any changes to these policies as applicable. Fiera Foods will continue to develop individual accommodation plans and return to work policies for employees that have been absent due to disability and we will ensure to have a written process in place to document individualized plans in a clear and consistent manner. In addition, career development, performance management and job changes will take into account accessibility needs and individual plans. Its Fiera Foods commitment to proactively prevent and remove accessibility barriers and incorporate accessibility within our regular review of employment policies and procedures.

Information and Communication

Fiera Foods is committed to meeting the communication needs of people with disabilities and we will work with them to determine their specific information and communication needs.

MUTLI YEAR ACCESSBILITY PLAN OUTLINE

OUR COMMITMENT

Fiera Foods (FF) is committed to serving our customers, collaborating with our suppliers, and interacting with staff members in a way that respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities. We are also committed to preventing and removing barriers to accessibility and providing people with disabilities the same opportunity to access, and benefit from, our goods and services in the same place and in a similar way as other customers, suppliers, and employees.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Accessibility Policy and Multi-Year Accessibility Plan

Actions Taken:

  • FF’s Multi-Year Accessibility Plan was created to identify, remove, and prevent barriers to accessibility, this has been updated in October 2022
  • The Accessibility Policy and Plan are posted on FF’s website at fierafoods.com, upon request, FF will provide a copy of the Accessibility Policy and Plan in an accessible format.
  • The Multi-Year Accessibility Plan will continue to be reviewed and updated at least once every five years. The Accessibility Plan will be reviewed annually

Training

FF has implemented training on the requirements of the accessibility standards referred to in the Regulation and training on the Human Rights Code to all employees, volunteers and others who interact with the public on our behalf, and all those who are involved in the development and approvals of customer service polices, practices and procedures. The following steps have been taken to ensure compliance. Our target range is from October 2022-October 2027.

Actions Taken:

  • All FF employees and third-party representatives are trained on the requirements of accessibility standards and the Human Rights Code as soon as possible after commencement of employment.
  • Records of training are kept and maintained.

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION STANDARDS

FF is committed to meeting the communication needs of people with disabilities.

Feedback

FF is committed to ensuring all feedback processes across the organization, both internally and externally are accessible to persons with disabilities by providing or arranging for accessible formats and communications supports upon request. The following steps have been taken to ensure continued compliance, we have updated our current standard in October 2022 and will continue to run through to October 2027.

Actions Taken:

  • Anonymous hotline will accept feedback at 1-844-487-4729
  • FF will provide or arrange for accessible formats and communication supports upon request.
  • Accessible formats and communications support can be requested on FF’s website at fierafoods.com

As of July 2022, FF’s new internet websites and web content on sites have conformed with WCAG 2.0 Level A and with WCAG 2.0 Level AA.

Actions Taken:

  • A review was completed of the required changes to be made to the website on July 2022.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

FF aims to provide fair and accessible employment practices to all its prospective and current employees. As a result, we are committed to preventing and removing barriers to accessibility in the workplace and providing everyone, including employees and representatives with disabilities access to the same opportunities.

FF has ensured that all employment standards have met accessibility requirements and will review all policies annually, and the entire program every five years. FF has taken steps to ensure that accessibility is provided.

Recruitment

The FF Human Resources team is committed to notifying its staff members and the public about the availability of accommodation for applicants with disabilities in its recruitment process.

Actions Taken:

  • Recruitment, assessment and selection processes and procedures have been reviewed and modified to notify employees and the public on the availability of accommodation.
  • The FF team will notify job applicants when they are individually selected to participate further in an assessment or selection process that accommodations are available upon request in relation to the materials or processes to be used.
  • If a selected applicant requests an accommodation, FF will consult with the applicant and provide, or arrange for the provision of, a suitable accommodation in a manner that takes into account the applicant’s accessibility needs due to disability.
  • When making offers of employment, FF will notify the successful applicant of its policies for accommodating employees with disabilities.
  • Training materials have been developed for colleagues responsible for recruitment, assessment, selection, and on-boarding to ensure compliance with accommodation.

Accommodations for Staff

FF will ensure that we are creating and following measures for any staff member who requires accommodation as a result of a disability.

Informing Employees of Supports

Actions Taken:

  • FF will continue to inform its staff of its policies (and any updates to those policies) used to support employees with disabilities, including policies on the provision of job accommodations that take into account a staff member’s accessibility needs due to disability. This information will be provided to new employees and representatives as soon as practicable after commencing employment.

