Employer readiness key to integrate refugees into workforce
Employer readiness key to integrate refugees into workforce
Chamber hosting lunch and learn to connect businesses with immigration officials
TRURO - The Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce is hosting an event this month aiming to connect businesses with immigration officials co-ordinating resettlement efforts.
A lunch and learn, sponsored by the Municipality of Colchester County, will be held at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre at noon on Dec. 16 to share information with businesses about immigration programs and federal refugee resettlement plans.
Chamber president Andrew Lake said providing businesses with an opportunity to interact directly with the people working hands-on to co-ordinate the resettlement efforts will benefit both parties.
“Employers in the region have long expressed a need and desire to increase immigration to support the economy of the region,” said Lake. “To ensure a successful settlement of the refugees, it’s important for communities to be welcoming. Employment is a critical component to immigrants and refugees establishing roots and successfully integrating into the community.”
The Government of Nova Scotia, along with Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS), the YMCA, the Red Cross and many other volunteer organizations and provincial departments, are jointly planning for the arrival of refugees into Nova Scotia. The objective is to ensure the successful settlement of refugees in the province. One of the committees of this larger working group is working with employers to ensure employer readiness to integrate refugees into the workforce.
As part of the process, businesses are being asked to provide information on employment opportunities which may be available to these refugees. Refugees arriving in Canada will comprise both skilled and unskilled labour, so information is being sought on all available positions.
Guest speakers at the event will be Cliff MacDonald, a member of ISANS Business Workforce Integration Team, and Robyn Webb, Director of Labour Market Development with the Greater Halifax Partnership. Officials with the Office of Immigration will also be participating in the event.
MacDonald will discuss ISANS’ role in welcoming immigrants, working in partnership with other organizations to offer services and create opportunities that enable them to participate fully in Canadian life. The organization provides a full range of programs and services along the settlement and integration continuum to more than 3,500 clients annually in 34 communities across Nova Scotia.
Webb leads the Partnership's talent attraction and retention initiatives, including the National Connector Program. She partners with and supports Canadian communities and industry associations interested in launching the Connector Program and has an extensive background in promoting Nova Scotia as the best possible choice for North American and European companies looking to expand into Canada.
The cost to attend is $10 for members, $15 for future chamber members. To reserve a seat contact the chamber office at 902-895-6328 or email [email protected].
RECC reaches maturity
RECC reaches maturity
Op-Ed, By Andrew Lake
A number of years ago, when the idea of a civic center for the region was conceived, proponents envisioned a facility that could offer elite recreational facilities to local athletes, as well as a venue with capacity to draw entertainment, sport and leisure events to the community. While the course charting this endeavour has been faced with bumps along the way, the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling, hosted this week in the Community Credit Union Arena of the Rath Eastlink Community Center (RECC), clearly demonstrated the facility has matured.
Craig Burgess, Manager of Recreation Services with the Municipality of the County of Colchester, is widely credited with leading the campaign to bring the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling event to the region, along with Nick Sharpe, Director of Partnerships and Events, with the centre. Close to 150 volunteers were recruited to facilitate the planning, management and operation of the event which drew thousands of visitors to this region during a span of six days.
The business community endorsed the event with major sponsorship commitments by Inglis Jewelers and Elegant Steps, whose logos were displayed on the ice to a world-wide audience during the entire event. Several other local businesses, from restaurants to car dealers and other service providers, also contributed to the success of the event in a variety of ways.
Film crews from Sportsnet, CBC and other media that spent time out in the community, showcased a blend of culture and sport in the area creating a lasting impression of a welcoming, vibrant community.
While the full economic impact of hosting this world-class event is yet to be tallied, it is obvious the greater business community has and will continue to reap the benefits of it.
It has showcased the merits of the Rath Eastlink Community Center to Nova Scotians, Atlantic Canada and the nation as a whole, as well as reaching audiences around the globe.
The Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce and its 400-plus members congratulate the organizing committee and staff of the RECC, for their vision and efforts to deliver a quality event. The success has established the RECC as a premiere event destination which will support future efforts to bring similar events to the area. This will further help to sustain its financial position and qualify the municipal contributions to the facility.
Andrew Lake is the President of the Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber looks forward to working with MP-elect Casey on economic issues
Chamber looks forward to working with MP-elect Casey on economic issues
TRURO – The Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce congratulates Cumberland-Colchester MP-elect Bill Casey and the Liberal team on winning a majority government.
The chamber looks forward to working with Casey to make this region, and Canada as a whole, more competitive.
"A majority government will provide an element of confidence and stability in the Canadian economy, further reflected by a strong valuation of the Canadian dollar," says chamber president Andrew Lake.
The Truro and Colchester chamber was active during the election campaign, along with the Canadian Chamber network representing 200,000 businesses.
Its election platform, A Canada That Wins, highlighted Access to a Powerful Workforce, Access to Markets, Access to Capital and Access to Technology and Innovation as key priorities for the next government to focus on to increase Canada’s competitiveness.
Many of the positions of the Liberal program align with the chamber priorities. The chamber believes the Liberal plan to invest in infrastructure, if done strategically, will be positive for the economy.
The chamber also looks forward to the creation of business programs to help employers create new placements for students, which will help provide the workforce needed to compete internationally, and other investments in job creation programs.
The Truro and Colchester chamber was pleased to host a debate prior to the election that offered an opportunity for five of the six local candidates to share their party platforms.
The local chamber represents more than 400 member businesses and has been the principal voice for business in the Colchester region for 125 years in matters of economic, social and political importance.
Chamber names small business award recipients
Outstanding local businesses to be
honoured with 2015 Small Business Awards
Oct 16, 2015
TRURO - The Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce has announced this year’s Small Business Week award recipients.
"A number of quality nominations were received in each of the five award categories. It is a true testament to the strength of small business and the entrepreneurial spirit that's alive in the region,” said chamber president Andrew Lake.
The award recipients of 2015 are: New Small Business of the Year, NovelTea Bookstore Café, Truro; Small Business Achievement, Forbes Bros. Furniture of Denmark; Business Innovator of the Year, Enchanted Forest, Truro; Exporter of the Year, Woodmaster Tools of Canada, Clifton; and, a new category this year, Excellence in Community Development, 100 Women Who Care Truro. The five awards are sponsored by WBLI Chartered Accountants, PWC, RBC, Nova Scotia Business Inc. and Town of Truro, respectively.
Recipients will be honoured at this year’s Small Business Week annual luncheon, Oct. 21, 12 p.m., at the Holiday Inn and Conference Centre. All nominees will receive recognition for their contributions to the local economy during the luncheon. Guest speaker is Laurel Broten, president and CEO of Nova Scotia Business Inc., the business-development agency for the province of Nova Scotia.
To reserve seats at the luncheon, contact the chamber of commerce office by calling 902-895-6328 or email [email protected]. Tickets cost $25 for chamber members and $35 for future members (tax inc.). Watch the chamber website and Facebook page for a schedule of chamber-hosted events and details on other Small Business Week events in the area.
Regional Organization Headed to South Carolina to Showcase Employability Skills Assessment Tool
Regional Organization Headed to South Carolina to Showcase Employability Skills Assessment Tool
It is the refrain of almost every business owner/employer in Nova Scotia, Canada and beyond: I can teach my employees to work a cash register, mop a floor, make a bed, work a grill, etc., but there are also soft skills that I can’t necessarily teach them. Often, for many reasons, soft skills such as motivation, accountability, patience and congeniality toward co-workers and customers can take time to develop. Employers naturally seek staff that take pride in their work, have the know-how to handle high-pressure situations, are punctual and will ensure that tasks are completed. However, for some, these are barriers to employment.
While these may seem like straight forward aspects of employment to incorporate into employee training, the fact of the matter is they are not. Helping people attain these skills is an incredibly complex task. With that said, Futureworx is not only teaching these soft skills to clients, we’ve been doing it for years with an incomparable success rate.
Since 1984, Futureworx, based in Truro, has been taking in clients that have multiple employment barriers and preparing them for the workplace. The technical aspects of the preparation vary from program to program. We cover and have covered everything from cleaning and environmental services, front-line health care, hotel work, light carpentry and others. What remains the constant with each program are the soft skills; attitude, motivation, presentation, teamwork, time management, adaptability, stress management, accountability and confidence. These soft skills may look different from workplace to workplace. For example, a person responsible for cleaning a hotel likely isn’t going to dress the same as someone working in an office setting. However, there are still certain expectations in place and, at the end of the day, the employee should take pride in their appearance, regardless of specific dress codes. It was with this in mind that Futureworx wanted to ensure that all clients were receiving the same training in these areas regardless of the location and the instructor. Out of this came the concept for the Employability Skills Assessment Tool, or ESAT.
Development of ESAT started in 2010 as an internal tool for Futureworx instructors to document a client’s soft skill levels and to clearly track and show growth and/or retraction in these levels. The idea behind the tool is that you can’t expect a person to have these soft skills if they have never needed to use them in their past or present work environments or were never told that they were lacking in these areas. Through a series of self-assessments and assessments by others (e.g.: instructors, counsellors, case workers) based on observations over a period of time, clients can clearly see their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to the aforementioned soft skills. Easy to follow results and graphics promote meaningful conversations that lead to overall improvements. Since its development as an internal tool, we’ve branched out and ESAT is now being used by organizations throughout Nova Scotia and Canada. Kate Apestiguy is with Youth Live, a work experience program for 16 to 24 year olds with barriers to employment in Halifax.
“ESAT depersonalizes the process and looks at what the issue is. And these issues are really things that aren’t that difficult to overcome, it just needs to be brought to their attention. Once clients are provided with the coaching, support and follow up, we’ve had good success!”
John Hartling is the General Manager with Stone Hearth Bakery, a social enterprise operating in Halifax. As many as 50 people are employed at the bakery at any given time. He calls ESAT ‘a very valuable resource.’
“Part of the confusion that some of our clients have faced in the past is understanding exactly why people won’t employ them or why they’re getting laid off or their hours are being cut. I find ESAT has been an incredibly useful tool to articulate what your attitude really means. If someone says you have a bad attitude, it’s really hard for people to define that and understand what it is they have to change. ESAT helps them figure that out. There’s no doubt in my mind that the return on investment will be well in excess of the cost of integrating ESAT.”
Colleen Penner is the Director of Programming with Opportunities for Employment in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The organization recently completed an update report on the integration of ESAT into one of their projects. The results are right in line with our assertions about the program.
“The use of the ESAT in OFE’s Employment Mentorship Program continues to highlight the effectiveness of the employment preparation curriculum and provide an effective coaching tool for facilitating behavioural change over time,” said Penner. ESAT has enabled our facilitators and Employment Coach to strategically target those employability skills which will be most problematic as the participant enters the work force, which will result in longer job retention for participants and less turnover costs for employers. One of the most intriguing outcomes of ESAT is the degree to which we may be able to predict the chances of success for individuals when it comes to obtaining and keeping a job. As OFE continues to evolve its programing to better serve individuals and employers, it will be very exciting to imagine how ESAT will enhance our services and prepare individuals for success in the workplace.”
Employers are definitely noticing the difference ESAT makes. Ric McKinstry, with Shannex, says Futureworx students are given the tools needed to succeed before ever hitting the workplace.
“It’s very easy to see the Futureworx students in a room full of people. It’s very easy to pick them out. They come to us with that good foundation and the things Shannex needs. It’s a great advantage to this industry.”
Because of the success of ESAT, Futureworx was recently chosen to present at the 2015 ProLiteracy Conference on Adult Literacy in Charleston, South Carolina. This marks the first international presentation for the organization, but we’re certain it will not be the last. South Carolina has been hit hard with record level devastation in recent days. We would be remiss not to acknowledge what this region is dealing with at the moment and we at Futureworx recognize that it will be sometime before this area resumes life as they knew it before the storm. We wish them all the best as the rebuilding gets underway in earnest. The people of South Carolina and other areas impacted are in our hearts and minds as we prepare to travel there. We’re also in contact with interested operations in places as far away as Australia.
The implementation possibilities for ESAT are endless. It is cloud-based, can be accessed anywhere there’s an internet connection and the subject matter and skill set can be changed to fit any employer or organization. We’ve often heard employers ask why soft skills aren’t being taught in high school, college and university and we couldn’t agree more! ESAT, with very minor adjustments, could easily be implemented into any curriculum, letting students know what is expected of them once they enter the workplace. Imagine the frustration that could be alleviated by having students that are aware of that. It’s a win-win, created by a small Nova Scotia non-profit that sees the potential in everyone, regardless of their situation.
This Op-Ed piece has been created by Futureworx under the direction of Executive Director Randy Lindsay. Mr. Lindsay has worked in the field of employability skills and support since 1988, helping countless individuals and organizations throughout those years.
The 2015 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling is coming to Truro
The 2015 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling is coming to Truro, and it is bringing a pedigree of excellence with it.
Make no mistake, this is a world-class event. The top 15 men’s and women’s teams on the World Curling Tour’s order of merit will converge on the Hub of Nova Scotia from October 27th to November 1st. From Olympic gold medalists to world champions, the absolute pinnacle of the sport will be on display for six days at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre. Rarely are Nova Scotian’s treated to such displays in-person; elite athletes at the peak of their game, engaged in the highest level of competition available. The event itself will be a spectacle, to be sure. Superstars Brad Gushue, Jennifer Jones, Mike McEwan and Brad Jacobs (among others) will be ready. But what can we do to be ready for them?
This event presents opportunities for all of us, as a community. There is the obvious opportunity to catch a glimpse of athletic superstars at work, but the greater opportunity lies in the potential to showcase Truro to the athletes, and the world.
Let’s show our guests how excited we are to have them here. The Rath Eastlink Community Centre will be providing Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling Masters 2015 window decals in the weeks leading up to the event. Let’s get these decals up in our businesses, car windows, and anywhere else people will see them! Sportsnet will have their cameras out and about in Truro and Colchester County during the event showcasing how the community is promoting and supporting the event. Let’s showcase our community, spirit and ourselves! Let’s welcome these champions with open arms, embracing them and the opportunities they bring us!
Additional things you may wish to consider:
- Welcome the curlers and Sportsnet by promoting the event on your display signage;
- Dress up your retail frontage – with curling inspired themes, Canadian or International flags, etc.
- Offer curling inspired promotions
The eyes of the curling world will be fixed on Truro come October 27th. The elite athletes will do their part, rest assured. Let’s help them open wide the eyes of everyone watching, with our spectacular facility, wonderful town, beautiful province, and remarkable people.
Call for nominations Small Business Week 2015
Call for nominations
Chamber of Commerce to recognize outstanding businesses at awards luncheon
TRURO - The Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce will honour five local enterprises during its Small Business Week awards luncheon in October.
To highlight the importance of small business, the chamber is hosting several events in Truro and the surrounding area from Oct. 20 to 23, bringing the business community together to share achievements, network and showcase information and supports for local entrepreneurs.
"Small businesses contribute immensely to the economy and social fabric of the communities they operate in,” said chamber president Andrew Lake. “Small Business Week celebrates those businesses that excel in the delivery of their products and service."
Lake is pleased to announce Laurel Broten, president and CEO of Nova Scotia Business Inc., the business development agency for the province of Nova Scotia, will be the special guest speaker at this year’s awards luncheon. Broten is a former Bay Street lawyer, Ontario Cabinet Minister, public policy expert, advocate and mother of twin boys, Zachary and Ryan.
She earned both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science degree from McMaster University, followed by a juris doctorate from the University of Western Ontario. Upon graduation, Broten was selected as a law clerk to Madam Justice Claire L'Heureux-Dubé at the Supreme Court of Canada. She has extensive experience in cluster economic development and job creation with positive impact on creative industries, food processing as well as the green energy and clean tech sectors.
Award nominations are currently being accepted in the following categories: New Small Business of the Year, sponsored by WBLI Chartered Accountants; Small Business Achievement, sponsored by PWC; Export Achievement, sponsored by Nova Scotia Business Inc.; Small Business Innovation, sponsored by RBC; and new this year is the Excellence in Community Development award sponsored by the Town of Truro.
Nomination forms are available from the chamber office at 605 Prince St. (Marigold Cultural Centre), Truro; online at www.trurocolchesterchamber.com and the Truro and Colchester Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.
Click here to view nomination forms:
New Small Business of the year
Excellence in Community Development
Print the form, fill it in, scan/email it using [email protected] or drop it off at the chamber office in a sealed envelope. Nominations will be accepted until Oct. 9.
The award luncheon will be held at the Holiday Inn on Wednesday, Oct. 21, beginning at noon. Reserve your seat in advance by calling the chamber office, 902-895-6328; tickets cost $25 for chamber members and $35 for future members (tax inc.).
