About the Centre
News/Media

For Immediate Release

December 19, 2005

Over 22,500 Halton and Area Residents Get Career Support From The Centre!

Burlington, ON - The Centre for Skills Development & Training (The Centre) is pleased to announce that over 22,500 Halton and area residents received employment and career support services from The Centre in its recently completed 2004-2005 fiscal year.

The majority of these clients, over 19,000, took part in The Centre’s career and employment programs and services, which are offered on a no fee basis through funding provided by the federal government’s Service Canada department (formerly Human Resources Skills Development Canada). These programs and services include employment resource centres, career focus programs, one-on-one employment counselling and assessment services, and job finding programs.

The remainder of The Centre’s 22,500 plus clients participated in its language skills and academic upgrading programs, which includes ESL classes, its various continuing education courses and its very highly regarded skilled trades pre-apprenticeship career training programs; which leverages off of The Centre’s extensive network of industry partners and which boasts an extraordinary 100% placement rate of this last year’s graduates.

While providing employment and career support services to over 22,500 residents is very impressive, the fact that this represents a 25% increase over the previous year also says a lot about the organization and its value to the community.

“We’re very proud of the impact that we’ve been able to have on our community over this past year,” says Kathy Mills, Chief Administrative Officer of The Centre. “For most of us, employment is an essential part of our lives. It provides us with the necessities of life and plays an important part in bringing us the meaning and sense of purpose that makes life worth living. It’s no wonder that losing a job is considered one of life’s most stressful and disruptive events; ranking right up there with divorce and the death of a loved one. At The Centre, we recognize and embrace the fact that we’re in the business of changing lives. The growth that we’ve experienced during this past year is a direct result of the hard work, dedication and commitment of our staff and of the investments made by our parent, the Halton District School Board, and our government and industry partners; all of whom are steadfastly committed to making a difference to the people of this community.”

Investments made this past year include the opening of three new Employment Resource Centres in Oakville, Milton and Georgetown, the launching of an Enhanced Language Training program for foreign trained professionals and the creation of a new Corporate Development Services division.

“Adding Corporate Development Services to our strategic focus was a natural next step in the evolution of our organization,” says Ms. Mills. “Companies and other organizations in this community are the ultimate consumers of the services we provide to individuals. By sharing directly with them, the strategies, tactics, tips and techniques that we’ve developed over the past 15 years, they’re able to more efficiently and effectively adapt to an evolving economy and changing workplace environment. The result is stronger companies, a stronger local economy and, ultimately, greater employment opportunities for the residents of our community. We’re very pleased by the results we’ve seen thus far and are looking forward to an exciting new year.”

The Centre for Skills Development & Training is a leading provider of quality career and workforce development programs, products and services specializing in Pre-Apprenticeship Trades and Technology, Career Planning and Development and Language Skills and Academic Upgrading.