PASSPORT TO PROSPERITY ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF 2009 EMPLOYER CHAMPION AWARDS
May 6, 2009
Leading local organizations recognized for outstanding development of school-work programs.
TORONTO (April 28, 2009) – Five Ontario employers were presented the 2009 Passport to Prosperity Employer Champion Award in recognition of their outstanding commitment to providing meaningful work experiences for high school students in their communities. These opportunities, which include career talks, worksite visits, job shadowing and cooperative education placements, aim to help prepare students for the critical transition from the classroom to the workforce.
This year’s five Employer Champion Award recipients are:
· Rogers TV(Kitchener)
· RONA Home & Garden (Nepean)
· Venere Salon & Spa (Oakville)
· The City of Thunder Bay
· Aero-safe Technologies (Fort Erie)
"By providing valuable workplace experiences to high school students, these employers are helping young Ontarians make some of the most important decisions in life, including setting career goals and choosing what type of postsecondary education and training to pursue," said Minister of Education Kathleen Wynne. "School-work partnerships are critical to boosting student achievement and helping more kids graduate."
“These employer champions are forward-thinking leaders in their sector and communities who recognize the value of experiential learning as a cost-effective way to recruit, train and retain young workers,” said Tom Flanagan, co-chair of the Provincial Partnership Council. “They have shown tremendous dedication to helping local students gain essential work and leadership skills, all while providing existing employees with opportunities to enhance their own skills in communication, team work and management.”
The award recipients were honoured at the Passport to Prosperity Employer Forum and Champion Awards Ceremony. The event, which was held at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto on April 28, also celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Passport to Prosperity initiative.
“There are more than 700,000 high school students in Ontario, all potentially in need of an experiential learning opportunity,” said Jon Hamovitch, co-chair of the Provincial Partnership Council. “The award-winning programs that our champions have put in place are providing these opportunities to students through dynamic, flexible assignments that best suit their educational backgrounds and learning styles.”
Today, there are 26,000 employers in Ontario participating in experiential learning programs, but more are needed. Without the commitment and dedication of employers, including the Employer Champion award winners, high school students would have limited opportunities to explore their career options and gain valuable training as they prepare for the working world.
About Passport to Prosperity
Now celebrating its tenth year, Passport to Prosperity is a province-wide initiative led by the Provincial Partnership Council (PPC) that encourages and supports Ontario employers in providing high school students with experiential learning opportunities. The PPC works closely with the Ontario Ministry of Education; the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities; and the Ontario Business Education Partnership, representing business-education councils and local training boards across the province.
For learn more about Passport to Prosperity, please visit www.Employer Registry.ca