MELFORT CAREER AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES TO SHARE FACILITY

Released on May 12, 1999

Melfort and area residents will soon have one convenient place to

access all education, training and employment programs and services.

Post-Secondary Education and Skills Training Minister Maynard Sonntag

today announced an agreement to co-locate the Canada-Saskatchewan

Career and Employment Services office in Melfort with the facility

shared between Cumberland Regional College and the Melfort School

Division #100.



The current Career and Employment Services office recently opened at

104 McKendry Avenue West helps residents plan a career, upgrade their

education or job skills, find a job or fill a job vacancy. The move to

the new shared facility is expected early next year.



"With the cooperation and commitment of our education and training

partners in Melfort, we will soon be able to integrate services and

reduce duplication by co-locating with the college and the school

division," Sonntag said. "Creating a coherent, effective and

sustainable delivery system is a key goal of the Saskatchewan Training

Strategy."



"We are looking forward to closer collaboration with Career and

Employment Services," said Valerie Mushinski, CEO of Cumberland

Regional College. "This regional partnership will greatly enhance our

service to the public."



"This is very much in line with our plans for a joint-use,

mutually beneficial community facility," said Bob Kroeker,

Director of Education, Melfort School Division No. 100. "It also

continues to make best use of resources and facilities and will

enable us to expand our positive relationship."



"There are 20 Career and Employment Services offices open in the

province where Saskatchewan people now have access to quality,

cost-effective programs and services," said Sonntag. "More than

100,000 people a year are expected to use these services in

Saskatchewan. The programs and services better match people

with, and prepare people for, available and emerging jobs in our

economy. The offices work with industry and other regional

partners to identify where the jobs are, and what education or

training people need to get the jobs."



Canada-Saskatchewan Career and Employment Services offer a

variety of resources, including written materials on resume-writing and occupations; counsellor-assisted career planning; and

computerized services, such as CD ROM software and videos. Of

special interest is a new web site called SaskNetWork -

www.sasknetwork.gov.sk.ca - Saskatchewan's new electronic link to

career, employment and labour market information. Career

information is also available toll free at 1-800-597-8278.



The Career and Employment Services offices also provide access to

a variety of information related to apprenticeship,

JobStart/Future Skills, and other skills training and employment

programs, basic education, literacy, and income support programs

for learners. About 10,000 people will be involved in employment

programs gaining work experience or on-the-job training, or

receive support while in training.



The Canada-Saskatchewan Career and Employment Services offices

are a result of the Canada-Saskatchewan Labour Market Development

Agreement, signed in April 1998. Under the Agreement, the

Government of Saskatchewan assumed responsibility to provide

career and employment programs to Employment Insurance (EI)

clients. The Government of Canada is a funding partner for these

programs and services through the EI Account. The Agreement

builds on the vision of the Saskatchewan Training Strategy to

ensure all Saskatchewan residents have access to flexible,

relevant, quality training and employment services.



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For more information, contact:

Pat Bauer ,

Post-Secondary Education

and Skills Training

Phone: (306) 446-7890



Valerie Mushinski

CEO, Cumberland Regional College

Phone: (306) 862-9845



Bob Kroeker

Director of Education

Melfort School Division #100

Phone: (306)752-5741