SAINT-GABRIEL-DE-BRANDON (QUEBEC), January 20, 2009-Youth from the D'Autray Regional County Municipality will be able to acquire the skills they need to find and keep quality jobs thanks to a Government of Canada project. The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, made the announcement earlier today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.
"The Government is committed to developing the most educated, qualified and flexible workforce in the world," stated Minister Paradis. "Our partnership with the Carrefour jeunesse-emploi de D'Autrey-Joliette will help youth from the region to acquire the skills, knowledge and experience to take full advantage of the opportunities the employment market has to offer."
Through the Skills Link program, the Government of Canada will provide nearly $100,000 to the Brandon solidaire mentoring project, which will help 10 unemployed youths facing employment barriers develop the skills they need to successfully find and keep a job or return to school.
The Skills Link program is offered throughout the country by Service Canada, which 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, on the Internet at www.servicecanada.gc.ca, or in person at Service Canada Centres across the country.
This news release is available in alternative formats on request.
For more information on the Skills Link program, please visit the program's Web site at www.youth.gc.ca.
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For further information (media only)
Michelle Bakos
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development
819-994-2482
Pascal Doucet
Media Relations
Service Canada
514-982-2384, ext. 2209
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
Skills Link is one of three programs implemented by the Government of Canada to help young Canadians between 15 and 30 get useful career information, develop their skills, acquire professional work experience, find a job and, more importantly, keep it. The two other programs are Summer Work Experience and Career Focus.
The Skills Link program is designed for young people facing employment barriers, such as dropouts, single parents, young Aboriginal people, disabled persons, youth living in rural areas and recent immigrants. The Summer Work Experience program helps secondary and post-secondary students find summer jobs. The Career Focus program helps post-secondary graduates develop their skills and find employment in their field of study. The three programs include different activities that can be tailored to the unique needs and specifications of each participant.
The Skills Link program has many components: for the Brandon solidaire project, the Carrefour jeunesse-emploi de D'Autrey-Joliette will develop the employability skills of young participants while serving the community. The revitalization of Ville Saint-Gabriel will help young people hone their carpentry skills. Upon the completion of the project, they will install their creations all around the city: park benches, flower boxes, decorative fences, etc.
For more information on these programs, visit www.servicecanada.gc.ca or www.youth.gc.ca.
