Alice Wong, MP

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.

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