Older Workers Pilot Project Initiative

One year ago, Valerie MacKenzie's prospects seemed bleak. The former fish plant worker was about to lose the job she had held, off and on, for most of her adult life -- another casualty in the downturn of the fish processing sector in eastern Nova Scotia.

Next week, Valerie and 19 of her colleagues, will complete a pilot program to prepare them for entirely new careers.

The Guysborough County students, aged 55-64, will graduate from the first Older Workers Pilot Project in Canso, with new skills that will prepare them for work in call centres, tourism, and computer applications. The closing ceremonies for their program will be held at the Lion's Den in Canso, tonight, Nov. 28.

"Thank you for the opportunity of a life time," said Valerie MacKenzie. "I am so pleased with the training that I received in this project. It's hard to believe that with only a Grade 7 education and my GED that I've been able to learn so much and to enjoy it."

Under the Canada-Nova Scotia agreement on older workers, the Older Worker Pilot Project Initiative is cost shared by the federal and provincial governments. It is designed to help older workers re-enter the workforce and maintain employment. The Nova Scotia project involves classroom teaching and on-the-job work experience with local employers.

"The government of Canada is very pleased to have contributed to such a meaningful project and enable experienced workers to continue working and improve their employability," said Robert Thibault, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Regional Minister of Nova Scotia, on behalf of Jane Stewart, Minister of Human Resources Development.

The Older Workers Pilot Project is part of the provincial government's skills initiative, Skills Nova Scotia. Skills Nova Scotia involves working with partners to upgrade people's skills, from basic literacy to the use of the most advanced technologies, to further their success in education and the workplace.

"These graduates have a tremendous amount to contribute, to employers and their communities," said MLA Ron Chisholm, on behalf of Education Minister Jamie Muir. "The Older Workers Program has helped these students gain the skills they need to pursue job opportunities right here at home, in Guysborough County."

The Guysborough Older Workers Pilot Project is one of nine pilot projects across the province to help older workers re-enter the workforce and/or maintain employment. Forty seats were available in the training program with two sessions of 20 participants.

The Guysborough County pilot is co-ordinated by the Guysborough County Regional Development Authority in partnership with Team Guysborough and Nova Scotia Community College.

"We have been extremely pleased with the results of the first session," said Dan Gillis, executive director, Guysborough County Regional Development Authority. "We have witnessed marked growth and skill enhancement in the participants. It is through opportunities like these that residents of the county are going to be able to take advantage of new job opportunities and gain key transferable skills."

The Guysborough County Older Workers pilot project included developing an Older Workers' Drop-In Centre for skills and employment transition counselling and the delivery of two specialized 24-week training programs. The programs are matched with potential job opportunities in the area and include training for call centres, tourism industries, and computer applications.

The other Older Worker Pilot Projects include the Seasoned Employees Education and Development (SEEDS) Career Centre (Halifax), Cape Breton Older Worker Adjustment Service Centre (Sydney), Acadia Centre for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Career Resource Centre (Bridgewater), Centre de carrières pour les personnes d'âge mûr (Tusket), an African Nova Scotia Older Worker Pilot Project (Dartmouth).

In addition, the Older Workers: Human Resource Planning in Facility-Based Care project and the Association of Industry Sector Councils have contributed to the development of resource tools such as the Older Workers' Toolkit. The Older Workers: Human Resource Planning in Facility-Based Care project is co- ordinated by the Health Care Human Resource Sector Council, Nova Scotia Centre on Aging and the Centre for Women in Business in Halifax.

Through the Forum of Labour Market Ministers, the government of Canada and the provincial and territorial governments have made a commitment to work together to resolve common labour market issues. Together, they set the parameters for the Older Workers Pilot Projects Initiative. The provincial and territorial governments design and implement the projects selected. Funding for the projects is provided by the government of Canada, and participating provinces and territories.