MOOSE JAW — A community organization dedicated to helping people overcome employment barriers welcomed visitors into its Moose Jaw office this week — offering an inside look at the many services it provides.
Partners in Employment, a division of SaskAbilities, hosted its second annual “Taste of Partners” open house recently, inviting the public, community partners, and potential clients to explore its vocational services.
“This is our second opportunity to host the event, and it gives the public and potential clients a chance to see what our offerings are in the Employment Service Division of SaskAbilities,” said Raelynne Doka, program manager for the Regina-Moose Jaw region.
The lunchtime event featured hot dogs and refreshments alongside an interactive walk-through of various service stations highlighting career planning, vocational evaluations, employer connections, digital literacy, work-readiness training and more.
“This program helps people all along the continuum, from where they’re learning how to obtain a job, preparing for a job, getting a job, and then maintaining the job,” Doka explained. “It’s not just about supporting clients — it’s also about supporting employers and helping reduce the stigma around disability, or around people experiencing a disability or facing barriers, and showing the true value they bring to the business community.”
Skill-building programs focus not only on the basics of résumé writing and interview preparation, but also on soft skills like communication, transportation planning, and workplace routines — the “background noise,” as one presenter put it, that often gets overlooked when preparing for a job and isn’t usually taught in schools.
Visitors made their way through a series of interactive stations, each offering a hands-on glimpse into the various supports offered by Partners in Employment. One vocational assessment station featured practical activities, such as a test board where participants matched bolts with the corresponding size of nut and sorted tags by size, shape, and classification — part of a broader evaluation to help determine skill sets. At another station, guests explored emotional intelligence training through a game of Jeopardy, designed to reinforce the soft skills that contribute to workplace success.
Doka said the open house plays an important role in increasing community awareness about the breadth of support available through SaskAbilities’ employment services, especially for those unfamiliar with what the organization offers.
“Very often, when you say, ‘Partners in Employment’ or ‘SaskAbilities,’ people don't necessarily know all of the details … and the scope of (what we offer),” she said.
With more than 20 years of experience in the sector and 75 years of SaskAbilities history to draw from, Doka said the local team is proud of the work they do.
“Moose Jaw has been a very supportive business community, and we want to continue to foster that,” she added.
Referrals can come from partner agencies, but individuals are also welcome to self-refer by booking an intake appointment or walking in to get started.
Partners in Employment by SaskAbilities maintains an office at 8 Wood Lily Drive. To learn more, visit or call 1-833-444-4023.
