Ontario Supporting Northern Workers in Terrace Bay

by ahnationtalk on September 18, 202463 Views

September 18, 2024

TERRACE BAY — The Ontario government is investing nearly $280,000 in a new action centre to help the over 330 workers impacted by layoffs at AV Terrace Bay. The new action centre will connect the Northern Ontarian workers with services and training they need to find new jobs in the same sector or further their careers in others.

“Our government stands with the workers and families in Terrace Bay who have been impacted by these layoffs,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “By investing in this action centre, we’re making sure all workers get the support, resources and opportunities they deserve to find rewarding jobs to provide for themselves and their families.”

Run by the Township of Terrace Bay, the Action Centre will operate until June 16, 2025. The facility will host workshops, seminars, provide peer-to-peer support and job search assistance. A comprehensive needs assessment survey will be delivered to understand the short and long-term requirements of affected workers, ensuring tailored support for their specific employment goals.

“We know how difficult the idling of AV Terrace Bay has been for former employees, the community, and the forestry sector as a whole,” said Kevin Holland, Associate Minister of Forestry and Forest Products and MPP Thunder Bay – Atikokan. “While we continue to work with our partners with the aim of AV Terrace Bay operating again, in the interim this new Action Centre will equip these hard-working men and women with the resources they need to support themselves, their families and the community.”

The centre will also provide skills upgrading through courses and workshops. Additionally, the centre will offer practical job search assistance, such as interview skills training, resume building, and access to job postings. These customized resources will help affected workers prepare for more well-paying careers in the skilled trades.

“The Township of Terrace Bay would like to thank the provincial government for their support and assistance ensuring that the Action Centre for displaced workers opens in a timely manner,” said Paul Malashewski, Mayor of Terrace Bay. The Action Centre will be a valuable resource for laid off workers looking to upgrade their skills. The resources that the Action Centre provides will assist in developing the North’s workforce and make investing in the North attractive to various companies.”

By investing more than $1 billion annually in employment and training services, including Better Jobs Ontario and the Skills Development Fund Training and Capital Streams, the Ontario government is helping workers train to get well-paying and meaningful careers in the skilled trades. These investments emphasize the government’s continued effort to attract, support and protect workers, making Ontario the best place to work, live and raise a family.

Quick Facts

The Terrace Bay Action Centre is located at 1 Selkirk Ave, Terrace Bay, ON.
Recently, there were roughly 5,200 jobs going unfilled in Northwest Ontario, which includes the Terrace Bay area.
With 700 locations provincewide, the Employment Ontario network offers a range of services and supports that help job seekers find training and job opportunities, and businesses find the talent they need.
The Terrace Bay Action Centre, Employment Ontario, Better Jobs Ontario and Skills Development Fund Training Stream are supported through labour market transfer agreements between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
Ontario has delivered on its promise to bring integrated, streamlined and outcomes-oriented employment services to every region in the province, with the confirmation of the province’s final three service system managers for Toronto, Northeast and Northwest Ontario as part of the province’s Employment Services Transformation.

Quotes

“Partnering with the Township of Terrace Bay to establish this new Action Centre is a crucial step in ensuring that the talented and dedicated workers affected by the AV Terrace Bay layoffs have the resources and support they need to thrive. By providing targeted skills upgrading and training, we are reaffirming our commitment to not only retain a robust Northern workforce, but create a resilient, skilled workforce that is ready for opportunities in the North.”

– Greg Rickford
Minister of Northern Development, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation & Member of Provincial Parliament for Kenora – Rainy River

Additional Resources