Kathryn McGarry, MPP for Cambridge, and Daiene Vernile, MPP for Kitchener Centre, visited Conestoga’s Doon campus on Friday, December 4, to announce a new program that will support the needs of young Ontarians who face barriers to employment.
MPPs Kathryn McGarry (Cambridge) and Daiene Vernile (Kitchener Centre), pictured here with President John Tibbits, Dean Andrea Leis, and Sherri Tryon from Conestoga’s School of Career and Academic Access, visited the college's Doon campus to announce the Youth Job Connection program on December 4.
The Youth Job Connection program provides young people with multiple barriers to employment with access to paid pre-employment training, job opportunities and mentorship programs. Funded through the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, it is open to youth aged 15 to 29 who are currently not working, not in school, and not enrolled in a training program.
The program also provides support for high school students aged 15 to 18 who are facing challenging life circumstances and who need support transitioning between school and work, and includes financial incentives for employers to hire young people and offset associated costs.
“This is the kind of program that changes someone’s life,” said McGarry. “It helps to make those critical connections between work and life, bridging the gap between hope and possibility.”
According to Daiene Vernile, the program will help thousands of young people find meaningful employment and develop important skills for the future.
Youth Job Connection is being delivered through 137 Employment Ontario service providers across the province.
In addition to Conestoga, other Waterloo Region service providers delivering the program include The Working Centre, Lutherwood, Cambridge Career Connections and the YMCA (Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge).
“We are very pleased to work with our government partners to provide opportunities for youth in our community to access the training and support they need to achieve their potential and build a better future for themselves, for their families, and for Ontario,” said John Tibbits, president of Conestoga.
For more information about the Youth Job Connection program, visit the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.