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The Constant: How Jessie McGowan Became a Familiar Face at the University of Regina

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Every Wednesday at 11:30, Eric Exner and Jessie McGowan meet for coffee.

“I get to hear about his life and share some of mine,” said Eric, Director of Operations in the Faculty of Kinesiology at the University of Regina. “It’s just good to have that coworker experience with him.”

Their connection goes back to the day Jessie was hired. Eric sat on the hiring committee when the University made a commitment to begin hiring students coming out of Campus For All through the 4to40 Inclusive Employment Initiative.

Run through a collaborative partnership between Creative Options Regina and Campus For All, the University of Regina’s inclusive post-secondary education (IPSE) initiative, 4to40 connects employers with job seekers who experience intellectual disabilities, matching real work with real potential.

 

A Natural Fit
Jessie came into his interview with support from Campus For All, but he answered every question on his own. “He was able to work through that process very well with us,” Eric said.

What made him the right hire was a shared passion. “Sport and recreation is a big part of what we do here in the Faculty of Kinesiology, and he had a definite sports interest in his background,” Eric said. “Big basketball fan, involved in his high school in that regard. So it was a natural segue into the kind of work he’s doing here for us.”

Today, Jessie helps with facility management, staffs the client services desk, and sets up and tears down for varsity home games. For many visitors, he’s the first face they see on campus.

“He helps us put our best foot forward, which is very important with the community members that visit our campus,” Eric said. “For many of them, it’s the first time they are seeing our buildings and services.”

And he’s hard to miss. “He is the king of Kensington around here. He walks down the hallway and he knows everybody.”

 

The Constant
The Faculty hires many students, which means a team that’s always changing.

“Part of the blessing and the challenge of hiring students is you get to see them come in early in their academic program, watch them develop as professionals, and they leave to go on with their professional lives,” Eric said. “Jessie has remained a constant throughout that.”

Around the office, they call him the crafty veteran, only half teasing. “He’s a big believer in adhering to the rules and the processes that we have in place, so he does everything he can to set a very positive example for those around him.”

A couple of years ago, Jessie came to Eric’s office with a few ideas to make things run better. One was keeping ice bags pre-filled, tied off and ready in the freezer, so they’re on hand whenever someone needs one for a sprained ankle. Jessie took it on himself, and it’s now part of his daily duties.

“His willingness to want this place to be successful and to have pride in that is noticeable, just in how he approaches his job every day,” Eric said.

Over the years, Eric has watched Jessie’s confidence grow. “He definitely has more confidence in what he’s doing day to day, and can take a lot more ownership in the tasks that he’s been given,” he said. “His willingness to be a friendly face in a sea of those who may not have someone to talk to — Jessie will do that.”

 

Over Coffee
The Wednesday coffees started with a small-city coincidence. When Jessie learned Eric’s last name, he asked if he knew Mr. Exner, his former principal at St. Timothy School. It was Eric’s dad.

“There was an immediate connection there,” Eric said. Since then, Eric has gone for lunch with Jessie and his dad, and even brought his own dad along to reconnect with his former student.

For Eric, the impact goes both ways. “Anytime you’re having a bad day and he comes by and says hi, just checks in and chats with you, it’s an immediate uplift. And it’s noticeable when he’s not around.”

Working alongside Jessie has also shaped Eric as a leader. “What has been a pleasant surprise is just re-examining how I communicate with people, looking for ways to be more effective in that regard, and maybe just slow things down a little,” he said. “That has helped me in other areas of my life as well.”

 

Walking the Talk
For Eric, hiring through 4to40 is a direct reflection of the University’s values. “We want to be inclusive. We don’t want there to be barriers to education and personal development, and I think you have to walk that talk.”

He knows some employers worry they won’t have the time to train or supervise. “There are a number of supports in place to help make that transition easier than you think it will be,” he said.

And as with any hire, he says, it comes down to the person. “Anytime you hire someone, there is a risk, regardless of where they are and what their backgrounds are. The important thing is to look at the people, what you’re looking for them to do, and where they can fit into your team,” he said. “There are some very good people that need an opportunity to be part of something bigger than themselves, and this is a great program to see that through.”

His advice to employers considering it: “Take the jump, and you will not be disappointed.”

 

Learn More About 4to40
October is Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM). We’re sharing local stories that show what inclusive employment looks like in practice.

To learn more about inclusive employment and the 4to40 program, visit https://4to40.ca/

Watch Jessie’s story here.

Real Work. Right Fit: How Two 4to40 Employees Help Feed Regina

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When Austin goes on holidays, the Regina Food Bank notices.

“We need three volunteers to make the boxes that Austin can do in half a day,” said Jered Kirkland, Director of Operations at the Regina Food Bank. “We can’t deliver any food to our clients without the boxes.”

