The North Island Employment Foundation Society has been awarded the provincial contract to administer the new Employment Program of BC in Campbell River and Port Hardy.
NIEFS has been serving the region for 26 years helping connect unemployed individuals with employers. NIEFS sees an average of 3,000 to 3,300 clients through its doors annually.
The goal of the new provincial program is to provide increased access and less confusion for unemployed people seeking help, said Kent Larden, manager of employment services for NIEFS.
“The beauty of this program is they’ve taken nine programs that were set up to serve nine clients groups and combined them into one,” Larden said. “Now there is one central point for unemployed clients to go to.”
With previous provincial programs, clients accessing services through one provider would not necessarily be able to access the services of another. Now, NIEFS will subcontract with the other service providers and be able to refer clients to them.
According to a press release from the province, NIEFS will work with a number of other organizations including Community Futures Development Corporation of Strathcona; Campbell River Multicultural and Immigrant Services Association; Opportunities Career Services; and other regional community and Aboriginal service organizations.
The new Employment Program of BC will serve all British Columbians who are eligible to work in Canada and seeking employment, and will be delivered through Work BC Employment Services Centres across the province starting in April. The contract is in place for five years.
The local centre, run by NIEFS, will offer services including: job search and resume help; re-training and skills upgrading; and career planning services from offices at 870C 13th Ave., Campbell River, as well as through phone, internet and satellite locations. Job seekers won’t need to wait until April to seek help, as NIEFS continues to offer employment services under its present model. For more information visit NIEFS.net or call 250-286-3441.