In an effort to help attract, train and retain new employees, a new job initiative is taking place in Prince Edward County.
The County Workforce Partnership will mark the first ever Work Local Week from March 7 – 11 with workshops, networking events and the inaugural “County Career Crawl,” a non-traditional job fair to help connect employers with job-seekers and resources.
“COVID-19 has radically changed the labour market,” says Lesley Lavender, Executive Director of the Prince Edward County Chamber of Commerce. “We are here to support our business people through relevant programs that will act to strengthen our economy and build a sustainable community.”
Work Local Week kicks off March 7 with a networking event featuring Kirsti Stubbs, a brand expert and social media content creator with more than 15 years of recruitment experience. She’ll offer creative ways to find, engage, hire, retain and grow your next employees.
On March 8, a networking event will be held at the Wellington branch of the Royal Canadian Legion to connect area employers with active retirees. The most recent census data show that residents of retirement age continue to be the fastest growing age group in The County.
“Tapping into the potential of talented retirees who still want to remain active and contribute to the local economy is a key part of the workforce strategy,” says Brad Labadie of the Centre for Workforce Development.
On March 9, area employers will welcome job seekers along Picton, Bloomfield and Wellington Main Streets during a “County Career Crawl,” where in-person interactions will occur according to COVID-19 protocols.
Employers can register to participate at https://survey.zohopublic.com/zs/kMCNQl
Job seekers are encouraged to drop in to participating businesses, learn more about opportunities and get hired. They’re also encouraged to arrive via County Transit. To test out its suitability for the commute, contact Quinte Transit to reserve your ride via info@quintetransit.ca or call 1-855-283-9640. Schedule, stops and fare info can be found here: https://quintetransit.ca/county-transit
All students of Prince Edward Collegiate Institute will be supported by the Career Edge Youth Employment Counsellor to attend the event in conjunction with the Careers class.
Finally, on March 10, Career Edge will deliver a final networking event focused on fostering a work environment that supports mental health, looking at how mental health is impacted when at work and strategies to help employees succeed.
The County Workforce Partnership is made up of the Prince Edward County Chamber of Commerce, the County of Prince Edward, Career Edge, the Centre for Workforce Development, Community Futures and the Prince Edward Learning Centre.