It’s a small detail with big stakes, and it’s the kind of work that keeps one of Regina’s busiest community organizations running. At the Food Bank’s warehouse and at the BMO Asahtowikamik Community Food Hub, two employees, Austin Coleman and Chris Paul, hired through the 4to40 Inclusive Employment Initiative, hold down roles the whole operation depends on.

Run through a collaborative partnership between Creative Options Regina and the University of Regina’s Campus For All program, 4to40 is an inclusive employment initiative that connects employers with job seekers who experience intellectual disabilities. Every role is customized to fill a real business need. It’s real work, not make-work.

 

Built Box by Box

Jered connected with Austin about five years ago, when he took on a bigger role in the warehouse. “With Austin, we lucked out,” he said.

Austin manages the Food Bank’s recycling, a passion he carries well beyond work. In the summer, he’s known around his neighbourhood for pulling a wagon or bike cart to collect recyclables. But his real specialty is boxes: the ones that carry food hampers to clients across the city.

“It’s every little piece,” Jered said. “People don’t necessarily understand how important it is. He’s an asset to our organization. We feed a lot of people every day, and that’s due to Austin’s box-making skills.”

Austin is just as comfortable with the CEO as he is with a part-time staffer or a volunteer, and that ease has made him part of the Food Bank’s culture.

“No matter how serious a conversation the leadership team is having, we know that door is going to open, and Austin is going to give us the ‘Okay, guys, see you tomorrow,'” Jered said. 

“We all look forward to it.”

 

Finding the Right Fit

The Food Hub works like a neighbourhood grocery store: clients walk the aisles and choose their own food. “It normalizes it,” said Stephanie Wenger, manager of the Food Hub. “It’s just the same as going to a grocery store.”

Chris helps keep that store running, stocking the shelves and fridges and making sure everything looks its best. He started about two years ago with one shift a week. He loved it so much that he asked for more, and he now works two afternoons a week.

“He loves his job. He loves showing up every day,” Stephanie said. “‘I love my job’ — it’s something we hear three or four times every time he comes in.”

Finding his place started with paying attention. “When Chris started, we tried him out on everything,” Stephanie said. “You can see it on his face when he’s enjoying himself. That’s kind of how we discovered the fridge area.”

The fridges are now his favourite part of the job, and his attention to detail shows. “He will find the one mouldy lemon in the bag, and he will take that out and make sure it looks good and perfect.”

Like Austin, Chris is passionate about recycling. “If we throw one plastic thing in the garbage, we’re going to hear about it,” Stephanie laughed.

Chris worked one-on-one with supports when he first started. Today, he works mostly on his own, has his routine down, and regularly brings new ideas to the team.

 

“We’re the Lucky Ones”

For Stephanie, the dignity the Food Hub offers its clients extends to everyone who works there. “I never want anybody walking into the store feeling like they don’t belong, and that goes for clients, staff and volunteers,” she said.

That’s why, for both supervisors, inclusive hiring isn’t about doing anyone a favour. It’s about filling real jobs with the right people.

“It’s not a charity. We’re not doing anybody favours here,” Stephanie said. “He is simply our employee, and we’re treating him no different.”

Getting it right, she said, simply means taking the time to get to know someone, which is good practice for any employee. “Take the time to learn your employees. Learn what they like and what they don’t like, and make them a part of the plan.”

Jered sees the partnership as a long-term pipeline for talent. “It would be great to continue the partnership,” he said. “You might get a career individual if you go through this program.”

For any employer on the fence, Stephanie’s advice is simple: “Jump off that fence as fast as you can and dive on in.”

“We’re the lucky ones,” she added. “If anything, they’re doing us a favour.”

 

Learn More About 4to40

October is Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM). We’re sharing local stories that show what inclusive employment looks like in practice.

To learn more about inclusive employment and the 4to40 program, visit https://4to40.ca/

Watch Austin’s story here.

Watch Chris’s story here.



A Chain Made Stronger – How the University of Regina Leads with Intention Through 4to40

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At the University of Regina, inclusion doesn’t happen by accident.

It’s the result of intention – of people who choose, every day, to lead with empathy, equity, and purpose.

That’s what John Papandreos, Manager of Custodial Services and Campus Grounds, has built his leadership around. As Donna Flaman-Johnson, Inclusive Employment Broker with 4to40, put it: “Inclusion doesn’t happen by accident. It’s by intentional behaviors, and it takes a very strong and caring leader – and that’s exactly what John is.”

For John, the goal has always been simple: build a team where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute. That philosophy guided him to partner with 4to40, a collaboration between Creative Options Regina (COR) and the University’s Campus for All program – connecting employers with job seekers who experience intellectual disabilities and matching real work with real potential.

The University has been involved with 4to40 for nearly a decade – one of the program’s earliest and longest-standing partners – offering meaningful, long-term employment across multiple departments and teams.

