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New employment opportunities for local youth announced

Up to 105 youth will participate in the project, which will be delivered by 2nd Chance Employment
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File photo of Guelph MP Lloyd Longfield. Tony Saxon/GuelphToday

NEWS RELEASE
LLOYD LONGFIELD, MP GUELPH
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Building a strong middle class means giving Canada’s youth the tools they need to find and keep good jobs.

Today, Lloyd Longfield, member of parliament for Guelph, on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, minister of employment, workforce development and labour, announced a new project that will give youth in Guelph job skills training and hands-on work experience.
 
Up to 105 youth will participate in the project, which will be delivered by 2nd Chance Employment. Through the Ways2Work program, 2nd Chance will work with each youth to develop a goal for an employment placement.

The goal will focus on finding a placement that builds upon their interest and skills, but also give them an opportunity to work through their barriers on the job with the support of the Job Developer.

They will develop skills to help them find and keep jobs, such as job search techniques, interview preparation and business communications. They will have the opportunity to participate in courses such as First Aid/CPR and employee safety. Participants will also gain valuable work experience in such fields as hospitality, retail and trades.
 
The Government of Canada will provide $965,663 over two years for this project through the Skills Link program of the Government’s Youth Employment Strategy.

Skills Link supports projects that help young people who face more barriers to employment than others develop basic employability skills and gain valuable job experience, which, in turn, assists them in making a successful transition into the workforce or to return to school.

These youth could include those who have not completed high school, single parents, Indigenous youth, young persons with disabilities, youth living in rural or remote areas or newcomers.

This program is incredible as it also brings in the businesses in our community who contribute in such an important way but sharing their funding and more importantly their mentorship.

Quotes

“We know that our communities are healthier and stronger when everyone can fully participate. Supporting youth as they transition into the workforce is a key way in which we can grow our economy and strengthen the middle class.Youth in Guelph will benefit tremendously from the opportunity to develop their skills and gain valuable workplace experience.” - The Honourable Patty Hajdu, minister of employment, workforce development and labour

“Developing Canada’s youth is a priority. 2nd Chance’s project is a concrete example of what we can achieve for youth by working in partnership with organizations across the country. Projects like this one can help put regular paycheques into the reach of those who need it. But more than that, they give young Canadians the chance to change their future.” - Lloyd Longfield, member of parliament for Guelph

"Over the past 10 years, 2nd Chance’s, ways2work programme has supported close to 500  youth in our community to realize their potential and achieve their employment and education goals.  We were honoured to be part of their journey and look forward to the next 10." - Chris Baginski-Hansen, executive director, 2nd Chance Employment Counselling

Quick Facts

  • Skills Link is one of three program streams under the Government’s Youth Employment Strategy (YES). Each year, the Government invests more than $330 million in the YES to help support young Canadians between the ages of 15 and 30 to get the information, skills, job experience and abilities they need to make a successful transition to the workplace.  
  • Budget 2017 proposes to invest a further $395.5 million over three years in the YES for additional employment and skills development opportunities for youth.
  • Since 2005, YES programs delivered by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) have helped over 582,000 youth develop skills and gain work experience to find a job or return to school.  ESDC’s Skills Link program has helped over 141,000 youth since 2005.

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