About HRSDC | Our Offices | Programs & Services | A-Z Index September 9, 2004 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TRAIL, BRITISH COLUMBIA-The Honourable Joe Volpe, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, today announced funding of almost $5 million for 30 projects in British Columbia. "These projects will help some 5,000 youth and unemployed individuals across British Columbia to develop the skills and knowledge they need to meet the challenges of today's labour market," said Minister Volpe. "The Government of Canada is proud to work with organizations that provide a supportive environment in which Canadians can fulfill their potential." These projects are being funded through Human Resources and Skills Development Canada's Employment Assistance Services, Job Creation Partnerships, Self-Employment Assistance, Skills Development, and the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy. These projects support the Government of Canada's goals to encourage Canadians to upgrade their skills and knowledge to their full potential. Funding was provided for in the March 2004 federal Budget. These projects have been reviewed to ensure compliance with the Department's administration of its grant and contribution programs, and are subject to review under the Financial Administration Act. For more information see attached backgrounder. - 30 - For more information: Media Relations Office Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (819) 994-5559 Jeff Scott, Communications Advisor Human Resources and Skills Development Canada BC/YT (604) 666-2297 Stephen Heckbert, Director of Communications Office of the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development (613) 868-9967 BACKGROUNDER TRAIL ANNOUNCEMENT Employment Assistance Services Employment Assistance Services helps unemployed individuals to prepare for, find and keep employment by providing them with services such as counselling, job search techniques, job placements, and labour market information. These services are available to all unemployed Canadians, whether or not they ever established a claim for Employment Insurance (EI). The 11 recipients of the Employment Assistance Services funding are: Organization Name Project Name Location Funding Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs Kelowna $123,157 College of New Caledonia College of New Caledonia-EAS Prince George $153,167 Fort Nelson Friendship Society Fort Nelson EAS Fort Nelson $120,619 CFDC Nadina Employment Assistance Services Program Smithers $332,714 Kitimat Community Services Society Kitimat Community Services Society Kitimat $363,473 Haida Gwaii Community Futures Development Haida Gwaii EAS Masset $148,473 College of the Rockies Fernie Resource Centre for Youth Fernie $107,003 The Career Resource Centre Career Resource Centre Prince Rupert $367,753 Upper Skeena Development Centre EAS - Upper Skeena Hazelton $179,046 Kootenay Family Place Kootenay Family Place Castlegar $58,883 THEO BC AIM Employment Services Kamloops $335,386 Job Creation Partnerships Job Creation Partnerships provides unemployed individuals with opportunities to gain work experience on projects developed in partnership with other levels of government, business, or community groups. The 12 recipients of the Job Creation Partnerships funding are: Organization Name Project Name Location Funding The Kamloops Wildlife Park Society Birds of Prey Exhibition Kamloops $116,080 Women’s Contact Society Women’s Contact Society - JCP Williams Lake $31,072 Canadian Mental Health Association for the Kootenays I.C.E. Cranbrook $145,995 Arrow & Slocan Lakes Community Services ASLCS - Trails JCP Nakusp $36,120 College of the Rockies Employing Youth in a Community Construction Project Invermere $60,736 Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre New Denver Kyowakai Society New Denver $25,602 Merrit Centennials Junior A Hockey Club Merritt Centennials Merritt $44,113 Northern Lights College Work Experience-Market Place Project/JCP Chetwynd $267,991 Terrace Riverboat Days Society Riverboat Exhibit Terrace $15,498 Rock Wall Project Society Rock Wall Project Trail $53,863 Construction and Specialized Workers Training Society Merritt Skateboard Park Merritt $114,826 Fernie and District Search and Rescue Rescue Centre Fernie $60,389 Self-Employment Assistance Self-Employment Assistance provides unemployed Employment Insurance-eligible individuals with financial support, planning assistance and mentoring while they get their business up and running. The recipient of the Self-Employment funding is: Organization Name Project Name Location Funding North Okanagan Employment Enhancement Society NOEES - Self Employment Program Vernon $326,802 Community Coordinator-Self-Employment Assistance The Community Coordinator can be a business, an individual, an organization, a federal Crown corporation, a corporation, a public health and educational institution, the municipal government or a band/tribal council. Community Coordinators receive a contribution to support the costs of a project designed to help EI-insured participants to start their own business by assessing their business concept, helping to develop and implement their business plans and by providing or arranging for business counselling, training advice and assistance. In addition, Community Coordinators may provide participants with temporary financial assistance while they develop and implement their business plans. The Community Coordinator receiving funding to provide self-employment assistance is: Organization Name Project Name Location Funding St. Laurent Consulting St. Laurent Consulting Quesnel $450,369 Community Coordinator-Skills Development The Community Coordinator receives a contribution to support the costs of a project designed to help EI-insured participants to obtain the skills they need to gain employment by providing them with financial assistance, where required, to help them with certain training-related costs. The Community Coordinator receiving funding to provide skills development is: Organization Name Project Name Location Funding Progressive Employment Services Ltd. Progressive Employment Services Ltd. Vanderhoof $268,387 Youth Employment Strategy The Youth Employment Strategy (YES) is the Government of Canada's commitment to helping young Canadians, particularly those facing barriers to employment, to get the information and gain the expertise, work experience and skills they need to make a successful transition to the workplace. The YES offers three programs for youth: Skills Link, Summer Work Experience and Career Focus. Skills Link provides funding for community organizations to help youth facing barriers to employment-such as single parents, Aboriginal youth, young persons with disabilities, recent immigrants and high school drop-outs-by developing the skills, knowledge and work experience they need to participate in the job market. The four recipients of the Skills Link funding are: Organization Name Project Name Location Funding Xaxli’p First Nation Future Generations Strategic Planning Lillooet $116,348 Project Literacy Kelowna Society ESTEEM Kelowna $149,316 Cranbrook Boys and Girls Club The Work Experience Program Cranbrook $101,570 Production Systems Painting Production Systems Painting Kamloops $13,520 For more information on programs under the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy, call the Youth Info Line at 1 800 935-5555, or visit our Web site at www.youth.gc.ca.