 

Stronger by Every Link

John describes the relationship between COR, Campus for All, 4to40, and the University as “a chain made stronger by every link.” Each organization brings its own expertise – supported living, education, employment, and inclusion – but when they connect, the impact multiplies.

That connection opened a new chapter for Jarred, a member of John’s custodial team who joined the University through 4to40 five years ago. His days are steady and essential – disinfecting high-touch points and helping keep the campus healthy and safe. His role, which involves the kind of routine tasks he enjoys, became especially vital during the University’s pandemic response, when enhanced cleaning protocols and health measures were introduced to keep students, staff, and visitors protected.

“Aside from being really dependable and reliable,” John said, “I see the same attributes in Jarred today as I did five and a half years ago when he started with us. He treats his job-related experiences with the ‘Seven Ps’: he takes pride in his work, he’s proud to be here, he brings a positive attitude to work each and every day, he’s focused on purpose and his performance and always doing a great job – and he’s punctual.” 

Within the team, Jarred’s presence has fostered empathy, patience, and camaraderie. “When you welcome individuals with intellectual or physical disabilities,” John said, “you’re welcoming loyal, hardworking people who contribute positively to your organizational culture.”

 

Real Work. Real Pay. Real Belonging.

For Jarred and his family, this opportunity represents more than a job – it’s belonging in action.

“We’ve always been fully believing in inclusion,” said his mom, Debra MacDonald, “and this was the answer to our prayers – that Jarred could be included within his community and go to work every day.”

It all started with a simple conversation. At a COR Christmas party, Donna approached Debra about the possibility of Jarred joining the University team.

“We were very, very proud of this young man to come and work at the University of Regina,” reflected Debra. 

For many families, finding paid, long-term employment for individuals with intellectual disabilities isn’t easy. That’s part of what makes this partnership – and the University’s commitment to real, paid employment through 4to40 – so significant.

Jarred’s position is permanent and unionized. “He’s being paid a full wage. He’s got ideal hours – from ten until two every day. He gets a pension plan, he’s got health care, and he’s got all of those things that anybody else would have when they’re employed,” Debra added.

 

Leadership by Intention

Donna has worked with five different teams at the University of Regina – and she’s seen a positive outcome each time. As more departments witness the success of inclusive employment, the culture of inclusion continues to strengthen.

“I’m an advocate for it,” said John, “and when opportunities present themselves and I have a position available, I’m quick to seek approval.”

“In practice,” Donna said, “we’re all working towards the same goal – and that is to disrupt people’s typical understanding of disability and replace it with possibilities for belonging and contribution.”

That’s the heart of 4to40 – and the story that continues to unfold at the University of Regina. It’s not about charity –  it’s about recognizing potential, creating opportunity, and celebrating what’s possible when every link in the chain is strengthened by intention.

 

Learn More About 4to40

October is Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM). We’re sharing local stories that show what inclusive employment looks like in practice.

To learn more about inclusive employment and the 4to40 program, visit https://4to40.ca/.

 

2025 DEAM Employer Reception, hosted by 4to40

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On October 23, 2025, over 65 employer and community partners from across Regina gathered at Innovation Place for an evening of connection and celebration in recognition of Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM), hosted by 4to40, a partnership between Campus for All at the University of Regina and Creative Options Regina (COR).

The event celebrated the power of inclusive employment and the people and organizations leading the way. Co-hosted by Michael Lavis, CEO of COR, and Aaron Orban, COR Board Member and Executive Director at the Ministry of Justice, Access and Privacy, the evening honoured a decade of progress through 4to40 – a community-driven initiative that has connected more than 80 individuals experiencing disability to meaningful, long-term employment across numerous sectors in Regina.

Attendees included a cross-section of Regina’s public and private sector employers; from small businesses to large institutions like Farm Credit Canada, the University of Regina, and various Government of Saskatchewan departments, each demonstrating that inclusion, when led with intention, builds stronger, more resilient workplaces.

The University of Regina, a founding partner in 4to40, was specifically recognized for its sustained leadership in inclusive hiring. Remarks from organizational leadership and the family of an employed individual underscored the depth of impact that personalized, purpose-driven employment can have, not just on individuals, but on teams and workplace culture as a whole.

As highlighted throughout the evening:

  • Inclusive employment is not about charity; it’s about value – creating roles that matter to the organization and are meaningful to the employee.
  • Real inclusion happens through everyday leadership, where employers choose to see potential in places others might overlook.

Pre and post-event media coverage reinforced the significance of this work:

This reception served as a powerful reminder that when inclusion is led with purpose, everybody wins!

Real Work. Right Fit. How a Regina Gift Shop Rethought Hiring and Found a Perfect Match Through 4to40

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As Featured On: CTV News & CBC Saskatchewan
Inclusive Employment in Action – October 2025

4to40’s work to create inclusive employment opportunities was recently featured on both CTV News Regina and CBC Saskatchewan’s The Morning Edition — spotlighting how local employers and employees are redefining what inclusion looks like at work.

