Mission Community Skills Centre Society Offers New Employment Program Options for Mature Workers in the Central Fraser Valley.

April 17, 2008 -- Mission Community Skills Centre Society is pleased to announce a new employment program titled “Working Beyond.” The program has openings for up to 75 unemployed mature workers aged 50-64, who live in the Central Fraser Valley, to assist them to connect to employment and self employment opportunities.

Participants will have their choice between three comprehensive options designed specifically for older workers: “Transition & Leadership Series”, “Transition and Job Placement”, or a “Self Employment & Business Development” option.

Bob Waycott, President of the Society states, “This agreement is the first wave of new partnerships between the BC provincial government and Service Canada for short term answers to some of our immediate skills shortages in BC. We hope that employers in the Fraser Valley will embrace these ‘seasoned players’ of the workforce and find ways to capitalize on workers who historically demonstrate safer work practices, have diverse work experiences, and are excellent ambassadors for companies.”

Waycott continues, “Our partnership hopes to focus directly with those persons at a more local level. The “Working Beyond” employment program will allow some limited financial support to offset living costs and/or training expenses for participants while they transition back to work or start their own businesses.”

Interested participants should contact 1-866-986-WORK (9675) to register for one of the information sessions in either our Mission or Abbotsford Centres. Employers who are interested in tapping into this underutilized human capital should contact us immediately for partnership opportunities.

For more information (media only), please contact:

Ken Smith
Director of Provincial Programs
Community Skills Centre Society
1-866-986-9675