Today the Honourable Krista Lynn Howell, Minister of Education, announced four projects that have received a total of $996,174 in funding by the Government of Canada’s Skills for Success Program.
Projects from the Newfoundland and Labrador Laubach Literacy Council, econext, the Council of Marine Professional Associates, and the Murphy Centre were selected to help strengthen literacy skills within the province.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Laubach Literacy Council received $247,755 for the Employability Skills for Entry-level Health Care Workers project. This project aims to bridge the gap between underrepresented groups experiencing employment barriers and employers in the health-care sector. Western Newfoundland is the base for this project, which focuses on participation of Indigenous women.
Econext received $360,419 for the Green Economy Adult Learner Career Exploration project. This project provides adult learners with micro-learning opportunities, information on career pathways, and work placements all specific to the emerging provincial green economy. Close to 200 individuals can participate in the project, which focuses on newcomers to Canada.
Council of Marine Professional Associates received $140,000 for the Elevate Empower Employ: Women Ocean Innovators in Newfoundland and Labrador project. This project proposes to address the barriers that prevent women from entering the ocean workforce. To do so, the project will raise awareness of employment opportunities, support skills development to explore careers in the ocean sector, and support participants as they enter the workforce.
The Murphy Centre received $250,000 for TECHPREP, a program that helps create opportunities for participants to enter the technology sector in the province. TECHPREP aims to attract, recruit and train participants for the technology sector, with a focus on those participants who require supportive interventions.
To support adult literacy in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Provincial Government implemented the five-year Adult Literacy Action Plan in 2019. The plan places a special emphasis on reaching out to and supporting vulnerable populations, including newcomers, individuals with disabilities, and those facing economic hardships to improve literacy in the province.
Quotes
“Congratulations to each organization on being recognized for your efforts in fostering literacy education in our province. The work and contribution you make to the lives of those who are furthering their literacy skills is foundational to creating a more vibrant and prosperous Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Honourable Krista Lynn Howell
Minister of Education
“There is a wealth of untapped talent across Canada, ready to develop their skills, advance professionally and contribute to Canada’s growing economy. With support from the Skills for Success program, through these organizations we will empower individuals, including those that face barriers to employment, with essential skills in key sectors of Newfoundland and Labrador, such as healthcare, the green economy and the ocean industry. Through these innovative projects, we are helping to create more opportunities in vital sectors for all Canadians.”
Honourable Randy Boissonnault
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages
“Literacy and other essential skills are the foundation a strong workforce stands upon. The demand for better levels of literacy and essential skills among workers is evident as workplaces evolve. Simultaneously, employers are having difficulty filling vacant positions. Through the Employability Skills for Entry-level Health Care Workers program, we are increasing the pool of workers employers can draw from. The program provides essential, employability and job-specific skills training to individuals so they can meet on-the-job demands and succeed at work.”
Margie Lewis
Executive Director, NL Laubach Literacy Council
“We anticipate significant growth in Newfoundland and Labrador’s green economy in the years to come, and it will be important that we maximize the associated local employment opportunities. We are therefore very pleased to partner with the Department of Education in strengthening adult literacy on this increasingly important topic.”
Kieran Hanley
Chief Executive Officer, econext
“Though many traditional sectors have made progress in attracting a diverse labour force, the ocean sector has lagged behind. Marine-related jobs sometimes have limited career options due to their niche training and hiring processes. This project will address the barriers that prevent women from entering the workforce and then elevate, empower and employ women who inspire the next generation to pursue a career in the ocean sector.”
Rick Ellis
President, Council of Marine Professional Associates
“Thanks to this crucial funding, the Murphy Centre’s TECHPREP program becomes an important service in meeting employer demands within Newfoundland and Labrador’s thriving tech sector. This support enables us to empower participants, previously underserved in this field, to explore potential career paths, learn about available post-secondary training opportunities, and equipping them with skills that can not only transform their futures but also assist in fulfilling the workforce needs of our local tech industry.”
Tim Turner
Director, The Murphy Centre
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BACKGROUNDER
Skills for Success Program
The Skills for Success (SFS) Program aims to help Canadians succeed in work, learning and life by working closely with provinces and territories to share proven training methods and develop new skills tools. The SFS Program provides funding to organizations, employers, provinces and territories to develop assessment and training tools related to the Skills for Success, and test, replicate, and scale Skills for Success training approaches with a focus on groups underrepresented in the workplace. This includes people with a disability, Indigenous and racialized populations across Canada.