Alice Wong, MP

On July 1st, Canada celebrates its 142nd birthday. Happy Canada Day!

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VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, June 12, 2009—Vancouver youth will benefit from the Government of Canada’s support of a local employment project. Ms. Alice Wong, Parliamentary Secretary for Multiculturalism and Member of Parliament for Richmond, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.

“In today’s environment, it is more important than ever that youth develop the skills needed to participate and succeed in the job market,” said Ms. Wong. “Through this project, and others like it, we are helping young Canadians facing employment barriers gain the skills, knowledge and work experience they need to reach their full potential.”

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. will receive $371,006 in federal Skills Link funding to support its Youth Employment Program. This program will help a minimum of 28 youth, all of whom face a number of barriers to employment, prepare for jobs or return to school.

“We work with many young people through a variety of programs, and many of these clients have lived in conditions that few of us can even imagine,” said Mr. Tung Chan, Chief Executive Officer of S.U.C.C.E.S.S. “While we cannot change their past, we can certainly show them the way to a brighter future. This funding will allow us to help young people overcome specific barriers, and empower them to make quantum changes in order to integrate into the community.”

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 participate in the workforce and contribute to their communities.

Skills Link is part of the Government of Canada’s 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.

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, call 1‑800-O-Canada, visit servicecanada.gc.ca or drop by your local Service Canada Centre.

RICHMOND, BRITISH COLUMBIA, June 6, 2009—Local employers will have the opportunity to connect with young Canadians looking for jobs at the U-Connect employment fair thanks in part to support from the Government of Canada.

Ms. Alice Wong, Parliamentary Secretary for Mulitculturalism and Member of Parliament for Richmond, made the announcement at the official opening today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.

“In today’s environment, it is more important than ever that all Canadians have the skills and information they need to participate and succeed in the job market,” said Ms. Wong. “Our government is proud to support projects like U-Connect that bring together employers and youth to the benefit of both groups.”

The Richmond Youth Service Agency received $18,499 through the Government of Canada’s Youth Awareness program to host U-Connect. This career fair will increase opportunities for employers to connect with youth, and enable youth to realize their employment opportunities and to understand how they can prepare for and successfully transition to the workforce.

“Thanks to the continued support of the Government of Canada, we are able to reach out and connect youth to suitable employment opportunities and community resources,” said Mr. Marshall Thompson, Executive Director of the Richmond Youth Service Agency. “Our agency provides youth with help in finding work they love and ensures that they have the necessary support for life success. We are pleased to partner with the Government of Canada to create a strong young workforce.”

The Youth Awareness program is part of the Government of Canada’s strategy to create the best educated, most skilled and most flexible workforce in the world.

The Government underscored its commitment to create a strong workforce 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.

The Youth Awareness 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, call 1 800-O-Canada, go on the Internet at servicecanada.gc.ca or visit your local Service Canada Centre.

Backgrounder

Since 1974, the Richmond Youth Service Agency has provided programs and services that respond to the diverse needs of children and youth in the Richmond area. Programs offered include a career and employment resource centre for youth, counseling, volunteer and leadership opportunities, and health and recreation services. Between April 6, 2009, and July 17, 2009, the organization will deliver a Youth Awareness project that includes developing, staging and evaluating the U Connect career fair for youth in the Richmond area. This career fair will assist youth in finding employment and help employers meet their current and future human resources needs.

The federal Youth Awareness program, funded under Employment Insurance Part II, targets projects that respond to specific labour market requirements and adjustments over time, and aims to promote youth as the workforce of the future among recipients, employers, communities and young Canadians.

As the sun rose over the beaches of Normandy 65 years ago, Canadian Forces from land, air and sea came together on D-Day in the pursuit of freedom. By the time the sun set that day, the Canadians had progressed farther than any other Allied troops.

The Canadian triumph at D-Day and the Battle of Normandy was not without sacrifice. Of the more than 90,000 Canadians who served in the Battle of Normandy, more than 5,000 would lay down their lives defending the values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law that we cherish today.

Canada remembers June 6, 1944. Across Canada and at Juno Beach in France, Canadians will join together to salute our Veterans of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy whose contributions and sacrifices led to the end of the Second World War.

For a list of events in your community, and for information on events in France, visit www.vac-acc.gc.ca.

On June 6, Canada Remembers. Canada Remembers D-Day.