January 22, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TORONTO, Ontario —David Tilson, Member of Parliament for Dufferin–Caledon, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, today announced a funding package for 16 projects designed to help at-risk youth in the Greater Toronto Area obtain employment or return to school. Mr. Tilson made the announcement today while visiting the warehouse of FoodShare Toronto, one of the 16 community organizations that will receive funding. At FoodShare Toronto, young people who face multiple barriers to employment are participating in a program involving hands-on work experience and employability workshops.
“The Government of Canada is committed to creating the best educated, most skilled, and most flexible work force in the world,” said Mr. Tilson. “Our partnership with these community organizations will help local youth who face barriers to employment get the skills, knowledge, and experience they need to take advantage of the job market.”
The Government of Canada’s contribution of nearly $6 million in funding to these 16 projects will help young people facing barriers to employment find career-related job experience, return to school, or acquire the skills they need to jump-start their careers. Participants in the programs will become better equipped to secure and maintain employment or access educational opportunities.
These projects are funded through Skills Link, one of Canada’s youth employment programs. Under the program, local employers and community organizations work together to ensure young people have the opportunity to develop their skills and contribute to their communities.
The Government of Canada is committed to improving opportunities for youth, as part of an ongoing effort to build a strong, vibrant Canadian work force. The goal is to make Canada a place where meaningful, long-term employment opportunities are standard, and where the work force is trained to meet the requirements of modern businesses.
Service Canada brings Government of Canada services and benefits together in a single delivery network. It provides Canadians with one-stop service they can access however they choose—by phone at 1 800 O-Canada, on the 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:
Anna-Maria Mountfort, Service Canada Communications
416-952-3357
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
TTY: 1-800-926-9105
youth.gc.ca
Background
List of Organizations Receiving Funding
Scarborough Youth Resource Centre
$409,486
City of Toronto – Youth Employment Toronto
$391,173
YMCA of Greater Toronto – Youth Careers
$388,707
Neighbourhood Link Support Services
$340,857
St. Stephen’s Community House
$248,813
Youth In Motion Education Foundation
$235,257
Shouters National Evangelical Baptist Centre
$195,779
East Scarborough Boys And Girls Club
$304,841
FoodShare Toronto
$325,062
YMCA of Greater Toronto – Toronto Youth Kickstart
$353,120
Interconnection Research International Ltd.
$445,016
Danforth Employment Zone for Youth
$589,659
Eva’s Phoenix
$855,283
Birchmount Bluffs Neighbourhood Centre
$99,711
Dixon Hall
$273,236
Bizstart
$490,498
Total funding
$5,946,498
Skills Link
The Skills Link program is one of three programs the Government of Canada created to help young Canadians (aged 15 to 30 years) obtain career information, develop skills, gain work experience, find good jobs, and stay employed. The three programs are Skills Link, Summer Work Experience, and Career Focus.
Skills Link helps young people who face barriers to employment gain work experience or get a job. These young people include those who haven’t completed high school, single parents, Aboriginal youth, young people 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. These programs provide a range of activities that can be tailored to meet individual needs.
If you would like to learn more about the Government of Canada’s youth programs and services, please visit us online at servicecanada.gc.ca (and click on “youth”), call the Youth Info Line at 1-800-935-5555, or visit a Service Canada Centre.
