www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, September 8, 2016 | 16 Oakville receives more than $1M to put local students to work by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff Students who earned and learned through the Canada Summer Jobs program were recently celebrated at YMCA Oakville. Oakville MP John Oliver hosted a celebratory reception last month for participants and their employers given that Oakville received more than $1 million from the federal government to create 352 student summer jobs. Across Canada, more than 77,000 people got full-time jobs through the Canada Summer Jobs program, which provided funding to not-forprofit organizations, public-sector employers and small businesses with 50 or fewer employees to create summer job opportunities for those aged 15-30 years. The government invested $220 million this year, an increase of $113 million for full-time students who intend on returning to their studies the next school year. Oliver said the funding was "a significant step in getting our youth to work." "These students are gaining valuable experience as they work towards transitioning to the labour market and Oakville has been exceptionally fortunate to have received such substantial support from the federal government," he said. In town, 116 employers received funding through their application -- including the Town of Oakville which received more than $75,500 to create 36 jobs and charity Kerr Street Mission (KSM) that got $81,000 to create 18 jobs, said Oliver. Ward 4 Town Councillor Roger Lapworth, acting mayor, said the program is not only a "fantastic way to grow the economy," but it also gives young people meaningful work and ex- halton.ca 311 Oakville MP John Oliver speaks at a celebratory reception he held last month at YMCA Oakville for the $1 million received by the Canada Summer Jobs program to help put local students to work. | Michael Ivanin photo NOTICE OF CONSTRUCTION Trafalgar Road (Regional Road 3) and Derry Road (Regional Road 7) Zone 4 Watermain and Reservoir, Town of Milton and Town of Halton Hills periences in organizations that help their community. The YMCA of Oakville, a large provider of youth employment in the community, also benefitted. "Our camps, our afterschool programs, our recreation, our aquatics programs couldn't run without youth," said YMCA of Oakville President and CEO Kyle Barber. "When we hire youths we get energy, we get passion, we get professionalism, we get great skills and we develop better solutions," he said. "In return, we allow youths tremendous development opportunities. We take this very seriously. It's our goal to get youths started on the right foot." Barber said with the Summer Jobs funding, the YMCA hired students who were able to "positively mentor and impact the lives of thousands of children" during the summer. "The jobs and training we give our summer camp staff provide them with life skills that can be taken to secondary, post-secondary education, future employment and in other areas of life," he said. Gary O'Neill, executive director of KSM, saw first-hand how hiring and investing in youths, in turn, helped deliver a memorable experience for 125-140 children weekly during the summer. "Our Summer Camp program is critical for a number of reasons. It reduces the financial burden for families that are often struggling to make ends meet while giving parents peace of mind see Program on p.26 Factory Trained Service Tech & Electronic Electronic Fireplace Fireplace Specialists Specialists We Service: CFM, DRU, GSW, Hunter, Insta-Flame, Valor, Napoleon, Regency, Majestic, Heat-N-Glo, Heatilator, Selkirk, GTI, Dovre, Paci c Energy, Town & Country, Security, HearthStone, Montigo, Lennox, Temco, Kingsman, Polaris, Heritage, Drolet, Continental, Vermont Castings, Osburn & many other brands. GAS FIREPLACE REPAIR Solving Problems Since `82! 82! 905-523-8751 905-845-0701 @gasfix.ca www.gasfixrepair.homestars.com Cut and Save! You never know when you will need us! Scheduled start date: Scheduled end date: Contract Number: Contractor: Project Manager: August 2016 January 2019 W-2990A-15 Kenaidan Construction Chris Ewen 905-825-6000 ext. 7141 chris.ewen@halton.ca 080916