Accessible Formats and Communication Supports for Staff

Actions Taken:

  • Upon the request of an employee or representative with a disability, FF will consult with the employee to provide, or arrange for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports for information that is needed to perform his/her job, and information that is generally available to other employees, including information as it relates to conducting performance management, providing career development and advancement to employees, or when redeploying employees.
  • In determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication support, FF will consult with the employee making the request.

Workplace Emergency Response Information

Actions Taken:

  • New employees can request for accommodation in an event of a workplace emergency when they begin their employment with FF through our pre-employment form.
  • Workplace Emergency Response information is included as part of FF’s fire drill process.
  • Individualized workplace emergency response information will be provided to employees who have a disability, if the disability is such that the individualized information is necessary, and if FF is aware of the need for accommodation due to the employee’s disability. FF will provide this information as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the need for accommodation.
  • Where the employee requires assistance, FF will, with the consent of the employee, provide the workplace emergency response information to the person designated by FF to provide assistance to the employee.
  • FF will review the individualized workplace emergency response information when the employee moves to a different location in the organization and when the employee’s overall accommodations need, or plans are reviewed.

Documented Individual Accommodation Plans

For those employees who require individual accommodation due to a disability, FF is committed to documenting individual accommodation plans as well as maintaining a written process for the development of accommodation plans. Individual accommodation plans will include individualized workplace emergency response information (where required) and will identify any other accommodation including accessible formats and communications supports provided.

Actions Taken:

  • FF’s individual accommodation process has been developed and implemented.
  • Further training to managers and other colleagues responsible for supporting the individual accommodation plan has been developed.

Return to Work Process

FF maintains a documented return to work process for its employees who have been absent from work due to a disability and who require disability-related accommodations to return to work. The return-to-work process outlines the steps FF will take to facilitate the return to work and will include documented individual accommodation plans as part of the process.

This return-to-work process will not replace or override any other return to work process created by or under any other statute (ie. the Workplace Safety Insurance Act, 1997).

Actions Taken:

  • FF’s return to work process has been reviewed to ensure accommodation is incorporated in the process.
  • Process is currently in place and working towards a partnership with a 3rd party benefit and/or provincial workers compensation board.
  • Further training to managers and other colleagues responsible for supporting the return to work process has been developed. .

Performance Management, Career Development and Redeployment

Actions Taken:

  • Existing performance management, career development and redeployment processes have been reviewed to ensure that accessibility needs of employees are met.
  • Further training to managers and other colleagues who are involved in performance management, career development and redeployment processes has been developed to ensure compliance.

DESIGN FOR PUBLIC SPACES STANDARDS

FF is committed to meeting the accessibility standards for the Design of Public Spaces when building or making major modifications in our retail stores and will ensure through October 2022-October 2027 this implemented. FF will work with its vendors and suppliers to ensure all parties are in compliance to legislative requirements. Public spaces include:

  • Designated smoking/vaping areas, outdoor paths of travel, like sidewalks, ramps, stairs, curb ramps, rest areas and accessible pedestrian signals
  • Accessible off-street parking

FF will put the following procedures in place to prevent service disruptions to its accessible parts of its public spaces.

In the event of a service disruption, we will notify the public of the service disruption and alternative available.

FIERA FOODS AODA MULTI YEAR ACCESSIBILITY PLAN

Introduction

Fiera Foods is committed to working towards full compliance with current standards of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR) Policy, Regulation 191/11, under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA).

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)

The AODA Multi-Year Accessibility Plan outlines the policies, achievements, and actions that Fiera Foods have taken and the work underway to improve opportunities for people with disabilities. The current plan covers a five-year period (2022-2027), to align with our strategic plan. We are also committed to ensure that accessibility is considered and implemented as required, when going through any construction or redevelopment of public spaces.

Statement of Commitment

Fiera Foods is committed to treating all people in a way that allows them to maintain their independence and dignity. We believe in equal opportunity and inclusion. We are committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner respectfully and will do so by preventing and removing barriers to accessibility and meeting accessibility requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

Fiera Foods is committed to develop, maintain, and implement policies that govern how the organization achieves or will achieve accessibility though meeting this Regulation. To facilitate this commitment, Fiera Foods has established, maintained, and documented a multi-year accessibility plan, that is reviewed and updated at least once every five years to identify progress made in addressing barriers and will be posted on the Fiera Foods website and Staff Intranet.

