Identify…Plan…Execute

Each year we publish the TOP Report or Trends Opportunities Priorities Report following a consultative process with the community. The TOP Report is essentially a community action plan – a blueprint for a wide range of programs, activities and communications.

In our 2008 TOP Report we included a section communicating back to our stakeholders and the community the initiatives taken to address the workforce trends identified previously. Highlights include:

Trend 1: SKILLS REQUIREMENTS AND SHORTAGES
Action Taken in 2007:

A Regional Skills Competition was held again in March 2007. Each of the six areas of competition was filled with competitors.
A Skilled Trades Expo was held during Small Business Week in City of Kawartha Lakes for 150 grade 8 students giving them a hands-on experience in six trades.
Employer breakfasts were hosted on 8 occasions, with approximately 270 employers in attendance. These breakfasts raised the awareness of employers about hiring and training subsidy programs.
A “Ready for Work” employment skills conference was held for 53 grade 7 students in the City of Kawartha Lakes. Workshops in Resume Writing, Interview Skills, Job Searching and Volunteering were held.
A “Youth at Work” conference was held for 50 secondary school students where they had a choice of 15 different workshops including: construction, manufacturing, welding, heavy equipment, landscaping, call centres, esthetics/hairstyling, trucking, military, hospitality, retail, financial advice, starting your own business, temporary employment agencies and health care.
Two health care symposia were held with approximately 120 secondary students having the opportunity to hear first hand about careers in health care from professionals in the job.

Trend 2: LITERACY, ESSENTIAL SKILLS, AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
...............TRAINING
Action Taken in 2007:

A ‘Celebrating Literacy Campaign’ was undertaken in partnership with Literacy Ontario Central South during the months of January, February and March 2007. The campaign built awareness of the economic benefits of literacy.
A joint Workplace Literacy Taskforce has been formed with representation from labour, management, literacy trainers and, other service providers. This Taskforce has responsibility for making workplace literacy happen across the WDB area. A number of meetings have been held and two companies have expressed an interest in championing workplace literacy.

Trend 3: ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN RURAL ...............COMMUNITIES
Action Taken in 2007:

Developed and supported the two START programs in the Municipalities of Havelock, Belmont & Methune and Galway, Cavendish and Harvey.
A second calendar of events has been developed and implemented for the fall in the Municipalities of Havelock, Belmont & Methune and Galway, Cavendish & Harvey.

Trend 4: MARGINALIZED LABOUR FORCE
Action Taken in 2007:

A dinner meeting was held on October 23, 2007 with 55 local employers in attendance. Participants received an HR Resource Guide which provides information on the various resources who can assist with the hiring of foreign trained professionals.
Pathways to Independence Study (Disability Study) shared with Northumberland, City of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton, which identified employment of persons with disabilities identified as top priority.
Workshops organized to raise the awareness of employers about the challenges and benefits of hiring persons with disabilities.
A Newcomer’s Guide to services in each of Peterborough, Northumberland, Kawartha Lakes, and Haliburton will assist newcomers to integrate smoothly into their new country and community. It has key contacts for all services that they will need to settle into their new life.

Trend 5: OUT-MIGRATION OF YOUTH
Action Taken in 2007:

The Youth Out-Migration Report has been printed and will be presented at public sessions in January and February 2008. At these public sessions, each community will be encouraged to commit to organizing further meetings to consider recommendations that can be applied in their community.

Trend 6: NETWORKING FORUM FOR EMPLOYERS, EDUCATORS AND TRAINERS
Action Taken in 2007:

The organizing committee met with a third party facilitator to review action taken over the past two years, where it was decided that the Bridges Forum will not necessarily be an annual event, but rather an event organized when something of a special nature which impacts both educators and employers
needs to be addressed.

Identify…Plan…Execute

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