Partnership withYves LandryFoundation Invests in Skills Training
For immediate release
July 30, 2010
Guelph,ON— Employees at more than 280 small-and medium-sized manufacturers will benefit from advanced skills training thanks to a federal investment in the Yves Landry Foundation's Achieving Innovation and Manufacturing Excellence (AIME) Initiative. The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for FedDev Ontario, made the announcement today at Quinton Steel Ltd.
"Our government is committed to creating jobs and supporting the people, communities and businesses of southern Ontario," said Minister Goodyear. "I am pleased to see that this program is working and helping to provide workers in our region with new skills so that small-and medium-sized manufacturers can innovate and bring new ideas to the marketplace."
"We are delighted to be working with the Government of Canada on this important partnership project," said Michael Sherrard, Chair of the Yves Landry Foundation. "Thanks to the funding, we will continue to foster innovation within the manufacturing sector and support the adaptation of the new technologies of southern Ontario."
Quinton Steel Ltd., a Guelph-based producer of heavy steel fabrications, will use the contribution of more than $37,000 to improve the preparation and skills of its 35 employees through the Metal Core Training Program, which will help the company to implement a new welding process. This training program will help to improve productivity, increase quality and efficiency, as well as reduce labour costs, enabling the company to be more competitive in the industry.
"With the financial aid of The Yves Landry Foundation we are able to invest in the future of our employees and our company during these difficult economic times," said Stefan Gajewski, President of Quinton Steel Ltd.
In November 2009, FedDev Ontario committed $12 million in the Yves Landry Foundation through the Southern Ontario Development Program. TheYves LandryFoundation was established by leaders in Canada's manufacturing and business sectors in 1998, to advance technological education and skills training to resolve the skilled labour and technical professional shortages facing Canadian industry. Through the AIME Initiative, theYves LandryFoundation will fund up to 75 per cent of a project's total direct and indirect eligible cost up to a maximum of $50,000. For more information on the AIME Initiative, please visit www.yveslandryfoundation.com.
FedDev Ontario was created as part of Canada's Economic Action Plan to support economic and community development, innovation, and economic diversification, with contributions to communities, businesses and non-profitorganizations in southern Ontario. For additional details on FedDev Ontario and the Southern Ontario Development Program, visit the FedDev Ontario web site at www.feddevontario.gc.ca, or call 1-866-593-5505. For additional information on Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
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For media enquiries, contact:
Gary Toft
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Gary Goodyear
613-943-7599
Media Relations
FedDev Ontario
519-571-6879
For more information about the YLForAIME, contact:
Karyn Brearley
Executive Director
Yves LandryFoundation
Phone: 416-620-5464 X240
Fax.: 416-620-9730
email: karyn.brearley@ylf-fyl.ca
