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Giant Steps acknowledges and honours that it is located on unceded, ancestral territory of the Kanien’kehá:ka (Gan-ien-ge-haga) Nation, stewards of the lands and waters we now call Montreal. Giant Steps honours and respects the enduring presence, culture, and contributions of Indigenous peoples, past, present, and future.

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Loblaw Companies Limited

In August 2020, Giant Steps launched Polaris Enterprise, an industry-based adult education and employment initiative in partnership with the Public Health Agency of Canada, Loblaw Companies Ltd, Wagar Adult Education Centre, and the Transforming Autism Care Consortium (TACC). The initiative was designed to prepare autistic adults for meaningful work in retail, distribution, and related fields.

At the heart of the initiative was a fully equipped mini Maxi market, where participants develop practical skills in a realistic and supportive environment. Through hands-on learning, they practised tasks such as stocking shelves, organizing products and operating a cash register before applying their skills in Loblaw stores and other workplaces.

The partnership extended well beyond participant training. Giant Steps provided autism and neuroinclusion training to Loblaw teams and stakeholders across Canada, including ABLE at Loblaw, the company’s employee resource group supporting neurodiversity, mental health inclusion and colleagues with disabilities. These sessions helped strengthen understanding, reduce barriers and promote more inclusive recruitment, onboarding and workplace practices.

The success of the Polaris pilot helped expand neuroinclusive employment efforts across Loblaw’s national network.