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Grant helps youth project to continue By Kim Hawley A federal grant of more than $300,000 will enable the Monarch Youth.Auto Refinishers Project to continue for another year. In a ceremony.,at Monarch in Ajax on Oct. 31, Ontario riding MP Rene Soetens presented the company with a cheque for $332,900 under the Canadian Job Strategy-Job Entry program. MonarchYouth Auto Reinish- ers Project, founded in 1983, is a non-profit organization that offers Durham Region youth an opportunity to train in the auto- body repair industry. "Young people choose this option for training and transition to employment,' says Sarkis Kay, chairman of Monarch and co-ordinator of the work educa- tion program with the Durham Board of Education. He adds, "It's a concept that brings business, training, educa- tion and counselling under one roof." The program was initiated by concerned citizens, the p'blic school board, the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade and local employers who foresaw the need to train and counsel youths in an occupation and to assist them with a successful transition into the competitive labor force. Monarch Youth operates as a regular business for customers to bring in their vehicles for esti- mates and repairs. At the same time, Monarch is providing training for the youths - 15 at a time -in autobody repair as well as life skills and pre- em ployment preparation. Each program runs for six months. Joanne Martin, training co- ordinator for Monarch, says, "It's a continuous intake program. "If a trainee leaves after five months or whatever because he got a job, another trainee is brought in immediately." After the training program, young people are placed in local businesses for employment experience. About 70 per cent of the stu- dents gain permanent employ- ment with these businesses after the work placement segment of the program. Although Monarch is averag- ing about one female stident each year, Martin says, "One of the women who graduated from here is now holding the highest paid position of all the graduates who have left here." Monarch operates on an annual budget of $420,000. Kay indicates that the majority of funding comes from the federal goverment. "The rest of the money is generated by the business's revenue." According to Kay, trainees are paid minimum wage while they train, with salaries coming out of the operating budget. Ron Franklin, general mana- ger, says that while 'Monarch's repair rates are "considerably less" than other local shops, Monarch is not a threat to the other businesses. Monarch charges $30 per hour for autobody repair, while the other shops charge between $36 to $42 per hour. "We don't consider ourselves a threat to any other shops, simply because we don't turn out ovèr- head sales like they do." Franklin says Monarch trains the students in as many aspects of autobody repair and refinish- ing as possible during the six months. SEE PAGE A4 WHiTBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8,1989, PAGE 17 On instructions from HAROLD SHONIKER, President of Whitby Dodge, we have been directed to move at least 60 brand new 1989 & 1990 vehicles between now and November 30, 1989 to make room for new arrivais.·We have our largest selection ever of well-equipped DODGES, CHRYSLERS & MITSUBISHIS including the famous CARAVAN. Our penciis are sharpened & we're ready to deal so hurry in today for what could be your best deal of 1989 mm==mmmmmmmmmmmmmg thruwa mufflercentre BRAKES REAR DRUMS FO eFROMr99 599 INTLE SMOST 0 OTCR CARS IEIEGIRN E I II FRONT DISCSS S FROMEAUMS FROM 74.5.. AR 7495 FRE INSALLAI LMOCARSCR aLIFETIME SALE M METALLIC PADSGUARANTE GAI 15.00 FROM * * REA R AI RM * II~UhIW~~~ MST eFREE INSTALLEDIN ll~SIMOST CARS 1 ~ 15.00EEXTRAGUARANTEE COIL ICOME SEE THE BOSS.u FOR QUALITY, SERVICE & VALUEO Your custom dual exhaust specialist I I Ask about our Lifetime Nationwide Guarantee 430-1633 I Located at: 300 Dundas St. E Whitby "BEER STORE SEVC ALE&LASN 1638CHALESST.WHITBY 2I9..::; s S: 1 blck out ofthe2*bock*wet o 44$ ,~ P.