May 18, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONTREAL, QUEBEC — The Honourable Michael M. Fortier, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, and Minister responsible for the City of Montreal, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, today announced $2,402,730 in funding for 13 projects as part of the Skills Link program under the Youth Employment Strategy.
“Canada’s New Government is committed to helping young Canadians gain work experience that will help them enhance their employability,” said Minister Fortier. “By funding these projects, our government is giving young Canadians the opportunity to gain the skills they need to successfully integrate into the workforce.”
The participating youth will take part in workshops to prepare them for the job market, as well as a variety of learning and development courses. They will acquire new knowledge and abilities through internships in various areas, and improve their skill sets through workshops in information technology and horticulture, among others.
One of the 13 projects being funded is Cybercap’s TechnoZone Phase B. “This project involves developing a unique virtual outreach service for youth facing barriers to employment so they can further develop their work skills,” said Christian Grégoire, Director General of Cybercap. “This innovative project will help address concerns raised by community stakeholders and professionals specializing in the social integration of youth at risk. ”
Service Canada is providing financial assistance for these projects through the Skills Link program, which helps youth facing barriers to employment acquire the skills, knowledge and work experience they need to participate in the job market. The Skills Link program is one of three Government of Canada programs for youth. The other two are Summer Work Experience and Career Focus. These programs offer a range of activities to meet each participant’s needs.
Service Canada brings Government of Canada services and benefits together in a single delivery network. It provides Canadians with one-stop, personalized service they can access however they choose – by phone at 1 800 O-Canada, Internet at servicecanada.gc.ca, or in person at Service Canada Centres across the country.
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Backgrounder
Projects Funded Under Skills Link
Organization
Project Description
Location
Amount
Corporation Wapikoni Mobile
Through this project, 190 young people from 10 Aboriginal communities in Quebec will take part in making a video, recording music, and computer initiation workshops.
Various Aboriginal communities in Quebec
$467,172
Centre communautaire Val-Martin
Through this project, 20 youth will take part in community and social activities and internships to help them develop the skills they need to integrate into the workforce or return to school.
Laval
$293,797
Maison d’Haïti
Working as street patrollers, participants in this project will help prevent violence and crime in their community.
Montreal
$249,221
Intégration jeunesse du Québec inc.
As part of this project, 35 young people will take part in a supervised work placement to acquire or further develop job skills.
Montreal
$195,244
CyberCap
This project involves putting virtual outreach services into place to initiate contact with youth facing barriers to employment and help them create a plan for improving their social and professional skills.
Montreal
$150,000
Centre d’intervention des Basses-Laurentides pour l’emploi
Through this project, young people and adults over 50 years of age will work together to develop and publish a collection of literary texts.
Sainte-Thérèse
$149,938
D-Trois-Pierres
Through this project, 24 young people will create a job-related action plan, develop their skills and do internships in the following fields: cooking, housekeeping, groundskeeping and commercial facility maintenance.
Rivière-des-Prairies
$149,736
Service d’aide communautaire Anjou
The 12 young people participating in this project will conduct awareness workshops in elementary schools and area parks about bicycles as economic and environmentally friendly means of transportation. They will also collect and repair bicycles to give to underprivileged families.
Montreal
$147,712
Pro-Vert-Sud-Ouest
Ten young people will learn how to better deal with the realities of the job market through internships and community beautification activities in southwest Montreal .
Montreal
$146,506
Les ateliers de formation et d’apprentissage au travail
Through training and workplace learning activities, 15 young people will develop skills and knowledge to help them re-integrate into the workforce or return to school.
Montreal
$145,022
Carrefour jeunesse-emploi de l’Ouest-de-l’Île
The 15 participants in this project will gain work experience through an internship.
Dorval
$137,221
Sentier urbain
Participants in this project will acquire skills in horticulture through activities that will benefit the community like helping senior citizens with their gardening.
Montreal
$122,603
Corporation de développement communautaire de la Pointe, Montreal East area
This project involves developing a collaborative action plan to help marginalized young people stay in school and integrate into society and the workforce.
Montreal
$48,558
