CORNWALL, Ontario – Brandon MacDonald has always wanted to use his talents to make a living. Now those talents are turning into a career thanks to the Eastern Ontario Training Board’s Jobs Now program – an initiative that allows employees to gain valuable on-the-job training, while also earning regular hourly pay.
“If I didn’t have this opportunity I’d still be working in fast food,” said MacDonald, who is now an employee at Shorteez Urban Hair Shop in Cornwall. “I’ve always wanted to make a living by using my talents.”
The partnership between the training board and Shorteez owner Rony Macarone has been invaluable as well.
“It’s awesome that there are programs like this one to help people,” said Macarone.
Meanwhile in Chesterville, Shawn Munro was eager to put his newly acquired skills to use after having completed a retail clerk program at TR Leger. Shawn was still a bit anxious that his lack of experience would hinder his chances for employment and his aspiration to work in retail. But thanks to the Jobs Now program, Shawn is applying those skills while getting paid, and loving every minute of it.
Currently working at Cotnam Hardware in Chesterville, Shawn is not only gaining the hands-on experience he was lacking but the opportunity to obtain an excellent reference valued by employees and employer alike.
“I obtained the skills and now have the opportunity to gain the experience as well,” said Shawn. “This program has allowed me the chance to get my foot in the door… and the job I always wanted. I have flourished since I’ve started working with the gang at True Hardware, and my confidence has sky-rocketed.”
“Really it’s a win-win situation. The program helps us pay the employee’s wages which gets us the additional help to operate the store, and Shawn gets the experience he needs for the future,” said Terry McElroy, Cotnam Hardware store manager.
Jobs Now is funded by The Government of Canada’s Skills Link program and is being managed locally through the Eastern Ontario Training Board. It is designed to assist unemployed youth aged 15-30, who face employment barriers when trying to enter the active workforce. Those barriers could be a lack of formal qualifications, such as a high school diploma, a criminal record, a lack of work experience, a visible or ethnic minority, a disadvantaged background and so forth.
“This program allows for both training and jobs. Our participants are given the opportunity to not only learn skills that are sought after by employers but to apply what they have learned at a job they have also obtained through the program ,” said training board assistant manager Martha Woods.
“We want to give our participants as many opportunities as we can to succeed in the workforce”, said program manager Kimberly Hickey.
