“We want all of these youth to shine as a vibrant part of our community work force,” said Lionel Renaud, board chairman of Centre de services à l’emploi de Prescott-Russell Employment Services Centre (CES), during a morning Zoom teleconference with media October 22. 

Renaud and representatives for Groupe Convex Prescott-Russell/Recycle Action, Centre Moi J’Apprend, and the L & Management firm were celebrating an announcement from MP Francis Drouin of federal funding approval for a new regional youth employment skills assistance program. 

The federal government is providing $1,473,786 through Employment and Social Development Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy program for Focus on the Future, a new regional youth employment project. The four partner organizations involved in the project will share responsibility for the various employment skills development and experience and leadership skills training for participants in the program. 

The new program will have room for 170 participants, ages 15 to 30. Interested applicants can contact the CES about how to sign up for the program. The CES and its project partners will also work with school boards in the Prescott-Russell region on promoting the program and encouraging eligible youth to apply. 

“We know there are some youth out there who can benefit from this program,” said Caroline Arcand, CES director. 

The program will run from October 2021 to March 2022. Its focus will be on assisting young people who face “barriers to employment” that could range from lack of work skills or experience to disability, or include factors related to their social or economic background.