The following is a list of active projects that are supported by the Workforce Development Board
The Workforce Development Board is proud to announce the return of the Bears' Lair Entrepreneurial Competition which is being organized to promote entrepreneurship within the regions of Peterborough, City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton and Northumberland. Just like last year, contestants will compete in one of four regional competitions to qualify for the Grand Finale at Showplace Theatre, Peterborough, on May 12, 2012.
This competition is opened to anyone who intends on developing and starting a full-time business within the identified regions. To improve this year's competition, contestants will have the opportunity to attend a business bootcamp offered by Ontario Centres of Excellence. The grand prize winner will receive a prize package valued at over $20,000 in cash, products and services.
Our special guest judge and keynote speaker for this year's competition will be Ron Buist, former Director of Marketing Director at Tim Hortons for 24 years, where he turned a once unknown donut shop into one of Canada’s leading franchised organizations. He is also the author of Tales from Under the Rim, an account of how Tim Hortons became a second home to millions of Canadians.
Bears' Lair Brochure
For more information please visit www.bearslair.ca or feel free to contact us.
Employer Registry
Employerregistry.ca is an online community connecting businesses across Ontario with elementary and high school students. By simply going to www.employerregistry.ca and registering employers can express their interest in Co-op programs, the new Specialist High Skills Major program or Career talks at local schools. Visit the website now to get connected.
Adventures in Series
Agriculture
After a great response from students and teachers in the inaugural year the Adventures in Agriculture is taking place in Peterborough on an annual basis. In partnership with the Greater Peterborough Area Economic Development Corporation (GPAEDC) Adventures in Agriculture has been designed to introduce a variety of careers in agriculture to grade 8 students, in Peterborough County, through a series of demonstrations and educational displays.
The topics covered are:
Adventures in Health Care - Lindsay
In partnership with Ross Memorial Hospital, 75 highschool students will be given the opportunity to speak with health care professionals, who will provide a first hand account of their job experience in the health sector and offer guidance and information regarding employment opportunities in their field.
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Adventures in Health Care Campbellford
In partnership with Campbellford Memorial Hospital, 30 highschool students will be given the opportunity sto speak with health care professionals, who will provide a fist hand account of thier job experience in the health sector and offer guidance and information regarding employment opportunities in their field.___________________________________________________________________________________________
Amazing Race
In partnership with St. Peter's Secondary School, students will be given clues and tasks in order to find the various historical plaques that exist in the downtown Peterborough area.
Implementation of VIBE Business Plan for Eastern Ontario - Stage 2
We are currently developing a funding application for the cost of implementing the business plan.
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Establishment of Support for Laid-off Workers in the "under50 employees" category
Explore the need for support to laid-off and older workers still without work in our community. Initially it is intended to determine whether this support is needed in the community and if so develop next steps to integrate it into the service delivery.
The committee determined that greater awareness needs to be built within the community of programs available through Employment Ontario Service Providers. To accomodate this, abulk purchase of radio advertising was undertaken. Ads for Service Providers will have a constant message. The committee is also recommending that additional research be conducted to determine the makeup of the unemployed group in the community to better understand any gaps and needs of service.
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Creative Class Employment
Conduct research to identify the creative economy jobs and the sectors in which they exist in each county across the WDB area. Identify the potential opportunities that will be created by supporting these jobs in a manner that lengthens the supply chain. Presentations are being made to local community groups in conjunction with events run by service providers as well as at Chamber of Commerce meeting and various Service Club meetings.
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Future Careers
Develop a presentation for grade 10 career classes across our area utilizing the information on jobs and skills from the creative economy and growth sectors research.
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Identify Skills, Demand & Supply for Future Growth Sectors
Conduct research to identify the growth sectors in each county across the WDB area.
Presentations are being made to local community groups in conjunction with events run by Service Providers as well as at Chamber of Commerce meeting and variouos Service Club meetings
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E-Learning
Expore the opportunities that e-learning can present to the rural communities. Meet with employers to discuss utilizing the broadband network for their e-learning programs. Emphasis is on training programs that may assist SME's in ensuring the employees receive necessary training.
Meetings have been held with manufacturers and Chamber of Commerce who identified specific needs that could be accommodated through e-learning. Chamber of Commerce have a well established e-learning process for their members and continue to build on this as needs arise. We are currently exploring e-learning packages for manufacturers that already exist which could be made available to meet these needs.
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HR Reference Manual
WDB has identified the need for a human resource reference manual for SME's in the four counties of Peterborough, Northumberland, Haliburton and Kawartha Lakes. There is a lack of clear, concise HR management information that is readily available to management, which makes it difficult for small business to ensure they are aware of and following the various pieces of legislation that governs the workplace.
Negotiations with Two Gery Suits have begun and they have tabled an offer.
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