LINDSAY, ONTARIO, January 26, 2010—The Government of Canada is helping post-secondary education graduates get an opportunity to enhance and develop their employment skills through a Gamiing Nature Centre project. Mr. Barry Devolin, Member of Parliament for Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.
“Our government is committed to helping youth develop the skills they need to participate and succeed in the job market,” said Mr. Devolin. “In today’s environment, it’s important to support projects that offer students the opportunity to develop skills and gain experience that will help them reach their full potential.”
The Gamiing Nature Centre will receive $26,000 in Career Focus funding to support its Internship project. This funding will help two recent post-secondary graduates apply the skills they acquired through their education.
“The support from the Career Focus program helps us organize our work—be it lakeshore restoration projects, outdoor education programs or our native nursery—and promotes stewardship of our natural resources in the community,” said Ms. Mieke Schipper, Volunteer Director of Fundraising at the Centre. “We have built a solid relationship with the program, both to the benefit of recent college and university graduates as well as our organization.”
The federal government is working with the provinces and territories, community organizations and other stakeholders to provide Canadians with the training, skills and opportunities they need to get jobs and contribute to their communities.
Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada is helping to create the best educated, most skilled and most flexible workforce in the world. A key component of the Plan is to create more and better opportunities for Canadian workers through skills development. To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
The Career Focus program is delivered by Service Canada, which provides one-stop personalized services for Government of Canada programs, services and benefits. For more information about this program, visit www.servicecanada.gc.ca, call 1 800 O‑Canada or drop by your local Service Canada Centre.
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This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.
For further information (media only):
Michelle Bakos
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
The Gamiing Nature Centre is a not-for-profit organization that works with individuals and community groups to further the understanding of and participation in practices that balance human needs with the needs of wildlife and natural lake ecosystems. Between January 18, 2010, and July 16, 2010, the Centre will provide two post-secondary graduates with career-related work experience to help facilitate their transition to the labour market. One of the participants will gain experience working as a forestry and naturalization consultant by facilitating workshops about native and organic gardening. The other participant will work as a marketing coordinator and will develop marketing strategies for the promotion of the Centre.
As part of the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy, the Career Focus program is one of three programs that help young Canadians, particularly those facing barriers to employment, obtain career information, develop skills, gain work experience, find good jobs and stay employed. The other two programs are Summer Work Experience and Skills Link.
Career Focus links highly skilled, post-secondary youth with potential employers who can provide them with career-related work experience and help them acquire advanced employment skills to facilitate their transition into the rapidly changing labour market.
