August 2, 2019 - Sackville, NB - Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Preparing youth for the jobs of tomorrow is critical to growing the Atlantic Canadian economy. With support from the Government of Canada, Sackville 20/20 Inc. will help youth better transition to the workforce and higher education opportunities, giving Atlantic Canadian businesses access to employees with the skills they need for the jobs of the future.
Today, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Member of Parliament for Beauséjour, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), along with Sackville 20/20 Inc. officials made the announcement.
This support will enable Sackville 20/20 Inc. to hire a community-supported education coordinator to form an integrated education community model, aligning industry and community needs with the education system to build a talent pipeline.The Government of Canada, through the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation program (REGI) is contributing more than $190,000 to the initiative.
This project supports the Government of Canada's Innovation and Skills Plan, a plan that focuses on people and making Canada a world-leading economy now and into the future.
Support for this project will grow the economy by providing young people with the education they need to thrive in a technologically advanced world. It will help create a skilled workforce, which is essential for businesses to grow and compete on a global level. Projects like this also contribute to the Atlantic Growth Strategy outcome of long-term economic prosperity in the region.
Quotes
"Providing our youth with the opportunity to develop a wide array of necessary skills is vital to the economic success of Atlantic Canada. As part of the Government of Canada's Innovation and Skills Plan, we are helping to maximize the potential of people, businesses, and communities in every corner of the country."
- The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA
"By supporting Sackville 20/20 Inc. in its delivery of this integrated education community approach, we are enabling youth in our region to develop the expertise they need to succeed in tomorrow's economy. This is all part of our government's plan to create good jobs and grow the economy."
- The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Member of Parliament for Beauséjour
"Until now, the work of Sackville 20/20 has relied on volunteers. With the support of ACOA and our various community partners, we will be able to create a full-time coordinator position that will take the crucial role of consolidating, professionalizing and expanding the scope of the work undertaken over the past five years, and mapping its future course. This professionalization will move the community-supported model forward in a number of tangible ways and it will have a huge impact on the realization of our model of community education and significant social and economic growth."
- Andrew P. Wilson Ph.D., President of the Board of Directors - Sackville 20/20 Inc.
"Educators in Sackville seek to better prepare students to participate in the new economic, social and technological environment they will experience as graduates. The financial support of ACOA for a full time community coordinator, will enable much more effective and consistent community supports to education while cutting administrative burden on participants. I look forward to what a community-supported education system will produce in Sackville, and how it will help shape it as a new kind of small town."
- John Higham, Mayor - Town of Sackville
Quick facts
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The Government of Canada invested $192,000 in this project through ACOA's Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program.
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The Regional Innovation Ecosystems stream of the REGI program supports the creation and growth of inclusive regional ecosystems that support business needs and fosters an entrepreneurial environment conducive to innovation, growth and competitiveness.
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The REGI program continues to build on the objectives of the Government of Canada's Innovation and Skills Plan.
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Sackville 20/20 Inc. is a volunteer based non-profit organization with a vision for community integrated education. Since its inception in 2015, the organization has worked to innovate the local educational sector. The group is an action-based, all-encompassing body, made up of youth, parents, educators, fundraisers, donors, business leaders, civic and educational officials.
Contacts
Andrew P. Wilson Ph.D.
President of the Board of Directors
Sackville 20/20 Inc.
506-872-4358
