Since the
beginning of YMCAs in England 160 years ago, employment and education services
have been an integral part of the organization. It may come as a surprise that
YMCA Adult Education Programs were the starting point for Concordia,
Carlton and York Universities.
Over the years, the YMCA is more closely associated with
swimming lessons and athletics than employment and training programs. However,
the YMCA Career Development and Learning Centre have been offering employment
programs in the Burlington community for 25 years. The centre offers programs
for adults and youth including employment programs, pre-apprentice programs, a
drop-in youth resource centre, and two alternative high school programs in partnership
with Halton District School Board.
The programs run all year but the summer job service is
seasonal, says Lily Lumsden, the centre’s general manager. She explains that
the centre started small with programs for at-risk youth and grew to include
adults, youth under 30 and even children with its fee-based tutoring service.
Employment Services is one of the programs at the YMCA that reflects
the organization’s employment roots. People who are looking for full-time work
can get help with their resume, get job search tips and learn from individualized
sessions with the centre’s qualified staff.
“We also have the possibility of connecting them with an
employer,” explains Lumsden.
The program reaches beyond the job seeker to the employer,
providing the possibility of subsidized training incentives to hire the
centre’s clients.
For more information on the programs and services at the YMCA
Career Development and Learning Centre go to the website
www.mydreamjob.ca and watch the videos at
www.DailyWebTV.com.
