The Huntingdon Carrefour jeunesse-emploi (Youth Career Centre) has the wind in its sails. Last year more than 300 young people between the ages of 16 and 35 consulted the resource about returning to school or finding a job.
Team leader, Carine Moran was pleased with the number after a year of transition. « Our region extends as far as Saint-Rémi and there are as many English speaking as French speaking people who come here, » she emphasized. We try, as much as possible, to reflect the business reality; there are a number of small businesses in the area. They don’t tend to post available jobs so there is a considerable hidden employment market. »
Various programs are offered that allow young people to better discover and explore what they are good at. Moran was proud to point out that clients could always count on at least one person at reception to carry out an evaluation and undertake the appropriate steps. « We’re working on developing internship or career exploration days for young people in local businesses, » she added. Young people can also have assistance preparing a suitable curriculum vitae.
The other route is to return to school. » I try to get any youth no longer in high school to go back to school, » explained guidance counsellor Karine Leclerc. « They take the steps from A to Z; from self-understanding to internship. »
The average age of the approximately thirty young people who undertake returning to school is around 22. Occasionally some youth can have an idea in mind that is sometimes far off the mark.
Most of the academic career paths follow the route for a diploma of vocational studies, sometimes at cégep. The health and construction sectors are attractive because they require a large workforce. Another motivating factor is the possibility of having your training subsidized by Emploi Québec.
Impact of welfare reform
The Government of Quebec recently adopted Draft By-law 70. This reform of social assistance will oblige new applicants to register in a job search plan in order to avoid monetary penalty.
The job counsellors that were consulted could not say yet what the possible impact of the law would be on the services offered at the Huntingdon CJE. « It’s too soon, » said Lynne Mimeault. « It’s happening higher up. Even at the Local Employment Centre [the agents] don’t know about it. We’ll know when it comes into effect. »
Vernissage for art students
One of the Huntingdon Carrefour jeunesse-emploi projects, Vocation en art, is holding an evening vernissage of its exhibition on December 8 starting at 5 p.m. Fourteen new artists will exhibit 27 works of art. The evening will conclude with unveiling the winners and handing out prizes. The Huntingdon CJE is located at 2-E, rue Henderson, suite 1.
Translated by Cathleen Johnston
