By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

More money for Nanaimo area student summer jobs program

Apr 29, 2017 | 2:23 PM

NANAIMO — A late funding boost has been announced for the Canada Summer Jobs program in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith region.

MP Sheila Malcolmson’s office has announced $641,573 in funding to support regional post-secondary students between the ages of 15 and 30 in 190 local jobs this spring and summer and in 2018.

Previously it was announced a little more than $564,000 would be earmarked for Nanaimo-Ladysmith this year.

The program makes it much more affordable for non-profit groups and businesses with less than 50 employees to hire summer students.

A total of 62,651 employment hours at nearly 90 organizations in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith region will benefit from the Canada Summer Jobs program in 2017 and 2018, according to Malcolmson’s constituency office.

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Malcolmson stated the program will create meaningful jobs for young people.

“It’s a real win-win, because the money also strengthens our local economy by helping small businesses, not-for-profits and public-sector employers grow their workforce,” Malcolmson said.

Kellie Barnie, director of marketing and communications for the Boys and Girls Club of Central Vancouver Island, previously told NanaimoNewsNOW the Canada Summer Jobs program helped their organization meet strong demand for summer camps.

She said the students benefit greatly as well by gaining valuable work experience.

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

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