by Stacy Dunn, Researcher, The Employment Journey
Happy New Year! It’s hard to believe that 2010 is here. Remember the year 2000, or Y2K? Many new IT jobs were created to address the possibility that computers worldwide would crash on January 1, 2000. Fortunately, the IT sector was so well prepared and no major computer errors were reported that year.
On PEI, the IT sector is quite active as it works within several organizations:
- Innovation and Technology Sector Council www.itsc.ca
- Innovation and Technology Association of PEI www.itap.ca
- Interactive Media Alliance www.imapei.com
Do you know what the difference is between a Computer Engineer and a Computer Programmer? The Innovation and Technology Sector Council’s new career booklet will tell you. Visit www.itsc.ca/files/ITSC_Recruit_Booklet_web.pdf.
The Employment Journey looks forward to bring you new success stories and profiles of jobs in demand on PEI for 2010. We always appreciate your feedback and story ideas.
E-mail us at employ@pei.aibn.com.
News You Can Use:
Province’s stimulus plans remain strong through 2010
Provincial Treasurer Wes Sheridan recently revealed the details of the One Island – Working Together 2010-2011 Capital Estimates which will allow for the creation of 1,625 jobs. The budget will also generate new tax revenues of $11.4 million and an improvement to the Provincial GDP of $62 million.
This is a continuation of the 2009 Capital Budget which outlines the government’s plan to stimulate the Island economy. The plan continues the stimulus budget introduced last fall to create jobs and replace aging infrastructure. The Stimulus Capital Budget plan is expected to continue until the 2012-2013 fiscal year when the Province will return to normal spending levels.
The Provincial Treasurer noted that while improvements to transportation and public works continue, health and education are priority areas. The Capital Plan will provide $136.7 million in infrastructure for the healthcare system towards:
- Completion of Phase 1 of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital project
- Replacement of the Prince Edward Home and Summerset, Colville and Maplewood Manors
- Renovations to the Margaret Stewart Ellis Home in O’Leary will be completed
- Replacement of the Riverview Manor will begin
Other projects:
- $229 million over the next five years towards 700 kilometres of highway and 35 bridges.
- A further investment of $12 million in the BioCommons Research Park
- $6.5 million allocated for a Provincial Emergency Radio System
- $400,000 for modernizing provincial libraries
- $12.3 million for new school buses .
- School construction and capital improvements will be completed at Three Oaks, Francois-Buote and Souris schools in addition to the Glen Stewart and Westwood renovations announced this year.
- During 2010-11, construction will be completed at Elm Street, Montague High, Montague Intermediate and Ecole Saint-Augustin .
For more information on the Capital Budget, go to www.gov.pe.ca/news/index.php3?number=news&dept=&newsnumber=6727&lang=E
New fish plant to create up to 80 jobs
Lennox Island is setting up a new lobster and fish processing plant this spring. Between 50 and 80 jobs will be created. Off-reserve natives, Abegweit First Nations members and non-native Islanders are welcome to apply for jobs alongside people from Lennox Island. Minigoo Fisheries Inc. will be the first fish plant owned and operated by a First Nation in Atlantic Canada.
Lennox Island Chief Darlene Bernard said the fish plant will provide good training and growth opportunities for workers. For more on this story, go to http://peicanada.com/west_prince_graphi ... ief_berna.
NSERC develops new partnership strategy
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) has developed a new strategy to make it easier for Canadian universities and businesses to establish research partnerships. It aims to achieve the following goals:
-build bridges between industry and educational institutions with new programs and
- allow for an easier collaboration with minimal roadblocks
develop resources to speed up research and development in key areas.
NSERC says this new commitment to partnership will see businesses access the expertise of scientists for new innovations that Canadians can benefit from.
For more information, go to www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Media-Media/NewsRelease-CommuniqueDePresse_eng.asp?ID=170.
PERCÉ Program holds information sessions
In December, university and college students under the age of 30 attended information sessions on the PERCÉ Program . The program consists of two parts: an orientation week where participants learn their professional and personal strengths and a 10- to 12- week paid summer work placement that relates to the students’ studies.
PERCÉ has helped participants to:
- secure a full-time job on PEI after completing their studies,
- gather contacts for an eventual job, and
- access higher levels of studies.
The PERCÉ Program has a Facebook page and its own website at http://www.percepe.ca/home.cfm
College changes name to reflect diversity of its programs
CompuCollege has changed its name to Eastern College to show that the college offers more than computer training. The campus in Charlottetown offers diploma programs in
Child and Youth Care Worker, Criminology, Resident Care Worker, and Pharmacy Technician along with its IT, Business and Office Administration programs.
Charlottetown is one of seven Eastern College locations across Atlantic Canada. In its 20-year history, the college has grown to offer more than 40 diploma programs and has put more than 20,000 graduates into the growing workforce in the region.
For more information, visit www.easterncollege.ca
Young farmers, farm worker honoured for outstanding contributions
Tania and Greg MacKenzie of Stratford were named Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2009. They own and operate MacKenzie Produce, a 115-acre cole crop vegetable farm. Cabbage is their main crop. They have more than three million pounds in storage, and it is marketed all year round.
In a recent news story, Greg credited his success to being an expert in so many things, especially technology and human resources. He said that he has seen a slight increase of younger farmers on PEI. As for the challenges farmers face, Greg said a lot of “sweat equity”, passion and belief in farming is needed to get by.
Fore more on Tania and Greg MacKenzie, go to http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm? ... &sc=98
The Outstanding Young Farmer program was founded in 1979 by the Canadian Junior Chamber/Jay-cees and is open to farmers or couples aged 18 to 39 who derive at least two-thirds of their income from farming operations.
Learn more about the Outstanding Young Farmer program at http://oyfatlantic.ca/
Nazaire Arsenault of Central Bedeque was presented with the inaugural Farm Worker of the Year Award by the Department of Agriculture. The new award recognizes individual farm workers for their long-time service and dedication to the industry. Nazaire has worked at Greenfield Farms for the past 68 years. He began working for John Green in 1941 and has literally grown up with the many changes in the operation over the years. Nazaire is described by the Greens as not just an employee, but more like a member of the family.
Read more about Nazaire and the Farm Worker of the Year Award at www.gov.pe.ca/news/index.php3?number=news&dept=&newsnumber=6721&lang=E
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