Better late than never.

The Pathway Project youth employment agency shut its doors in late July after its federal contract expired, amid fears it was closing for good.

Three nerve-wracking weeks later, the Langford-based program has new money and a three-year contract, allowing the West ShoreB次元官网网址檚 only youth employment service to get back in action.

B次元官网网址淎ll the support from the community, colleagues and partners made it possible to open our doors again,B次元官网网址� said Jen Harrison, the Pathway co-ordinator. B次元官网网址淲e were able to prove there is a need for this place in the community.B次元官网网址�

Run through WorkLink for the past 10 years, Pathway helps West Shore teens and young adults sharpen their employment skills through an intensive and free 16-week program. Many of PathwayB次元官网网址檚 clients struggle with addictions, mental health issues, poverty, and emotional or physical abuse.

Hundreds of graduated clients remain extremely loyal to the program and many helped launch a lobbying effort in July and August. Clients, their parents and people in the community wrote emails and called Service Canada and provincial and federal politicians to highlight what could be lost.

B次元官网网址淵outh were a big part, they rallied to keep the doors open,B次元官网网址� Harrison said, who runs the program with Randy Waldie. B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 imagine the community without this. I donB次元官网网址檛 know where the youth would go.B次元官网网址�

Harrison and Waldie were laid off for three weeks, but Pathways has retained its classroom space at 847 Goldstream Ave., behind the Tim Hortons. They said gap in service meant some youth may have been discouraged from finding help.

B次元官网网址淭he youth tell each other about this by old fashioned word of mouth,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淏ut they wonB次元官网网址檛 refer if they canB次元官网网址檛 rely on us being here.B次元官网网址�

WorkLink executive director Jennifer DeLuca said itB次元官网网址檚 unclear why funding was delayed, but a three year contract from Service Canada is about as good as it gets. In the past Pathway has seen contracts from six months to two years.

B次元官网网址淭hree years is such a bonus. We are really happy about that,B次元官网网址� DeLuca said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 hard to imagine such a great program not being funded again.B次元官网网址�

DeLuca said in 20 years working in social services, sheB次元官网网址檚 almost never seen such a long delay between contracts for a long-running agency that demonstrates measurable success.

B次元官网网址淭hey may have looked at our (job skills) program to see if it was worth being funded. Governments do that,B次元官网网址� DeLuca said. B次元官网网址淚 just wish theyB次元官网网址檇 done it before the end of the contract.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲e had support from past participants, from the community and parents, and support locally from Service Canada,B次元官网网址� she added. B次元官网网址淭hey believe in this project, but when you send something to Ottawa, you have to wait.B次元官网网址�

editor@goldstreamgazette.com