Kootenay Employment Services (KES) is pleased to announce success in its bid to deliver the province’s new Employment Program of British Columbia in the Creston Valley. Starting April 2, KES will run the new program through a WorkBC Employment Services Centre, which means it will be able to offer a more comprehensive assortment of employment support services.
Under the new Employment Program of BC, 73 catchment areas across the province will have similar employment services available to residents. Things like job-seeker resource centres, one-on-one employment counselling, assessments, self-employment training, funding for skills development, wage subsidies, job coaching, job development, employability and lifeskills workshops, job clubs, and funds for job search and job start supports will be available at every centre.
“Our goal with this new government program is to give unemployed British Columbians the supports and services they need to find and keep a job,” said B.C. Social Development Minister Stephanie Cadieux. “The new WorkBC Employment Services Centre in Creston will provide quick and easy access to anyone looking for work.”
Specialized populations will be able to access services through the WorkBC Employment Services Centres in a way that is sensitive to their needs. These populations include persons with disabilities, survivors of violence or abuse, youth-at-risk, persons with multiple barriers, francophones, immigrants, rural or remote residents and Aboriginal Peoples. As is currently the case, eligibility requirements apply to some of the services.
After an extensive request for proposal process, KES is thrilled to have been able to keep employment services local and delivered by people who call this community home. As a non-profit society and registered charity, the KES motive is always the betterment of the community, not profit. That makes a huge difference in its approach to service. With no sources of core funding, KES has to engage in competitive processes for every program it offers. The success with the WorkBC Employment Services Centre bid is one such example.
KES wishes to thank the residents of this community for their support throughout this two-year process.
For more information about the delivery of the new Employment Program of BC for the Creston catchment area, contact KES executive director Hugh Grant at 250-428-5655.
— KOOTENAY EMPLOYMENT SERVICES