The staff at the WorkBC Ashcroft (formerly Ashcroft Employment Services) office on Fourth Street had their annual Team Day last week; which is why anyone visiting the office would have found that beads, tie-dyed clothing, and headbands were the order of the day.
“We decided to have a 1970s hippie love theme this year,” laughs job developer Lana Rae Brooks. “The team day helps foster strong relations between co-workers.”
The office serves communities from Boston Bar to Bella Coola and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Subsidiary offices in this area are located in Lytton, Clinton, and Logan Lake (check the individual offices for hours).
WorkBC assists people aged 16 and over who are unemployed, under-employed, or in imminent danger of a lay-off. Job posting boards list employment opportunities throughout the region, and there is internet access for job search activities such as resume and cover letter development, internet job searches, e-mailing resumes and/or job applications, and printing items.
There is telephone service for clients to call employers about jobs, and a library of resources on employment-related topics.
The office also offers an assisted job search, with staff helping clients apply for funding and training, pursue self-employment, and apply for wage subsidies. An ongoing series of workshops helps participants develop skills such as writing resumes and cover letters, handling job interviews, creating and managing electronic documents, and making career decisions.
“We also have customized employment and job development assistance for people with disabilities,” says Ashcroft facility manager Marilyn Talbot.
She notes that September is disability month, and says that the WorkBC office will be hosting labour market information and service sessions throughout the month.
“People just have to walk in and make an appointment” to take advantage of what the office has to offer, says Talbot. WorkBC can provide financial support when it comes to certificate courses, commuting, the purchase of work clothing, and more. “We’re here to help.”
Talbot adds that WorkBC wants to play a part in the community in other ways, and would welcome requests for sponsorship from community groups.
For more information about WorkBC Ashcroft, visit the office, call them at (250) 453-9421 (toll free at 1-866-453-9421), or go online to www.hortonventures.com.
“We have a great team here,” says Brooks. “Everyone here is really happy to serve the community.”