Toronto, ON - Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Skilled4Success lets youth across Canada explore the skilled trades sector
Kal Tire and Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada (BGCC) launched today the second year of Skilled4Success; a national program designed to help young people explore, discover and develop career possibilities in the skilled trades.
“We are delighted to build upon the partnership between Kal Tire and Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada”
Kal Tire piloted the Skilled4Success program with youth participating from 15 Boys and Girls Clubs across Canada last year. There was such a positive response from teens and potential employers that it has become an ongoing national program of Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada.
According to a 15-year-old youth participant last year, “Skilled4Success taught me a lot of new things. I had no idea what a skilled trade was or that I even had any skills to become a skilled trade worker. I loved having real people come in and talk about their education and career experiences.”
Skilled tradespeople play a vital role in the economy and communities across Canada and society depends on the work of skilled tradespeople. Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters predict that in 2016, Canada will have a surplus of 660,000 unskilled workers, with 1.3 million skilled jobs sitting vacant*.
Skilled4Success was created to help address this imbalance and improve the career prospects of young people in Canada. The program offers job skills training, career planning advice and information about provincially regulated apprenticeship programs.
“As part of the job shadowing experience, it’s important to demonstrate to the youth the many elements that would be involved in any skilled trade,” says Ed Lauer, director of stores, Western Canada, Kal Tire. “Safety is number one; they are all asked to wear proper personal protection and they learn about safe work environments. They also learn what it means to have good training and a mentor, and to provide quality service. And when they get to roll up their sleeves and participate in vehicle inspections, we find the youth very enthusiastic.”
Through a combination of in-Club programming and off-site field trips, Skilled4Success offers traditional and hands-on learning. Teens are provided job-shadow opportunities with skilled professionals at Kal Tire stores or other work environments. The program also teaches job search strategies, resume writing and general skills that can be applied in a range of careers. While there is a focus on skilled trades; teens are encouraged to explore a range of career options and identify their special talents.
“We are delighted to build upon the partnership between Kal Tire and Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada,” says BGCC president and CEO, Pam Jolliffe. “Our young people can explore rewarding career options and acquire the skills needed to land a job interview. Skilled4Success is one of many ways our Clubs encourage personal growth, learning and community involvement.”
The following Boys and Girls Clubs offer the Skilled4Success program, February – June 2014:
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Journalists are welcome to sit in on a Skilled4Success workshop or attend a job shadow experience at a Kal Tire store.
About Kal Tire
Kal Tire is Canada’s largest independent tire dealer and North America’s largest commercial tire dealer. Kal Tire Mining Tire Group is a global leader in mining tire service and supply, operating on more than 150 mine sites in 20 countries across five continents. The company has warehouse facilities strategically located across Canada servicing over 240 Kal Tire retail and commercial stores. As the largest truck tire retreader in Canada, Kal Tire owns and operates 10 truck tire retread facilities plus an additional four earthmover retreading facilities are located in Canada, the United Kingdom and Ghana, West Africa. The company employs more than 5,400 team members. To learn more, visit www.kaltire.com and follow at www.twitter.com/KalTire and www.facebook.com/KalTire.
About Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada
Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada is dedicated to supporting and encouraging children and youth as they grow and develop. We are a national charity serving 200,000 young people in more than 650 locations across Canada. We listen to their opinions and ideas, applaud their accomplishments, lend support during their struggles and provide ways to explore their interests and talents. With this encouragement they develop the confidence and sense of belonging that helps them succeed in school, form positive relationships and mature into responsible, caring adults. For over 110 years we have welcomed children, youth and their families into clubs that reflect the diversity of Canada in small and large cities, rural communities and First Nations Reserves. Visit www.bgccan.com and follow us at www.facebook.com/bgccan and www.twitter.com/bgccan.
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