Backgrounder


As the only association representing the staffing industry in Canada, the Association of Canadian Search, Employment & Staffing Services (ACSESS) provides services to member firms from St. John's to Victoria.

ACSESS was formed in 1998 following the merger of two long established Canadian associations, and today represents over 1000 staffing service offices across Canada. ACSESS members provide placement and executive search services, and temporary and contract staffing to the public sector and virtually every type of business.

ACSESS' mission is to promote the advancement and growth of the employment, recruitment and staffing services industry in Canada. It also serves as Canada's only national advocate for ensuring professional ethics and standards in this industry. All member companies pledge annually to uphold the Association's Code of Ethics and Standards which promotes ethical treatment of employees and clients, and adherence to applicable human rights laws, among others.

The Association has four main areas of focus to support its mission and objectives:

  1. Representing the industry before governments at the federal and provincial levels.
  2. Providing educational opportunities for industry owners, managers and consultants.
  3. Providing industry statistics for the purpose of identifying economic and socio-economic trends; and to share information with national and international associations with similar mandates and interests.
  4. Recognition of a Code of Ethics and Standards that is a measure of good business practices.

ACSESS administers Canada's Certified Personnel Consultant (CPC) program. This program is designed to confirm an individual's commitment to best industry practices and signifies they have met specific educational and testing requirements.

ACSESS' national office is located in Mississauga, Ontario and it is governed by a set of by-laws and led by a national board of 18 directors, including a president, who each serve a two-year term.

Corporate membership in ACSESS is open to any independent organization engaged in providing placement and executive search services, temporary and contract staffing services to the public sector and the business community in Canada. It also offers non-voting student memberships to full and part-time students enrolled in human resources or related courses and affiliate memberships to organizations providing products and services to the industry.

ACSESS currently has chapters in British Columbia (Victoria and mainland), Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Toronto and Southwestern Ontario, Ottawa/Hull, Québec and Atlantic Canada. All ACSESS members are listed on the Association's web site (www.acsess.org), and further detail on the member services and active committees may be obtained from the national office.

For further information, contact Mary McIninch, B.A.,LL.B, Executive Director,Government Relations, ACSESS, by phone 905-826-6869, toll-free 888-232-4962, or by e-mail at acsess@acsess.org.