Revelstoke, British Columbia-The Government of Canada announced new funding to support youth in Revelstoke to help them gain the knowledge they need to enter and succeed in the job market. The announcement was made by David Wilks, Member of Parliament for Kootenay-Columbia, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.

"Our government's top priority is creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity," said Mr. Wilks. "The Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy is helping youth develop the skills and gain the experience they need to get jobs now and prepare for the workforce of tomorrow."

Okanagan College Revelstoke is receiving over $19,000 from the Youth Awareness program to help youth learn about educational and career options. Youth Awareness complements the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy (YES). It provides financial assistance for projects designed to promote youth as the workforce of the future.

With annual funding of more than $300 million, YES helps youth, particularly those facing barriers to employment, obtain career information, develop employment skills, find jobs and stay employed. YES includes the Skills Link and Career Focus programs and the Canada Summer Jobs initiative, which creates thousands of job opportunities for students every summer.

Economic Action Plan 2012 is providing an additional $50 million over two years to enhance YES so that more young people can gain tangible skills and experience. This funding will focus on connecting young Canadians with jobs in fields that are in high demand.

With assistance from the Government of Canada, Okanagan College Revelstoke will hold a workshop for employers to inform them about the resources and programs available when hiring youth as well as the advantages of doing so. Following the workshop, Okanagan College Revelstoke will organize a job fair to provide youth with information on the local labour market and educational options and connect them with employers.

"Okanagan College is excited about the opportunities this federal funding will provide to youth in Revelstoke," said Mary Kline, a program coordinator at the Okanagan College. "As with most rural communities, youth underemployment is a significant issue. This funding will help connect Revelstoke youth with long-term and sustainable employment."

Youth employment programs are part of the Government of Canada's broader strategy to create an educated, skilled and flexible workforce. 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 Government of Canada is helping youth prepare for, find and maintain meaningful employment through enhanced online services available at Youth.gc.ca.

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For more information, contact:

Marian Ngo
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482

Media Relations Office
Human Resources and
Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
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Backgrounder

Youth Awareness complements the Youth Employment Strategy. It provides financial assistance for projects designed to promote youth as the workforce of the future and aims to expand their awareness of career and educational opportunities.

The Youth Employment Strategy is the Government of Canada's commitment to help youth make a successful transition to the workplace.

Skills Link helps youth facing barriers to employment, including youth who are single parents, youth with disabilities and youth in rural and remote areas, to develop the skills and gain the experience needed to find a job or the confidence to return to school.

Career Focus provides funding to employers to hire young post-secondary graduates to give them career-related work experience and help them acquire skills to transition into the job market.

Canada Summer Jobs provides funding to not-for-profit organizations, public-sector employers and small businesses with 50 or fewer employees to create summer job opportunities for young people aged 15 to 30 years who are full-time students intending to return to their studies in the next school year.

To learn more about Canada's Youth Employment Strategy and other youth employment initiatives, please visit Youth.gc.ca.

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