The Campbell River & District Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with School District 72 to create a program which aims to benefit local businesses short on staff, and local students short on work experience.

Interested Grade 11 and Grade 12 students from all three high schools will be paired up with businesses for a 10 week stint during which they can get an idea of what itB次元官网网址檚 like to be a part of the work force.

The chamberB次元官网网址檚 executive director, Mary Ruth Snyder, said the initiative is a personal passion project of hers.

SnyderB次元官网网址檚 earliest memory of work was as a nine-year-old helping out at her fatherB次元官网网址檚 menB次元官网网址檚 wear store in southern Ontario during a sidewalk sale.

B次元官网网址淚 remember the excitement of being involved, and working,B次元官网网址� she said. While attending school, she was able to garner more work opportunities, which she recalled as invaluable.

B次元官网网址淏eing in the work force, even as a student, exposes you to a world, which until youB次元官网网址檙e in it, is a bit of a mystery. (My) early experiences have stayed with me and impacted me in such a positive way, I really felt that it was important to make sure (the chamber is) the conduit to make that happen in Campbell River.B次元官网网址�

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Over the course of the first two weeks, the students will go through an unpaid orientation process during which they will have the opportunity to try out a variety of different jobs within a few different industries in town.

The following eight weeks will see them enter into a paid placement, which matches the employerB次元官网网址檚 need and the individual studentB次元官网网址檚 interest.

Depending on the opportunity, FoodSafe, Serving It Right, and first aid, training/certificates may be offered to the students upon the discretion of the employer.

More than 20 companies have expressed interest in the program so far.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really excited for two reasons,B次元官网网址� Snyder said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to give students an opportunity to explore their interests out in the real world, and it might help them make their decisions over the next couple of years moving forward.

B次元官网网址淎nd itB次元官网网址檚 going to help the employers to alleviate some of the stress that they have right now around not having enough workers.B次元官网网址�

SD72B次元官网网址檚 Jeff Lontayao is overseeing the program for the school district. He said heB次元官网网址檚 confident it will be popular with students.

B次元官网网址淭hey want clarity,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hat want help answering the big question B次元官网网址� what am I going to do after high school?B次元官网网址�

Lontayao added the program could start popping up across the island.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e already got calls from other districts to see what this programB次元官网网址檚 all about, and to see how they can replicate it,B次元官网网址� he said.

The program is scheduled to take place during the districtB次元官网网址檚 third quarter, which starts the week of February 7, and wraps up at the end of April. Depending on participation, it may also be offered during the fourth quarter of the school year which goes until the end of June.

Ideally some students will also move on to full time work during the summer of 2022, and beyond.

Businesses interested in finding out more can contact Mary Ruth Snyder at 250-287-4636, or via email at executivedirector@campbellriverchamber.ca

ronan.odoherty@campbellrivermirror.com
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