In New Brunswick, Neil Squire is one of 23 member organizations of the AvenueNB Cooperative (new window).

Established in 2022, the AvenueNB Cooperative is an innovative non-profit collective of employment service providers that serve New Brunswickers with disabilities. Receiving long-term funding from the Government of New Brunswick’s Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour (PETL), AvenueNB administers funding to its member organizations, instead of having each organization compete for contracts.

Member organizations work together to break down barriers and help New Brunswickers with disabilities find employment. For example, while Easter Seals NB focuses on the lending of assistive technology, Neil Squire’s Solutions program are the experts in assessments and training — the organizations work together, referring participants to each other. And it’s that way across the board with all 23 organizations that compose AvenueNB, with a wide range of services across the province, in both English and French, ensuring that no one is left behind.

It’s a model of collaboration that mirrors our own emphasis on collaboration at Neil Squire. Charles Levasseur, our Atlantic Regional Director for Assistive Technology and Occupational Therapy Programs and Services, has served as the chair of the board for AvenueNB since its inception. However, the key is that no one organization owns AvenueNB, it truly operates as a collective.

“We don’t compete,” Charles explains. “Just like Neil Squire, we have a mission, vision, and values at AvenueNB. And one of the biggest ones is collaboration between all the members. And in order to be a member, you need to collaborate — you need to be willing to collaborate.”

A key benefit to this model is the standardization of services across New Brunswick. Whereas before you might have a different level of access to resources depending on regional options — whether you were located in a city centre or in a rural area, or if you spoke English or French. The close collaboration between 23 organizations across the province ensures that you can expect the same high level of service regardless of where you’re located in New Brunswick.

“Before, if you got technology in New Brunswick, it didn’t mean you were going to get the same technology in Moncton, in Miramichi, in Bathurst, or in Campbellton. Two individuals may have the same need, but they’ll get different resources. With AvenueNB being in the picture, that’s being eliminated. It’s a fair access to technology and a fair access to accommodation,” explains Charles.

And every corner of the province is covered. While Neil Squire may handle employment in Fredericton, Options Outreach covers Saint John. Organizations like Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada, New Brunswick Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, and Learning Disabilities Association of New Brunswick ensure that different needs are met across the province.

“Our goal is to make sure we identify gaps and we find solutions for those gaps,” explains Charles.

It’s a model that’s showing results. According to a 2026 Social Return on Investment analysis by Ference & Company Consulting, every dollar invested in AvenueNB by the government results in a return of $2.79, considering decreased social assistance payments, increased tax revenue, and increased consumer spending.

This article originally appeared in our 2025/2026 Annual Report(new window).