Feds pony up cash to help local youths overcome employment barriers

Local youth who face barriers to employment will gain employability skills and work experience through Skills Link — a new federal employment project.

“In today’s environment, it is more important than ever that youth develop the skills they need to participate and succeed in the job market,” said MP Jim Abbott as he announced the program on behalf of Human Resources Minister Diane Finley. “By supporting this project, we are helping Revelstoke youth develop the skills, knowledge and work experience they need to reach their full potential.”

Through the program Okanagan College will receive $87,849 in federal Skills Link funding to support its youth employment project, which will help eight youths facing employment barriers develop life and job skills to ease their transition to work or return to school.

Skills Link focuses on helping youth facing barriers to employment, such as those that did not complete high school, single parents, Aboriginal youth, young persons with disabilities, recent immigrants, and youth living in rural and remote areas.

“Our program will go a long way in supporting youth in Revelstoke,” said Mary Kline, program coordinator for Okanagan College’s Revelstoke Centre. “This partnership will provide greater access to training and networking for young people and will increase their employability. We know our community has been affected by the downturn in the economy and are committed to helping youth prepare for the future.”

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 the 2010 Jobs and Growth Budget, the federal government committed an additional $60 million to the Skills Link and Career Focus programs. This additional one-time investment will enable more young Canadians to gain the experience and skills they need to successfully participate in the labour market while the economy recovers.

Skills Link is part of the national strategy to create the best educated, most skilled and most flexible workforce in the world. The government underscored its commitment to this strategy in Canada’s Economic Action Plan. 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.

You can also call Okanagan College directly at 250-837-4235 or send an e-mail to Program Coordinator Mary Kline.

The Skills Link 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.