Kal Tire Wraps Second Successful Year for Skilled Trades

Vernon, BC - Monday, September 15, 2014

Skilled4Success allows Canadian youth to explore the skilled trades sector

Kal Tire and Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada (BGCC) continue to introduce more and more Canadian youth to the opportunities available in the skilled trades sector. This year’s Skilled4Success program saw almost double the amount of participants from 17 clubs across Canada undertake workshop training at BGCC clubs and job shadow opportunities at local Kal Tire locations.

“They learned about the importance of safety on the job, were awarded networking opportunities, and undertook some on-the-job-training in the trades sector.”

“We had almost 300 teens carry out hands on learning opportunities under the guidance of trained Kal Tire technicians,” said Ed Lauer, director of stores, Western Canada, Kal Tire. “They learned about the importance of safety on the job, were awarded networking opportunities, and undertook some on-the-job-training in the trades sector.”

Due to the success of last year’s program, this year saw some new and exciting additions to the Skilled4Success program, notably the addition of Kal Tire bursaries. These ten, $1,000 bursaries were open to any member of the BGCC applying for post-secondary education opportunities in the trades or technical training areas. Recipients were awarded the bursaries to assist them in developing successful careers in these sectors.

“Hands-on work experience, information about high demand fields and the Kal Tire bursary program go a long way to help youth achieve their post-secondary goals,” stated BGCC president and CEO Pam Jolliffe. “Skilled4Success is part of the solution to youth unemployment and this program is one more way our Clubs encourage personal growth, learning and community involvement.

In addition to the bursaries, a story contest was also created for all participants in the Skilled4Success program. The prize was a trip to a Kal Tire location of their choice in Canada. Participants were asked to submit a story regarding their experiences in Skilled4Success and what they took away from the program. A judging panel reviewed all of the entries and a young winner from Scarborough was chosen. At the end of this year this youth will be flying with a chaperone to the Kal Tire corporate office in Vernon, BC, where he will not only have the opportunity to meet with management; he will visit a Kal Tire retread facility in Kamloops, BC.

“We are delighted with the successful partnership between Kal Tire and Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada. This collaboration gives our young people a chance to explore career options in the skilled trades and enhance their ability to search for and secure a job,” says Jolliffe.

The Skilled4Success job shadows were held at the following Kal Tire locations in 2014:

Kelowna, BC West Kelowna, BC Richmond, BC Victoria, BC Westaskiwin, AB Edmonton, AB Lethbridge, AB

Hamilton, ON West Scarborough, ON London, ON Ottawa, ON Hawkesbury, ON Kingston, ON Whitehorse, YK

“Kal Tire team members are thrilled to support Canada’s youth through this program,” says Lauer. “It’s important they are given these types of opportunities so they better understand all their career options when considering their futures.”