Job centre’s contract extended

Help for Weymouth area residents in finding jobs may be a little easier now that the federal government has extended the life of the Weymouth Job Search Centre.

Along with the additional two-year contract for the office, Service Canada has also extended hours for centre coordinator Darlene Johns.

The job search centre is a satellite office of the Digby Career Resources Centre, which is associated with the Digby Area Learning Association and is funded by Service Canada.

Johns said she was pleased with the December announcement and cited some of the benefits to the community. “The extended office hours make it more convenient and accessible to those on a job search. It is no longer necessary for people to travel to Digby looking for work.”

With the closure of Lewis Sawmill and Weymouth Motors, Johns sees the importance of the job centre in Weymouth. “The extended two-year contract makes it apparent that the services provided by this Weymouth office are necessary,” she said.” The economic situation in our community has been difficult and people need a place to help them find jobs.”

More than 1,400 contacts were made to the centre last year in the form of e-mails, phone calls or visits to the office.

The centre is more than just a place to receive job search assistance, Johns said. Information about training, computer skills and career choices is available, along with help writing résumés, cover letters and with interview preparation.

The centre is located at 19 Victoria Avenue and the office hours are Monday to Thursday from 9:30 to 4:30.

South Shore MP Gerald Keddy announced the centre’s extension during a ceremony Dec. 18 in the Weymouth centre.

Among those attending the event were Merrell Moorhead of Team Weymouth, DALA executive director Clyde Balser, Mike Comeau of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Julie McLean of Growth Opportunities, Mike Gushue of the Annapolis Digby Economic Development Agency, Greg Kerr and Municipality of Digby warden Jim Thurber.