Newcomers can learn about Canadian jobs with Welcome Centre’s youth program

MOOSE JAW — To support the next generation of talent, the Newcomer Welcome Centre is hosting a youth employment camp designed for newcomer youths between the ages of 16 to 21.

The program aims to equip these new members of the community with the essential skills and tools required to successfully navigate the Canadian job market.

Applications are open now, and the employment camp will have two intakes: one will run from July 2 to 5, and the second will run from July 8 to 12. Each respective day of the program runs from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. using the same timeframe as a typical school day.

The camp itself and all associated programs are offered completely free of charge.

“Our youth employment camp is geared towards youth who are aged 16 to 21, have been in Canada for five years or less, (and entails) anyone who is a permanent resident, a temporary resident, or a Canadian citizen,” explained Nik Cochrane, the centre’s high school settlement worker.

The employment camp program focuses on learning more about the Canadian job market and provides a way for newcomers to catch up on information that would otherwise be commonplace for life-long Canadian residents.

Among the lessons are resume and cover letter writing, job interview etiquette, and an introduction to labour standards that review employer and employee expectations. Applicants will also receive First Aid and food safety certification which can be added to their resumes.

For students looking to acquire post-secondary education, these prospects will have an opportunity to tour the University of Regina and Sask. Polytechnic’s Moose Jaw campus.

New to this year’s camp is a job shadowing program where applicants will spend two or three hours observing the typical workday and duties of employees in various downtown business locations.

For anyone who’s unable to attend this year’s camp, Cochrane also hosts a Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) which covers similar topics with a focus on leadership.

Although the YAC program isn’t specifically job oriented, Cochrane said “it’s definitely a good stepping stone” for youth seeking to build their resume. The program follows the school year and runs from August until June, with past attendees enjoying sports at the Yara Centre and the occasional visit of the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in Regina – to name a few opportunities.

To learn more or apply for the YAC program, Cochrane can be reached at [email protected].

Attendance in the youth employment camp comes with several benefits that Cochrane said makes the employment camp worth consideration.

“The first thing I would think of is gaining community connections, like actually meeting employers, getting introduced to the post-secondary world… and bridging that connection,” she said. “I feel that those opportunities are a huge bonus for the youth.”

Cochrane also pointed out that the opportunity to learn more about volunteer opportunities, engage with the community, gain valuable qualifications including First Aid certification, and just being able to build a resume to accurately highlight your skills and abilities are invaluable assets.

To join the program, pre-registration is required by contacting Nik Cochrane at the Newcomer Welcome Centre. Cochrane can be reached by email at [email protected].

Even though the program begins on July 2nd, Cochrane said she may be able to accommodate late entries and those who are unable to join the program this year can pre-register for next year’s employment camp program.

The Moose Jaw Newcomer Welcome Centre is located at 432 Main Street North and can be reached at 306-692-6892.