Student work experience
opportunities wanted in Ontario

May 29 2002 - Fifty business and community leaders united yesterday in an effort to address a shortage of student work experience opportunities for Ontario's 700,000+ students in grades 9 to 12.

A part of the Provincial Partnership Council's Passport to Prosperity campaign, the employers involved included: Donald Jackson, Chair of The Provincial Partnership Council and Chairman, Parkview Capital; Barbara Stymiest, CEO of the TSX Group of Companies (Toronto Stock Exchange); Catherine Swift, Chair, President and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business; and, Dave Santi, Manager, Human Resources Development, Dofasco Inc.

They issued a challenge to other organizations to offer workplace experience to Ontario's high school students.

Barabara Stymiest said: "My colleagues and I at the TSX have been benefiting from high school and university student interns for a long time, and I know that as part of Passport to Prosperity we will have the chance to build on that success. Many of our 4,000 listed companies have similar experiences in working with students, and know full well the value that they bring to the workplace."

Every school board in Ontario is now required to offer school-work transition opportunities to all interested students. Opportunities range from career talks, job shadowing to longer co-operative education or apprenticeship programs. To meet this increased demand, schools need more employers willing to provide work experiences.

"These experiences are not only worthwhile to students, but employers as well," said Donald Jackson. "School-work transition programs can help build the talent pool, offer companies a cost-effective solution to recruiting, training and retaining younger workers, and provide existing employees the opportunity to improve their own skills in communication, team work and management."

Work experience programs are aimed at better preparing students to make the transition from high school to work, apprenticeship, college and university. To assist employers in facilitating school-work partnerships, business-education councils in communities across the province work with organizations and local school boards.

Thousands of employers across the province currently participate in school-work transition programs, building on the education students receive in the classroom. By partnering with the schools today, employers are helping to develop a skilled labour force for tomorrow.

"We have been graced with some extraordinary individuals," said Thomas Flanagan, President and Chief Operating Officer, BMO InvestorLine. "Students are an incredible resource for us and we have, in fact, hired a number of them when they completed high school. We would encourage any employer looking for young, creative talent to come forward and involve their organization in these programs."

The Provincial Partnership Council was established in 1999 to bring together the expertise of key leaders from private, public, and voluntary sectors, representing various regions across the province. The Council's objective is to increase employer commitment to provide high school students with school- work opportunities including job shadowing, cooperative education, apprenticeship, work experience and school-work transition programs.