May 22, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EDMONTON, Alberta— Laurie Hawn, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, today announced $489,731 in funding for the Wind Dancers Youth Pre-Employment Program for Aboriginal youth.
“We have the hottest job market in 30 years. This creates unprecedented opportunities for Aboriginal youth,” said Mr. Hawn. “Canada’s New Government wants to ensure they have the skills and knowledge they need to take advantage of these opportunities, and projects like this help make this possible.”
The funding will allow the Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society to help Aboriginal youth in the Edmonton area develop the life and job skills they need to get into the labour force or return to school. Participants in the program will create individual action plans, and become more employable through a combination of on-the-job experience and workshops about communications skills, problem solving, goal setting, career planning, and the job market. The program will also help participants wishing to return to school by facilitating their completion of a school preparatory program at Norquest College.
Canada’s New Government is funding this project through Skills Link, one of Canada’s youth employment programs. The program works with employers, community organizations and other levels of government to ensure all young people have the opportunity to develop their skills and become contributing members of their communities.
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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This news release is available in alternative formats on request. Call 1-800-788-8282 on a touch-tone phone or through a teletypewriter (TTY).
Media inquiries:
Katrina Carreiro Service Canada Communications
780-495-6226
Media Relations Office
Service Canada 819-994-5559
Public inquiries:
1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232)
TTY: 1-800-926-9105 servicecanada.gc.ca
Youth Info Line 1-800-935-5555
youth.gc.ca.
Backgrounder
Skills Link
The Skills Link program is one of three programs that help young Canadians aged 15 to 30 obtain career information, develop skills, gain work experience, find good jobs and stay employed. The two other programs are Summer Work Experience and Career Focus.
Skills Link focuses on helping young people who face barriers to employment such as high school drop-outs, single parents, Aboriginal youth, persons with disabilities, youth in rural areas and recent immigrants. Summer Work Experience helps secondary and post-secondary students find summer jobs. Career Focus helps post-secondary graduates develop advanced skills and find careers in their fields. All three programs provide a range of activities that can be tailored to meet individual needs.
Projects funded under the Skills Link program have been reviewed to ensure compliance with the Department’s Grants and Contributions program and are subject to review under the Financial Administration Act.
Any employer, organization or individual seeking more information about youth programs and services should go to servicecanada.gc.ca, call the Youth Info Line at 1-800-935-5555, or visit a local Service Canada Centre.
