From left to right: Joe Bradbury, CAO District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board, Jeff Serran, DNSSAB Board member and North Bay city councillor, Leo Jobin, Mayor of Chisholm Township and DNSSAB Board member, Dr. Helena Jaczek, Minister of Community and Social Services, Jay Aspin, MP Nipissing, Mark King, Chair of the DNSSAB Board and North Bay city councillor. Submitted photo.
The Minister of Community and Social Services, Dr. Helena Jaczek today cut the ribbon for a new Career Hub at the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board office in North Bay.
The Career Hub, which is located on the main floor in the computer room of the DNSSAB office in North Bay City Hall, is a six-month pilot project that offers technology, tools and personnel to assist social assistance recipients in recognizing and assessing their skills to communicate their employability to prospective employers.
A DNSSAB Employment Assistant will be available weekday afternoons to offer support along the employment continuum by:
- Identifying emerging pathways to employment and offering supports such as resume writing, skills packaging, job search coaching, interview coaching, and providing information regarding potential opportunities in training and education
- Informing candidates about wrap-around services such as benefits, housing and childcare, all of which assist citizens to focus on becoming employed
“All Ontarians, regardless of their economic status or background, should have an equal opportunity to reach their full potential and contribute to the prosperity of the province,” says Jaczek. “Helping people find and maintain employment is a fundamental pillar of the social assistance system and the new Career Hub will help the local community support this goal.”
The number of people receiving social assistance in the Nipissing District is expected to be
approximately 2,400 in February.
“It has become evident that employment is the solution to the growing number of people living in poverty, and we plan to help them become employed so that they can have a better life and become less dependent on social assistance,” says DNSSAB Board Chair, Mark King.
“Expectations are that the Career Hub will not only benefit people receiving social assistance, but will benefit employers, providing them with a larger talent pool and benefit the community through a more stable local economy.”
The Career Hub provides an additional resource that helps to remove some of the barriers and improve client outcomes in collaboration with community partnerships.
If successful, this project will be expanded to other areas within Nipissing District.
