Introduction and Statement of Commitment

Sleeman Breweries Ltd. is committed to providing an accessible environment for all customers, employees, job applicants, suppliers, and visitors who may enter our premises, access our information, or use our services. As an organization, we respect and comply with the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and its associated regulations. We strive to provide an accessible and welcoming environment for everyone by identifying and removing barriers in our workplace and ensuring that new barriers are not created. We strive to ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with equal opportunities. We are committed to meeting the needs of individuals with disabilities in a timely and integrative manner that respects their dignity and independence.

This multi-year accessibility plan will be reviewed and updated by Sleeman Breweries Ltd. as required, but not less than once every five years.

Sleeman Breweries Ltd. has completed the following accessibility initiatives, and we strive to continuously get better and be a barrier-free and inclusive workplace that meets all existing accessibility legislation through our multi-year plan outlined below.

Customer Service

Sleeman Breweries Ltd. is committed to providing its goods and services in a way that respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities. We follow the Accessible Customer Service Standard and will continue to comply with the regulation. We strive to deliver an accessible customer service experience by ensuring that people with disabilities can access and equally benefit from the same services and facilities as all other customers.

Here are some of the ways that we’re living up to that commitment:

• Permitting the use of assistive devices (in compliance with our Food Safety and Health & Safety teams’ requirements) by people with disabilities so that they can gain, use, and benefit from the organization’s goods and services.

• Ensuring that in areas open to the public and other third parties, in situations where an individual with a disability is accompanied by a support person or service animal, both are allowed into the area, accommodated, and provided equal access to our goods and services in accordance with our Food Safety and Health and Safety standards.

• Providing prompt notification to the public of any temporary service disruption to facilities or services used by persons with disabilities. This notice includes information regarding the reason for and duration of disruption and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available.

Information and Communications

Sleeman Breweries is committed to providing clear and accessible communications for everyone.

Here are some of the ways we’re living up to that commitment:

• Providing accessible formats for our communications on request and in consultation with the requestor to ensure their accessibility needs are met.

• Collecting and responding to customer requests and feedback in a way that meets their accessibility needs. Our website encourages users to indicate if they need accessible formats or communication support.

• Following accessibility best practices on our social media channels so everyone can experience our content.

• Reminding employees in our national meetings how to turn on captioning, should they want it.

• Recognizing National Accessibility Week through our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee to help educate our employees on the importance of accessibility.

We know that accessibility is an ongoing evolution, so we’re continuing to get better:

• All Sleeman Breweries Ltd. websites will comply with WCAG 2.0 Level AA by December 2024.

• As we develop new communication tools, we are committed to ensuring those tools meet AODA Information and Communication standards.

• We will partner with vendors who understand WCAG requirements and can help us fully meet them.

• We are committed to ongoing learning in how we can make our content more accessible for everyone. Each year, our communications team will participate in professional development to grow these skills.

• We will work with an external vendor to review our corporate website every year and ensure it meets or exceeds current WCAG accessibility standards.

Employment

Sleeman Breweries Ltd. is committed to fair and accessible employment practices throughout the employment cycle. Our Human Resources and Talent Acquisition teams detail this commitment within our postings and throughout the assessment and selection process.

We’re living up to our commitment to fair and accessible employment practices by:

• Including AODA statements in our internal and external job postings

• Asking candidates about accommodation requirements when pre-screening candidates for a position

• Partnering with external resources to assist in accommodations when interviewing candidates

• Reviewing recruitment procedures to identify gaps in recruitment practices

• Reviewing, modifying, and editing job postings to ensure language is accessible

• Removing assessment processes (e.g., DISC and warehouse lifting assessments) that were deemed potentially discriminatory

• Updating interview guides to be fairer and more equitable

• Training hiring leaders on new interview guide process and the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion.

We know that accessibility is an ongoing evolution, so we’re continuing to get better by:

• Reviewing job postings internally and externally to ensure accessibility

• Working with external vendors to maintain compliance of our job application portal

• Incorporating outcomes from an accessibility audit of our facilities to ensure that current or future candidate accommodations are met

Documented Individual Accommodation Plans/Return to Work Process

Sleeman Breweries Ltd.’s existing policies and processes include the accommodation of employees with disabilities and the facilitation of employees’ return to work after absenteeism due to disability.

Among other things, Sleeman Breweries Ltd. ensures that each person with a disability is considered individually, on a case-by-case basis, to determine their accommodation needs, if any. We involve the employee requiring the accommodation in these conversations.

Sleeman Breweries Ltd. will continue to review and assess existing policies to ensure they reference the return-to-work process and include a written process for developing documented individual accommodation plans. This process will include, information such as:

• The steps Sleeman Breweries Ltd. takes to facilitate an employee’s return to work after a disability-related absence

• The use of documented individual accommodation plans for employees with a disability, if such plans are required.

Training

Sleeman Breweries Ltd. regularly considers accessibility needs and individual accommodation plans when providing training or learning opportunities to employees, customers, and contractors. All Sleeman Breweries Ltd. employees have received foundational accessibility training that incorporates considerations related to accessibility. Situational learning opportunities are also available to employees on a regular and ongoing basis.

A fully accessible Learning Management System has been implemented at Sleeman Breweries Ltd. that allows employees to access training content that meets their needs and requirements. Sleeman Breweries Ltd. continually explores and makes available alternative approaches and assistive technologies as it relates to content for training and development for its employees.

Additionally, Sleeman Breweries takes the following actions on a regular and ongoing basis:

• Ensures every person who interacts with the public on behalf of Sleeman Breweries Ltd. is provided with training based on requirements of relevant accessibility laws and standards

• Trains all employees, including those who participate in the development of the organization’s policies, and all other people who provide goods, services, and facilities on behalf of the company.

Training includes the purpose and importance of accessibility standards developed by provincial legislation and tips on how to communicate, interact, and support people with disabilities.

Training is provided as soon practicable within the onboarding process and on a continuous basis to reflect any changes.

Completion of training is tracked and recorded in employee files within our learning management system. These records consist of the date training was completed, the name of the individual who was trained, and the topics they were trained on.

Design of Public Spaces

Sleeman Breweries Ltd. has undertaken an audit of all our facilities (including our Retail Store, which is open to the public) to assess our:

• compliance with existing accessibility legislation and best practices

• alignment with compliance to building codes and standards

Based on the outcomes of accessibility auditing, Sleeman Breweries Ltd. is committed to continue working towards improved accessibility throughout all our existing facilities, including those accessed by members of the public, such as our Retail Store. In addition, we commit to meeting accessibility laws and standards when building or making major changes to Sleeman Breweries Ltd.’s facilities.

For more information on this accessibility plan, please contact Martin Durocher, VP HR at martin.durocher@sleemanbreweries.ca.

Our accessibility plan is available on our website at www.sleemanbreweries.ca. To provide feedback concerning accessible services, request an alternative format and/or require communication support, please contact our HR Team at 1-519-822-1834 or CorporateCommunications@sleemanbreweries.ca and our team will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible.