SIOUX LOOKOUT – “It was a successful day for our students and youth yesterday. Students will have an opportunity to gain valuable work experience and earn money for the upcoming school year thanks to the federal Canada Summer Jobs initiative,” shared Greg Rickford, Member of Parliament for Kenora. “The jobs that are created provide students with tangible work experience and give them a chance to earn money for the upcoming school year. It also strengthens the local economies and communities where these students live and work.”
Rickford made the announcement from Sioux Lookout for the Kenora riding, which is receiving $185,000 in Canada Summer Jobs funding to hire 72 students. The funding will enable the students to gain the skills and experience they need to be successful, both now and in the future.
“Having a job like this allows me to gain valuable work skills that I normally would not be able to get. I am really looking forward to an exciting summer of interesting experiences with this position,” said Jen LaFrance, a student and Trade Show Coordinator with the Sioux Lookout Chamber of Commerce.
“I am incredibly thankful that the government is willing to sponsor students like myself especially for these kinds of positions. There is not enough of these kinds of jobs available for this kind of work experience,” said student Rebecca Crane, Assistant Even Coordinator for the Blueberry Festival in Sioux Lookout.
Canada Summer Jobs is an important part of our government’s Youth Employment Strategy (YES). With annual funding of more than $300 million, YES helps youth, particularly those facing barriers to employment, obtain career information, develop employment skills, find jobs and stay employed.
The students, however, were not the only ones who benefitted in the riding. MP Rickford, on behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Heritage, announced $6,000 in funding for the Kaleidoscope Kids Entertainment Series in Sioux Lookout.
“I take great pride in working with organizations like the Kids’ Kaleidoscope Entertainment Series. The federal government recognizes the importance of this series to the kids of Sioux Lookout and has repeatedly shown their support in the past two years. I am very excited to announce yet another $6,000 in funding for this great organization,” stated Greg Rickford.
“Kids Kaleidoscope is very appreciative of the government’s continued support of our children’s entertainment series. This has given our children the opportunity to experience performing arts in our remote community of Sioux Lookout,” stated Michelle Diston, a volunteer with the entertainment series.
The funding will be used for their series of performances over the course of the year for children and their families. The series is comprised of five performances featuring music, dance and theatre arts presented in April, May, October and November of 2012 and February 2013. The organization will also coordinate at least two artist-lead workshops in the local schools.