The fifth annual Innoversity Summit will highlight aboriginals and the disabled in the workplace, while also looking to improve the development of media career professionals when the event returns to Toronto Oct. 23-24.

The diversity-in-media conference ‘has received a lot of praise for its ability to reach out to newcomers in the field,’ notes project manager Larry Mah.

‘But we were also hearing that people who are already established in the media would like to have some professional development. So, as well as our usual mentoring sessions – panels on how to pitch ideas and get a foot in the door – we will also be featuring discussions on management and why diversity is beneficial for everyone in the workplace.’

The theme for the 2006 summit is ‘The Power of Diversity,’ stressing to companies and organizations that there is strength – and the potential to reach a larger share of the market – through diversity in the workplace.

As with previous years, Innoversity will cover the basics, such as how to hone pitches, improve websites and polish marketing techniques. But Mah says there will also be new areas of focus.

‘This year we have panels and sessions directly related to focusing on ways to get more aboriginal people to consider working in the media,’ reports Mah. ‘And after getting into the media, how do we retain aboriginal employees? As well, at the career fair we will be showcasing technologies that accommodate people with disabilities in the workplace. There will be film and TV editing suites that are wheelchair accessible, as well as equipment for people who are blind.’

Guests at this year’s Innoversity Summit include Minister of Heritage and Status of Women Beverly Oda (who will be the keynote speaker at the opening morning plenary session), National Film Board executive producer Silva Basmajian, CTV VP of documentaries Bob Culbert and Discovery Channel Canada president and GM Paul Lewis. The CBC’s exec director of network programming for English TV, Kirstine Layfield, will conduct a master class on successful pitching.

‘The point of Innoversity is to illustrate how much stronger your business is when it’s truly diverse,’ says Mah. ‘Our aim is to help open doors for those looking to find a job and to help management find ways to draw those people in.’ www.innoversity.com