June 8, 2019 Dorchester, New Brunswick Employment and Social Development Canada
Canada's future prosperity depends on young Canadians getting the experience and skills they need to start their careers and succeed. Today, Alaina Lockhart, Member of Parliament for Fundy Royal, on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, announced government funding for the establishment of the Cross-Cultural Youth Project in Dorchester, New Brunswick.
From March 4, 2019 to March 31, 2020, the Cooperative Enterprise Council of New Brunswick (CECNB) will co-create this project with 50 youth, who will gain valuable skills throughout the year by volunteering for at least 120 hours, ultimately empowering them to address issues and needs faced by the communities of Dorchester, Memramcook and Fort Folly, New Brunswick.
This project aims to create a civic service mindset among youth while nurturing cross cultural awareness, reconciliation, and relationships of trust among Indigenous, Anglophone and Francophone youth.
CECNB is receiving $431,131 in funding for this project through Canada Service Corps, Canada's national youth service initiative. Canada Service Corps provides youth with access to service opportunities that enables them to make a difference in their communities while gaining important life and work skills.
"Canada Service Corps is about giving youth the opportunity to give back and develop individual strengths. Through projects like the Cross Cultural Youth Project, our government is helping Canada's young people gain essential life experiences and contribute to reconciliation within their own communities."
- The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
"We all agree that arming our youth with skills and experience is the best investment we can make for the future. The Cross Cultural Youth Project will do just that through engagement with amazing organizations in communities throughout the region that are enriching the lives of Canadians. I commend the dedication and vision of the Cooperative Enterprise and their partners for their work to provide these inclusive opportunities to build skills, character and confidence."
- Alaina Lockhart, Member of Parliament for Fundy Royal
"The Cross-Cultural Youth Project is consistent with our overall goals of engaging youth in building healthier, more sustainable communities. It is about planting seeds and creating a better world where all cultures live in harmony. A project of this size and complexity would not be possible without government funding and we are very appreciative of the support provided by the Canada Service Corps program."
- Steve Smallwood, CECNB President
Quick facts
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CECNB was established in 2008 as a community economic development organization with a mission to help create sustainable, healthy communities by supporting the development of enterprises and initiatives with social, environmental, cultural, or local development goals.
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Canada Service Corps helps young people gain valuable skills while making an impact on communities across Canada. The program is designed to achieve the following core objectives: build a culture of service among young Canadians; concrete results for communities; personal growth through participation in a diverse team of peers; and lasting impacts on participants.
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Budget 2019 proposes to invest up to an additional $314.8 million over five years, starting in 2019-20, with $83.8 million per year ongoing, to make the Canada Service Corps Canada's signature national youth service program. The Government of Canada proposes to expand this initiative with additional service placements, grants, and incentives co-created with young people, so that everyone who wants to make an impact has the opportunity to do so.
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Young Canadians between 15 and 30 years of age who are ready to volunteer for a service opportunity through the program or turn their community service ideas into reality are also encouraged to visit Canada.ca/CanadaServiceCorps to apply for service placements with a range of not-for-profit organizations, or apply for grants in the amounts of $250, $750 or $1,500 to implement their own community-based service project.
