Youth Connections holds grand opening

Youth Connections held its grand opening March 5. Left-right are Robin Caird, Valerie Fjeld, Elma Desjarlais, Ada Thunder, Marilyn Lacoste and Leanne Hall. They spoke to the guests and held a ribbon cutting ceremony at the new Youth Connections office.

Mac Olsen
South Peace News

Ada Thunder motivated herself to get ahead in life.

Today, she can proudly say she is doing it by pursuing educational and career goals.

“When I turned 20, I started making changes in my life,” says Thunder. “I went back to school for awhile after my daughter was born and I was in school when my son was born. (Then) I started working on my independence, taking responsibility for myself and my children.”

Thunder considered many careers, including lawyer, nurse, teacher and business administrator. Now, she is interested in the health field, specifically reflexology or radiology. Either career would provide a decent income to pay the bills, as well as support her children and allow her to spend time with them.

Thunder is pleased with the new direction her life is taking.

“I have set high expectations for myself. I’ve come a long way from dreaming about doing something to actually making it a reality. I’m proud to say that I did it and for me it’s just the beginning. There’s a lot more that I look forward to. There’s always going to be a tomorrow. But it’s today that sets the dreams for tomorrow.”

Thunder made her remarks during the Youth Connections grand opening March 5. She has been a client at Youth Connections and was invited to speak.

Marilyn Lacoste, the area manager for Woodland HR, which operates Youth Connections, welcomed everyone and said having a centre to serve youth 16-24 years old has always been part of their vision.

“We envisioned a place where young people were given positive direction from people who cared about them,” she says. “A place where the staff used their influence and knowledge to encourage them to do better and help them make the decisions that were right for them. That is what we do at Youth Connections.”

Lacoste then invited other dignitaries to speak, including Elma Desjarlais, an elder from East Prairie Métis Settlement. Desjarlais says Youth Connections is needed and offered a prayer for its continued success.

Next to speak was Leanne Hall, president and owner of Woodland HR. Hall says her company has been delivering the Youth Connections program since August 1999 and has assisted more than 15,000 local young people. It serves High Prairie, Slave Lake, Smith, Calling Lake and Grasslands.

“Efforts in this program have been made by many, courage in this process shared by all, each effort for each individual young person but supported by our caring and knowledgeable Youth Connections team,” says Hall. “This was our mandate to connect young people to more promising futures and our promise has been fulfilled.”

She also says her company continues to broaden its reach and its goals are to educate, support and encourage a new cycle of achievement in young people.

Valerie Fjeld and Robin Caird of Alberta Employment and Immigration were the last guests to speak. Their office contracts with Woodland HR Inc. to provide the Youth Connections program.

Fjeld, the area manager, says the free services Youth Connections provide will help connect young people with employers, career planning and provide information on how to look for work, resume writing and how to be successful in interviews.

Caird, the contract services coordinator, discussed “Building and Educating Tomorrow’s Workforce,” the government’s 10-year labour force strategy to provide more workers, educated and trained people, innovative and safe work places. He says Youth Connections supports this strategy by linking youth to the labour market by providing:

* Information about the labour market.

* Computer, fax, photocopier and staff resources.

* Local businesses with motivated employees.

* Support to explore training and educational options.

* Resources and support needed to make informed career decisions.

“Youth Connections enables young adults to realize their dreams and find meaningful careers and improving their quality of life while building a stronger workforce for now and the future,” Caird says.

“I’m delighted Employment and Immigration can be a part of this through our partnership with Youth Connections.”

All the dignitaries participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony following the speeches.

Youth Connections was located in the Provincial Building, but it now located next to Leonarda’s Beauty Salon. Youth Connections has computers for job searches, resume writing and labour market information, as well as a job board.

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