Helping Aboriginal youth prepare for careers

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Government of Canada Helps Aboriginal Youth in Kamloops Prepare for Careers
in the Trades and Technology Sectors

KAMLOOPS, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Sept. 14, 2011

Local Aboriginal youth will have the opportunity to explore career and educational options thanks to support from the Government of Canada. Ms. Cathy McLeod, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue and Member of Parliament for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo, 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 young Canadians have the skills and information they need to participate and succeed in the job market," said Ms. McLeod. "Our government is proud to promote activities that prepare Aboriginal youth to take advantage of the job opportunities available now and in the future."

With assistance from the federal Youth Awareness program, the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council will organize the Aboriginal Trades Forum 2011 to provide local Aboriginal youth with information on careers in the trade and technology sectors and the opportunity to network with employers and educators. This year's forum, scheduled for September 20-21, is expected to draw more than 175 youth. It will include information booths from various industries, Aboriginal groups and educational institutions, as well as speaker sessions delivered by exhibitors and experts.

The Shuswap Nation Tribal Council will receive $15,000 in federal Youth Awareness funding to help organize the Aboriginal Trades Forum 2011.

This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.

BACKGROUNDER

The Youth Awareness program, funded under Employment Insurance Part II, provides financial assistance for projects designed to address specific labour market requirements facing communities, and aims to promote youth as the workforce of the future among recipients, employers, communities and young Canadians.

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