CTV News Regina
📺 “Regina organization making sure those with disabilities have an opportunity to work”

CBC Saskatchewan Morning Edition
🎙️“How one Regina gift shop reworked how it approaches hiring with the 4to40 inclusive employment initiative”

From a Regina basement, Kyle and Danelle Moffatt grew Sticks & Doodles into a busy local brand, producing over 100,000 pieces and building a close-knit team of 12. They hand-make personalized gifts  from scratch so every order feels specific to the person it’s for. Recently, they moved into their new East  Regina location and, as orders grew, the team was stretched thin on detail-heavy jobs.

“All of a sudden we got to the point where our team was not able to keep up with painting, staining, prepping wood, very like high detailed work,” Kyle said.

That’s when Kyle realized he had the perfect opportunity for a 4to40 hire.

Run through a collaborative partnership of Creative Options Regina and the University of Regina Campus  For All program, 4to40 is an inclusive employment initiative that connects employers with job seekers  who experience intellectual disabilities.

“The work we do isn’t about creating a job or offering charity,” explained Donna Flaman-Johnson, Inclusive Employment Broker at 4to40.“It’s about identifying real work that needs to be done and  matching that with someone’s real potential.”

Hiring with Intention 

Kyle connected with Donna, and she immediately saw a strong fit and shared two candidates, preparing them carefully for interviews.

“Sticks & Doodles was accommodating right from the start,” Donna recalled. “They were willing to  provide me with the questions in advance and they were also willing to have me present at the interview as well with both candidates.”

When Mik Deiana came through the door, the connection was instant.

“This was a kid that just seemed genuinely excited about the idea of working here,” said Kyle. “And it was an opportunity to bring somebody in who may be super qualified for a role that we maybe just  wouldn’t have been exposed to.”

A True Role – Not a Make-Work One

From the very beginning, Mik proved to be a natural fit.

“Mik’s got a great attention to detail. He’s not afraid to ask questions. He likes to learn. Those are all qualities that are important across the board,” Kyle added.

On the shop floor, Mik takes on the detail-heavy production tasks that once slowed the team down:  painting, staining, peeling acrylic, taping boards, and prepping frames. It’s steady, hands-on work—and  it suits him.

“One year I helped with my dad building our deck, so I’m pretty good with tools and pretty good with  my hands,” Mik said.

As he settled in, he started picking up the technical side of the craft. “I didn’t know that there’s so many different types of wood and different types of paints and stuff. So, it was pretty cool. Now I know a lot.”

On his favourite part of the job, Mik said: “Seeing what I made, and then seeing that someone buys it— and that they’re happy.”

To make the transition smooth, 4to40 provided a job coach, working alongside Mik until he was fully confident and independent in his role.

“The work that Mik is doing is very routine, but it’s very important work, because pretty much anything that goes out of that store, Mik likely touched,” Donna said.

The Difference One Hire Can Make 

For Kyle, Mik’s addition was a win on every level. “Mik’s had a great impact on us, just like everybody else,” he said.

That impact extends beyond the shop floor.

“The training we do with Mik is the training we should do with all our staff,” Kyle reflected. “He’s made us better managers.”

“It really did kind of force that idea of being more empathetic, being more responsible – taking  responsibility as a manager for the work of your team members because if we don’t tell somebody new  what to do properly, they won’t do a good job,” he added.

And while some employers worry about costs or added complexity, Kyle said the support from 4to40 made all the difference.

Donna helped take the fear and uncertainty out of the process. From their first call, she addressed his  questions head-on — from time commitments to fit — and reassured him that 4to40’s approach was  flexible, supportive, and collaborative. By handling the details and guiding him through each step, she  turned what once felt daunting into a confidence-building experience.

“The cool thing is that hiring is hard, and the idea that somebody else comes out and finds somebody for  you as an employer is awesome,” he said.

Not a Diversity Hire. Just the Right Hire. 

Kyle is clear on one point: “This wasn’t a diversity hire. It was just a great hire.”

Looking ahead, Kyle said they’ll weigh future roles with the same lens: “I do want us to be in a position  where, as we grow, every time we look at a position, we look at it through the lens of, is this something  that we’d want to go to 4to40 through?”

The experience itself has been straightforward and human. “And honestly, I’ve never felt anything other  than this is a great experience,” added Kyle.

On the floor, the result is a team that fits. As Mik put it: “We’re pretty much like a family, I would say, so  it’s pretty nice.”

Learn More About 4to40

October is Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM). We’re sharing local stories that show what inclusive employment looks like in practice.

To learn more about inclusive employment and the 4to40 program, visit https://4to40.ca/.