Horton Ventures Inc. in Williams Lake held an open house in December.
“As of April this year, we are now identified as one of the provincial WorkBC provincial employment service centres,” facility manager Nancy Thompson said. “We hold that contract through the provincial government, but we are a private company.”
There are similar service centres all over B.C., in small and large communities, with the mandate to provide a place where any British Columbian can access employment services, whether they are a job seeker or an employer.
“People using the services are supposed to get the same level of services, straight across the province,” Thompson said.
At the open house a variety of community partners had information booths.
“We’re interested in working with our local community to help job seekers and employers be successful,” Thompson said, adding no one organization can “take this on” themselves.
To help facilitate job seekers, the centre has experienced counsellors that work with clients one-on-one. There is also a staffed resource centre, complete with a library, computers with internet access, and a job board.
“The staff also works with employers to help them recruit employees and we offer free job postings to employers in and outside the community. We do that through our job board and through our website.”
There are also volunteer postings, as a way to help job seekers build up experience while job seeking.
Cariboo Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett congratulated Horton Ventures on being awarded the contract by WorkBC.
“Horton Ventures has been around for quite a few years. I had the pleasure of working with them when I was the mayor in 100 Mile House,” Barnett said.
Referring to the impact of the mountain pine beetle and other factors on the region’s economy, Barnett acknowledged there are going to be challenges in the next five to 10 years. She also said there will be new opportunities with mining expansions and potential new mines.
“Training is one of the issues we have to focus on and this centre is here to help and guide people,” she said.