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Canada Summer Jobs program details for Nanaimo-Ladysmith unveiled

Jan 10, 2017 | 12:32 PM

NANAIMO — The benefit of the Canada Summer Jobs Program goes both ways, according to a Nanaimo based non-profit agency.

MP Sheila Malcolmson’s office has announced that the program will see $564,419 committed to the riding this spring and summer. The initiative makes it much more affordable for non-profit agencies and small businesses to hire summer students between the ages of 15 and 30.

Kellie Barnie, director of marketing and communications for the Boys and Girls Club of Central Vancouver Island, says the program helps their organization meet strong demand for summer camps, while allowing students to get valuable experience at the same time.

“With our recreation students, they are programming planning and implementation from their first week on the job,” she said. “It is a really enriching experience for them.”

“We wouldn’t be able to run those programs without the Canada Summer Jobs influx of students that come with with the skills and enthusiasm that they do, that’s a huge impact,” Barnie said.

The Boys and Girls Club of Central Vancouver Island hired 10 students last summer, who did more than 3,900 hours of work, according to Hilary Eastmure, Malcolmson’s constituency assistant.

The application deadline for the Summer Jobs Program has been pushed up to Jan. 20. Non-profit organizations and small businesses with less than 50 employees are eligible to apply for funding.