Business, Economics, Education, Entrepreneurs,
Environment, Science and Technology
|
|
|
|
____________________
Employer Learning Programs
Ontario Employers Recognized for Providing Outstanding Experiential Learning Programs to High School Students
TORONTO - Five Ontario employers were honoured on April 8, 2008 in Toronto with the Passport to Prosperity Employer Champion Award. The award is presented to employers who offer outstanding experiential learning opportunities to high school students. Those opportunities can include career talks, worksite visits, job shadowing, cooperative education placements including those which are part of the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program and the Specialist High Skills Major. Recipients were presented with their awards at the Passport to Prosperity Employer Resource Forum held today in Toronto. <<
The five Employer Champion Award recipients are:
- D & D Automation, Stratford
- Dorval Electric Inc., Oakville
- St. Joseph's Villa, Dundas
- TVCOGECO, Pembroke
- The Westin, Ottawa
Five Merit Award winners were also recognized:
- Border Service, Rainy River
- Bullas Autoservice, Hamilton
- Hydrogenics Corporation, Mississauga
- Interior Motives, Brantford
- Phoenix Bookstore, Owen Sound
>>
As changing demographics place increased strain on the supply of skilled
resources, experiential learning programs can help build the talent pool.
Employers can help the next generation of employees make the transition into
the labour market. They guide students in developing essential skills, while
giving existing employees the opportunity to improve their own skills in
communication, team work and management. These also programs offer employers a
cost-effective solution to recruiting, training and retaining younger workers.
"These employers realize the value of experiential learning as
attraction, recruitment and retention tools," said Ian Cunningham, Provincial
Partnership Council. "They are forward-thinking leaders in their sector and
community."
"There are more than 700,000 high school students in Ontario, all
potentially in need of an experiential learning opportunity," Cunningham
continued. "The award winning programs that our champions have put together
are changing the lives of students in this province."
There are 26,000 employers in Ontario participating in experiential
learning through Passport to Prosperity, but more are needed. Without the
commitment and dedication of employers, such as the Employer Champion Award
winners, high school students would not have the opportunity to explore career
options and gain valuable training and work experience.
Passport to Prosperity is an Ontario-wide, employer-led initiative to
increase employer participation in experiential programs, such as cooperative
education, job shadowing, mentoring, the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program,
classroom talks, career fairs and workplace visits. The campaign is sponsored
by the Provincial Partnership Council (PPC), a volunteer advisory committee of
leaders from the private, public, and voluntary sectors. The PPC's goal is to
ensure that every employer in Ontario sees the value of engaging high school
students in meaningful work experiences. Passport to Prosperity encourages
employers to tap into their future workforce by building working relationships
with them while their still in high school as a cost-effective solution to
recruiting, training and retaining young workers. These programs also help
students explore career options and develop workplace skills and experience.
The campaign is supported by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of
Training, Colleges and Universities and is implemented in local communities by
business-education councils and local training boards.
|
|
|
| © Copyright 2008/Exchange Morning Post/Exchange Business Communications Inc. |
