For people living in the Elk Valley who are looking for work, there is good news.
Starting in February the Elk Valley Employment Centre will be operating its mobile kiosk every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Sparwood Chamber of Commerce. The mobile kiosk was a pilot project initiated in July 2012. Due to the overwhelmingly positive response to it, the kiosk will now be visiting Sparwood every week during the busy months. This change in service frequency represents a simpler schedule for job seekers accessing employment services potentially closer to home.
The Elk Valley Employment Centre will continue to be open in its Fernie storefront location Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Both locations offer a self-serve area that includes access to job listings, resource library, on-line tools, internet, printing, faxing and computer use. Additional support and resources are available for job seekers who are currently unemployed or underemployed and are legally eligible to work in BC.
Responsible for delivering the Employment Program of BC, the Elk Valley Employment Centre offers a wide range of employment related services and supports at no charge to all British Columbians. The BC Government has announced an increase in the tuition cap for unemployed British Columbians accessing skills training through the Employment Program of BC. That means newly registered clients receiving services through the Fernie WorkBC Employment Services Centre may now be eligible for up to a maximum of $7,500 in tuition funding for skills training. Previously, tuition support was capped at $4,000.
“This change in the tuition cap will give people in this community who are looking for work a better opportunity to develop and upgrade their skills,” said Amy Boeckner, Business Services Coordinator at the Elk Valley Employment Centre. “From chefs and cooks, to drivers and heavy duty mechanics, skilled trades are in high demand throughout the entire East Kootenays.”
If you’re unemployed and looking for work, visit the storefront in Fernie at 302 C 2nd Avenue, drop-by the mobile kiosk in Sparwood, or look online at www.ekemployment.org. Otherwise call 250-423-4204 or 1-855-651-3027.