SKILLS CENTRE STAYS OPEN
Princeton's Community Skills Centre is still in business and will continue to be.Skills Centre Manager Sharan Jung spoke to the Princeton Area Business Enhancement Association Tuesday night about recent changes to her business.
Jung says changes started six months ago "when HRDC started looking at how they were delivering services here" and determined there was a "need to streamline to address confusion experienced by clients."
HRDC (Human Resources Development Canada) amalgamated services in the region and developed a Omega-contract' for the delivery of employment services throughout the entire South Okanagan-Similkameen.
Jung says the Skills Centre chose not to seek the contract for Princeton.
"To bid on the contract would remove the Skills Centre from it's mandate of serving the people of Princeton."
The current HRDC contract with the Skills Centre ends at the end of February. Jung says all her staff has resigned and found employment with the new service provider, WorkZone.
What this means is that employment services once provided by the Skills Centre will move to WorkZone (located in the Princeton Plaza Mall) and all other services will remain functioning in the Skills Centre on Vermilion Avenue.
"We still have things that are going on at the Skills Centre. We're not closing, we're moving forward."
The Skills Centre has been in operation for seven years and Jung sees a working relationship developing between WorkZone and the Skills Centre.
"They will only deal with unemployed Canadians looking for work. The Skills Centre provides training."
Jung says there is some funding in reserve which will likely be used to rebuild the organization as they use the opportunity to revisit their mandate.
"We really do want to re-focus on skills and training programs."
EDUCATION MINISTER ZIPS THROUGH PRINCETON
BC Minister of Education Tom Christensen squeezed in a short visit in Princeton last week.The Minister, who was riding in a vehicle with Alberta licence plates, was supposed to spend a half-hour reading to students at John Allison Elementary School.
He arrived late at the school, but kept his promise to read to the students.
Christensen chose a book on the Canadian Alphabet to share with students.
He completed the book and was whisked away for a no-host lunch with Town Council, School District Trustees, School Board Officials and members of local school Parent Advisory Committees.
The Minister arrived late to the lunch and was met by thirty residents carrying signs that made reference to cuts made in education throughout the Province.
The Minister ignored the protesters and joined those waiting for him inside the restaurant.
During his short visit in Princeton, Christensen was presented with two letters.
One was delivered on behalf of staff at John Allison Elementary School and focused on problems related to the standardized report card system.
The other letter concentrated on concerns related to the Teacher On Call Program.
PRINCETON GSAR SEEKS MEMBERS
Princeton GSAR is accepting applications for new members for the 2005 training sessions.If you are reasonably fit, a team player and want to learn and participate in helping find lost persons, please fill out, and submit an application.
Some of the training you will receive are Backcountry navigation, (maps, GPS, pacing) Ropes, (knots, and rigging) First aid, Survival skills, and safely working with, and around Helicopters.
This years highlights will be Swift water rescue, and the ongoing man tracker training.
PGSAR meets the first 3 Tuesdays of the month at 7:00 pm in the basement boardroom of the Princeton General Hospital.
Feel free to drop by and check us out.
Applications can be picked up then, or at The News Leader office, R.C.M.P. station or from any GSAR member.
If you want more information please call Arnie 295-6759, Randy 295-3868, RCMP Mike or Joe 295-6911.
Or email: princetonbcgsar@hotmail.com. On the web www.pep.bc.ca click:
Search and Rescue or www.bcsara.com/ click: Teams.
BEA HOSTS ANOTHER SYMPOSIUM
Princeton Area Business Enhancement Association will host another Calendar of Events Symposium.The first one, held last October, brought together various non-profit organizations to plan their upcoming events.
The second symposium will do much the same with a focus on Spring and Summer activities.
Non-Profit organizations will be contacted with details in the mail and will be encouraged to send representation to the symposium.
The symposium allows local non-profit groups an opportunity to communicate and share ideas with each other.
It will also bring about dialogue between groups that may have events planned on the same dates that could be potential conflicts.
The BEA has already produced a Calendar of Events with the information gathered from the October session and will likely do the same following this upcoming session.
Non-profit groups are also encouraged to attend so they can network with other groups and pool resources for marketing and organizational purposes.
The event will take place from 7:00 top 9:00 PM on Tuesday, March 15th at the Princeton Skills Centre.
For more information call (250) 295-4149.