Standards of Accessibility under AODA:

I. General Requirements

(i) Accessible Emergency Information

Fiera Foods is committed to providing clients with publicly available emergency information, plans or public safety information in an accessible way upon request. This information will also be available to the public.

Fiera Foods has provided and will continue to provide employees with disabilities with individualized emergency response information when necessary, and as soon as practically possible. If an employee who receives individualized workplace emergency response information requires assistance, with the employee’s consent the workplace emergency response information will be given to the designated employee.

Fiera Foods has created a process for documenting issues of accessibility and recording and providing accommodation for individualized accessible emergency response information. Fiera Foods will continue to review the individualized workplace emergency response plans, when necessary.

(ii) Accessibility policies and plans

Fiera Foods has developed, implemented, and maintained a multi-year plan that outlines strategies and actions to identify, prevent and remove barriers for people with disabilities.

Policy Review takes place within the organization will be completed annually.

(iii) Training

Accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities is a core value for Fiera Foods and for that reason, Fiera Foods provides training to employees and volunteers on Accessibility Standards and on the Human Rights Code as it relates to people with disabilities. Training is provided in a way that best suits the duties and needs of employees and volunteers and every person who deals with the public on behalf of Fiera Foods, including third parties i.e., employees, agents, volunteers, management. In addition, employees may require training on one or more of the standards—information and communications, employment, or transportation, as it relates to the duties and responsibilities of their position.

Fiera Foods has taken the following steps to ensure employees are provided with the training needed to meet current standards and legislation:

  • Provide educational or training resources in an accessible format that considers the accessibility needs of a person with a disability.
  • Ensure new employees and volunteers complete training within 30 days of employment or placement.
  • Keep and maintain a database of the training participant’s names and dates of completion.

II. Customer Service Standard

Fiera Foods use reasonable efforts to ensure that its policies, practices, and procedures are consistent with the following principles:

  • Persons with disabilities are given an opportunity equal to that given to others to obtain, use and benefit from the goods or services.
  • Persons with disabilities may use assistive devices and/or support persons in the access of goods and services.
  • Persons with disabilities and their service animals are accommodated in all aspects of service provision unless the animal is otherwise excluded by law.
  • Fiera Foods employees, when communicating with a person with a disability, will do so in a manner that considers the person’s disability.

The following measures have been implemented by Fiera Foods:

  • Senior management has established an Accessibility Advisory Committee to present and/or revise as required practices and procedures.
  • The Accessible Customer Service Policy was published on our website including Statement of Commitment, Customer Service, Training, Employment & Information and Communication.
  • Notice will be provided on the website, over the phone, or in writing where applicable, and in accordance with the Business Recovery Plan when a Service Disruption occurs and will be done as quickly as possible if the disruption is unexpected.
  • In-person training on “Creating a Respectful Workplace” and “Positive communication” are offered to all employees. Both trainings address areas regarding how to better interact with, and/or accommodate persons with disabilities. Employees will gain understanding of their responsibilities in creating an inclusive and accessible environment, accepting and respectful of the differences between people.
  • Online courses on “Developing Diverse Teams” are available to all employees. In addition, the online course on “Increasing Accessible Employment Practices: Identifying and Removing Barriers to Inclusive Employment” that was developed in partnership with the Government of Ontario is available to all employees, employers in the Information Communications and Technology (ICT) sector and the public. Free access to this online course is available on Fiera Foods website.
  • Completion of training of all employees is tracked and recorded.

Comments relating to our programs and services about customer service are welcomed and appreciated. A process has been established to encourage feedback regarding the way Fiera Foods provides goods and services to people with disabilities. This feedback can be made verbally, by e-mail, by feedback card or in writing. All feedback is directed the appropriate parties.

A process is in place to ensure that all feedback collected from clients, staff or the public is reviewed and analyzed to identify potential gaps in customer services, and to ensure appropriate actions are taken.

Any person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person and/or by a service animal will be allowed to ensure Fiera Foods’s premises with their support person and service animal and all food safety regulations. At no time will a person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person or service animal be prevented from having access to his or her support person and/or service animal while on our premises.

Report compliance on the Accessibility Compliance Reporting tool at Service Ontario’s One-Source for Business website.

III. Information and Communications Standard

Fiera Foods is committed to meeting the communication needs of people with disabilities. We will consult with people with disabilities to determine their information and communication needs. We want to achieve the most effective and efficient access to information for all users.