Watch the chamber website and Facebook page for a schedule of chamber-hosted events and details on other small business week events in the area.
Small business week events hosted by the Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce:
Oct. 20 – Young Entrepreneur showcase. This event is designed to foster entrepreneurial spirit in youth, while connecting them to resources in the community. This event will be held at the Marigold Cultural Centre, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This event is sponsored by BDC.
Oct. 21-Small Business Week awards luncheon, Holiday Inn, 12 p.m., featuring Laurel Broten, president and CEO of Nova Scotia Business Inc. Tickets cost $25 for chamber members and $35 for future members (including tax).
Oct. 22- Women in business breakfast. This free event will provide an opportunity for women business owners to network and learn about important resources in the community to build their business. Guest speaker will be Tanya Priske of the Centre for Women in Business. This event is sponsored by BDC.
Oct. 23- Social Media 101 and Q and A, lunch and learn with Michelle McCann of Bold and Italic Social Communications at Nook and Cranny, Prince Street. Cost is $8 per person, seating is limited and pre-registration is required. This event is sponsored by Elegant Steps.
Watch the chamber website and facebook page for updates, or call 902-895-6328.
Watch the chamber website and facebook page for updates, or call 902-895-6328.
Change of federal debate venue
Change of venue for Cumberland–Colchester federal election debate
TRURO – A federal election debate hosted by the Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 6 is being moved to a larger venue.
The event, featuring all five candidates running in Cumberland-Colchester, will now be held at the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus Alumni Theatre inside Cumming Hall, 62 Cumming Dr., Bible Hill.
The debate was originally scheduled to be held at the Marigold Cultural Centre in downtown Truro.
Incumbent Conservative MP Scott Armstrong will join Liberal candidate Bill Casey, NDP Wendy Robinson, Green Party Jason Blanch and independent Kenneth Jackson on the debate panel.
Chamber president Andrew Lake will moderate the hour-long evening debate. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the debate will get underway at 7 p.m.
The event is open to the public, sponsored by the Nova Scotia Association of Realtors.
The chamber is soliciting questions in advance of the debate from the businesses community, as well as the general public, by email until 12 p.m. on Oct. 5. Questions should be sent to [email protected].
The Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce represents more than 400 member businesses and has been the principal voice for business in the Colchester region for 125 years in matters of economic, social and political importance.
Brookside abbatoir expansion good news for farmers
Michael Isenor, manager of NorthumberLamb in Bible Hill, is looking forward to entering new markets with its new federal inspection licence designation.
Abattoir expansion good news for local farmers
BIBLE HILL - A newly completed expansion at a Bible Hill abattoir is good news for local sheep farmers.
Michael Isenor, manager of NorthumberLamb on Brookside Road, said during the past three years about $700,000 in upgrades and renovations have been completed at the facility through government partnerships.
The abattoir has been processing lamb since 1982 with its provincially inspected products being direct marketed to stores across the province.
Isenor said while the locally produced lamb was making its way onto grocery stores in Nova Scotia there was lots of room to grow markets outside the province once the abattoir received a federal inspection licence.
“The big issue with that is the bigger stores, like Loblaws and Sobeys, sell through their warehouses,” said the manager. “Because we’re not in their warehouses they send lamb to stores from Australia, New Zealand, Quebec, Alberta and others.
“That put us in kind of a handicap spot.”
He said the key to entering new markets outside the province was to become federally inspected, a milestone NorthumberLamb achieved on July 6 after three years of upgrades.
“As far as barriers, now we don’t have any barriers to ship anywhere in the world,” Isenor said.
While NorthumberLamb is currently working with grocery giants to enter their warehouse distribution centres, Isenor said there has also been increased demand for lamb in restaurants and specialty stores.
“We have a lot of restaurants in the Halifax area that sell lamb. People try it then want to buy it themselves.”
Last year the facility processed about 5,800 lambs, however, the previous year – the best on record – saw about 6,300 lambs processed.
Isenor said with the new federal inspection lincence they are aiming to process 10,000 lambs annually.
He said the new interest is a great benefit for sheep farmers that are currently producing more than the market in Nova Scotia can hold. Historically, when there were more lambs then markets, they would be shipped to auction yards in Ontario, adding expenses and cutting profits by 10 to 25 per cent.
“It’s definitely an advantage to having them marketed here.”