Three new employment service centres are opening their doors in the South Okanagan, all operating under the auspices of the YMCA-YWCA.
“The Y has over 14 years experience in the delivery of employment programs in the Central Okanagan and over 10 years of experience in delivering employment programs in the South Okanagan. In addition, the Y has built relationships with hundreds of employers in the South Okanagan, resulting in both expertise in the delivery of employment services and a strong network to support both job seekers and employers,” said Robert Bryce, Employment Program of BC Penticton Catchment Manager. “Many local residents are familiar with these organizations and will be pleased to see many friendly, familiar faces.”
The first of the three South Okanagan WorkBC Employment Services Centres officially opened its doors in Penticton this morning, with an open house continuing to 2 p.m. Then the festivities move to Summerland, with another open house starting at that location and continuing to 5 p.m. Princeton joins in with their opening on June 27.
“We invite all residents and employers to our grand opening festivities, to tour our locations and learn how our services can help people to find work and connect employers with the local labour force,” said Bryce.
The WorkBC Centres offer free employment services for job seekers aged 16 to 65+ and are accessible to all unemployed British Columbians who are seeking employment and are legally eligible to work in B.C. There is a wide range of services to support job seekers to find and maintain employment and to improve their employment readiness. The Employment Program of British Columbia is funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.
“It’s a great honour to be part of the launch of these WorkBC Employment Services Centres here in the South Okanagan,” said Penticton MLA Bill Barisoff. “We’re confident that these new employment centres will provide local people with the supports they need to get back into the workforce.”
In Penticton, the WorkBC Employment Services Centre is at 50 Calgary Ave., and the satellite centre in Summerland is at 103-13415 Rosedale Ave. The Princeton centre is located at 206 Vermilion Av. and itinerant employment services, provided by On Your Mark Employment Services, will serve rural and remote communities in the South Okanagan by appointment.
Both individuals and employers can access on-line job search and employment assistance through the Y’s employment website at www.ymca-ywcaworkbc.ca. For more information about the Employment Program of BC and WorkBC Centres, visit www.WorkBCCentres.ca
YMCA-YWCA Okanagan has many community-based service delivery partners who provide employment services at the WorkBC Centres. Each partner offers a range of specialized experience and expertise in helping job seekers and employers in the community. The Y’s service delivery partners are Bowman Employment Services, Partners in Resources Inc., South Okanagan Women in Need Society, Community Futures South Okanagan, On Your Mark Employment Services, and Princeton and District Community Skills Centre.