Fiera Foods has undertaken the following plans to ensure compliance with this standard:

  • A feedback process has been established that is accessible, alternate formats are also available such as telephone, mail, and in-person. These processes have been communicated to the public and are available on our website.
  • Our website has been designed to be user friendly for people with a range of needs. People are encouraged to download this free browser and evaluate it against their needs and contact Fiera Foods via email or phone if they require additional information.
  • Our website also provides a feature that allows users to change the size of text they see online to suit their preference.
  • The Accessibility Standards online course that includes the Information and Communication Standard module is provided to staff that are involved in developing or disseminating information internally or externally on behalf of the organization.

In accordance with the IASR, Fiera Foods has reviewed and converted existing emergency & public safety information into a format that makes it available in accessible formats on request and in a timely manner.

Fiera Foods has taken the following steps to ensure compliance with this standard:

  • Continue to assess accessibility of existing website organization and content.
  • Consult with persons requesting alternative formats.
  • Post a notice on the website and of premises that information is available in a variety of accessible formats.
  • Establish a plan/familiarize with sources and timeframes for formatting that is not feasible to do in-house. i.e., captioning, video-description and conversion to Braille or audio and any other formatting.

IV. Employment Standard

Fiera Foods is committed to inclusive and accessible employment practices that attract and retain individuals with disabilities. We have taken the following steps to notify the public and employees that, when requested, Fiera Foods will accommodate people with disabilities throughout the recruitment and onboarding process.

Recruitment

Fiera Foods is committed to ensure that our recruitment and assessment processes are fair and accessible. All employees involved in staffing of any type will be required to complete the Accessibility Standards online course that includes -Understanding disability, Benefits of accessibility, Customer Service Standard, Information and Communication Standard, Employment Standard.

Fiera Foods has taken the following steps to ensure compliance with this standard:

  • Specify that accommodation is available for applicants with disabilities in recruitment material, and with regards to interviews and assessments
  • When making offers of employment, notify successful applicant of policies for accommodating employees with disabilities
  • Inform employees of policies supporting employees with disabilities. Provide this information to new employees as soon as practicable after hiring
  • Provide updated information on accommodations policies to employees when changes occur. · Consult with employee to determine suitability of format or support.

Documented Individual Accommodation Plans

Fiera Foods is committed to producing and providing documented individual accommodation that includes the following:
  • Participation of the employee requiring the individual accommodation plan.
  • Ability to request outside medical evaluation to determine if accommodation can be achieved and how.
  • High level of privacy.
  • Regular review and updates.
  • Reason for denial if applicable.
  • The means of providing Individual Accommodation Plans in a format that considers the needs of the employee.
  • And if required, include individualized workplace emergency response information.

Return to Work

Fiera Foods is committed to developing and putting in place a process for developing individual accommodation plans and return-to-work policies for employees that have been absent due to a disability.

Fiera Foods has developed and maintained a return-to-work process for our employees who have been absent from work due to a disability and require disability related accommodations to return to work. The process includes steps Fiera Foods takes to facilitate the return-to-work process & uses the documented individual accommodation plans.

Performance Management, Career Development & Redeployment

Fiera Foods is committed to ensuring the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities needs are considered with regards to performance management, career development and redeployment processes.

Fiera Foods has reviewed and updated the Human Resources policies and procedures to include the following elements:

  • Accessibility needs of employees with disabilities, as well as individual accommodation plans are considered when using performance management processes
  • Accessibility needs of employees with disabilities, as well as individual accommodation plans are considered when providing career development and advancement opportunities.
  • Accessibility needs of employees with disabilities, as well as individual accommodation plans are considered when redeploying employees with disabilities.

V. Transportation Standard

Fiera Foods is committed to maintaining policies, planning for accessibility, and training staff to comply with the accessibility standards related to the Transportation Standards outlined in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. All staff that are involved in transporting people – either for free or for a fee, will complete the Accessibility Standards online course that includes Transportation Standard module. Records are kept of the training provided. These commitments will be available in accessible formats upon request.

VI. Design of Public Spaces

Fiera Foods will establish plans to meet the Accessibility Standards for the Design of Public Spaces when building or making major modifications to public spaces. Fiera Foods will take appropriate measures to prevent service disruptions to its accessible parts of its public spaces. In the event of a service disruption, we will notify the public of the service disruptions and alternatives available.