Completed Projects

 

Newcomers Mentorship Program

The Workforce Development Board, in partnership with the New Canadians Centre Peterborough, has developed the Newcomers Mentorship Program. Quality mentoring leads to powerful, positive outcomes for newcomers to the Peterborough area. Additionally, mentors are able to contribute to our community's economic and social well-being while developing his/her leadership and coaching skills and gaining a better understanding of other cultures.

This program has now become a part of the Workplace Integration Centre at the New Canadians Centre. Mentors are always needed and it is a simple process to sign-up and a really low committment of only 24 hours over 6 months. For further information on the program please click here and you will be taken to our Newcomers Mentorship Program page.

Mentor Job Description
Mentor Application Form

If you are interested in becoming a mentor or would like more information on the program contact Michael VanDerHerberg at the New Canadians Centre Peterborough.

Discuss this topic on the WDB Community Forum!

Transitions Pilot Program

Transitions was an eight week pilot program for persons with disabilities. The program consisted of a series of workshops that focused on career transition and portfolio development. Six participants completed the program with great success.

We are hoping that one of our community partners will continue to deliver these exciting workshops in the future.

Together We Prosper - Practical Resources for Immigrant Integration

A one-day conference was held in Peterborough for businesses, not-for-profit organizations and community groups with an interest in making our workplaces and community more welcoming to immigrants. On March 25 more than 100 people headed to the Holiday Inn to hear experts speak about the business case for immigration, how to develop a diversity policy for your organization, diversity training, an introduction to the services and supports for employers, and how to recruit and select foreign-trained professionals. The Workforce Development Board was one of many community partners involved with this project.

MAXimizing Your Multi-Generational Workforce Employer Breakfast

On the morning of Tuesday, May 26, 90 local employers gathered at the Holiday Inn in Peterborough to hear a fun and insightful presentation that completely explains the young Canadian to anyone looking to connect to them. Who they are, what they need, what they want and how they work.

Max Valiquette is one of North America's leading experts on youth culture and marketing. He is founder and President of Youthography, the foremeost North Amarican youth marketing & research firm, as well as a prominent media authority on all aspects of youth culture. He is an internationally-recognized speaker on pop culture, and youth marketing, and a published author on the same subjects.

Following Max's presentation there was a panel, which consisted of two employers, an educator and two Gen Y youth. The panel discussion gave even further insight into what Gen Y's are wanting in a workplace, strategies employers are utilizing and the link between school and the workplace.

This event was sponsored by the Workforce Development Board in partnership with Health for Life.

MAXimizing your Multi-Generational Workforce Resources:

PowerPoint Presentation Video
Making Them Work brochure  

 

Aging Workforce Employer Breakfast

Based on the 2006 Census, Peterborough is the 2nd oldest Census Metropolitan Area in Canada. As our community ages further, the impact of this demographic shift on our local workforce will be profound. On the morning of Wednesday, March 4th, 80 local employers gathered to hear Canada‘s top expert on the aging workforce, Barbara Jaworski, speak about this pressing issue.

Barbara Jaworski is highly respected across Canada for her work on the aging workforce. Author of KAA-Boom: How to Engage the 50-Plus Worker and Beat the Workforce Crisis and founder of the Summit on the Mature Worker, she shared strategies that organizations of every size can use to ensure their valued, long-term employees remain vital and productive – and healthy.

This event was sponsored by the Workforce Development Board in partnership with Health for Life, the Greater Peterborough Area Economic Development Corporation and the Peterborough Community Futures Development Corporation.

Agri-Business and You

On February 18th, 2009, Agri-Business and You, an agri-business career day highlighting the many different careers in the agriculture and agri-food sector, took place at the Lindsay Fairgrounds.

The objective of the day was to help eliminate the stereotypes of agriculture and opening up youth‘s minds to new ideas and opportunities for their future careers. The interactive, educational day was promoted at each of the secondary schools in the Kawartha Lakes. The event attracted approximately 80 students in the first year. The event included career topics such as; agri-finance, research and development, food processing, small business, animal nutrition, sales, post-secondary options and government positions. All of the scheduled presenters were local agri-business people working in the Kawartha Lakes.

The event was a partnership between the Workforce Development Board, Passport to Prosperity, the City of Kawartha Lakes and Victoria County Career Services.

Health Career Symposium

A partnership between the Workforce Development Board’s Passport to Prosperity Program and the Northumberland Hills Hospital, the fifth annual event attracted another full house in 2008. Combining presentations, question and answer sessions and tours, the November 25 symposium permitted the students to hear firsthand from professionals representing a range of disciplines. Speakers included registered nurses, an occupational therapist, a respiratory therapist, a physiotherapist, a dietitian, a registered laboratory technologist, medical radiation technologists, a speech language pathologist, a pharmacist and a family physician.

85 students from 9 local high schools took part in the symposium.

Opening Doors for Young Women

This was the inaugural year for Opening Doors for Young Women, Kawartha Lakes. This event brought together 20 female mentors from various occupations in science, technology, mathematics, and the arts to inspire and motivate Trillium Lakelands District School Board grade 8 female students. More than 100 female students participated in this event on October 22, 2008 at the Ops Community Centre.

The objectives of the event were to breakdown stereotypes about the types of careers women pursue, provide role models to students and highlight that it is fun to be a woman in math, science, and technology-related trades.

Skilled Trades Expo

Approximately 200 students from the Trillium Lakelands District School Board and Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board, who attend Grade 8, got a hands-on experience at styling hair, building a CD holder out of wood, and cooking Crepe Suzettes on October 20, 2008.

The Expo was organized to remind students they have a choice of apprenticeship to consider along with college or university.

The trades featured included:

Speechcraft 2008

Thanks to the partnership with the New Canadians Centre and the Peterborough Toastmasters Club we were able to present Speechcraft, an 8-week program designed to teach public speaking skills. We believe that the participants will build confidence and skills which will assist them in their new life in Peterborough. 8 participants took part in 2-hour sessions every Wednesday from September 3 to October 22, 2008 finishing off with a graduation ceremony attended by family and friends. A Guide to Delivering Speechcraft was developed for anyone who wishes to organize a Speechcraft Program for their client or employees

 

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