Bridgewater, NS—Local youth who face barriers to employment will get job preparation training and work experience through the Government of Canada’s support for an employment project. Mr. Gerald Keddy, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade and Member of Parliament for South Shore–St. Margaret’s, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.

“For many young Canadians, making the transition to the job market is a challenge, especially in today’s environment,” said Mr. Keddy. “That’s why our government is creating opportunities for youth to succeed through support for initiatives like this youth employment project.”

With assistance from the federal Skills Link program, the Employment Solutions Society will help 24 youth develop the skills and experience needed to find a job or the confidence to return to school.

The project participants will attend life and employability workshops that focus on developing skills such as leadership, teamwork and communication. The participants will also benefit from work placements in their home communities, which will give them hands-on experience in fields such as health care, sales and marketing, and event planning.

Skills Link helps youth facing barriers to employment, such as single parents, Aboriginal youth, youth with disabilities, recent immigrants, youth living in rural and remote areas, and youth who have dropped out of high school.
The Employment Solutions Society will receive over $372,000 in federal Skills Link funding to support its youth employment project.