WorkBC Centre – Vancouver Midtown
Monthly Newsletter

SEPTEMBER 2021

September is Disability Employment Month in B.C.

Disability Employment Month, held every September in British Columbia, is an opportunity to celebrate the many contributions of people with disabilities in the workforce. It is also a time to recognize the employers, organizations and community partners that support the success of individuals with disabilities.

WorkBC remains committed to supporting people with disabilities in their employment journeys by providing a wide range of easily accessible, no-cost services and supports. These include personalized job search support, including the Customized Employment process and the Assistive Technology Service program.

Click here to learn more or contact your Employment Specialist/Vocational Counselor for more information. Stay tuned to our social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and our monthly podcast) for upcoming events and initiatives throughout Disability Employment Month.

COVID-19 updates at Midtown East and West

In light of the most recent COVID-19 updates and recommendations from provincial health authorities, please be aware that masks are now mandatory when visiting Midtown East and Midtown West WorkBC Centres.

In-person workshops have been cancelled until further notice at Midtown West, while in-person Resume Support is still available at Midtown East as per the current Workshop Calendar (registration via Client Hub is required). There is a limit of 4 people per session for Resume Support.

For further updates throughout the month, please stay tuned to our social media channels.

Register now for Sept WorkBC-Adler University workshops

Through a continued partnership with Adler University, WorkBC Midtown clients can access the following life skills workshops, which will be offered again starting this month: 

Social Skills Group (3 PM to 4 PM on Tuesdays from Sept 14th to Nov 2nd)
Participants learn a variety of social skills that can be practiced and enhanced to improve the quality of one's communication with others. Co-facilitated by two doctoral clinical psychology students.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Skills Group (2:30 PM to 4 PM on Tuesdays from Sept 21 to Nov 23rd)
Are you interested in learning skills to better manage your emotions? Are you currently facing stressful situations or difficult relationships? Join us for an online skills group to learn a variety of practical skills that can be introduced to improve the quality of one’s life.

Emotion Regulation Group (11 AM to 12 PM on Mondays from Oct 18th to Nov 22nd)
Participants will cultivate a deeper understanding of the range of emotions that make life interesting. You will learn to ways to increase your awareness to emotions, reduce vulnerability to high emotional states, and apply interpersonal skills in a workplace setting.

These workshops will be offered via Zoom. To register, contact your Employment Specialist or Vocational Counselor.

Youth job seekers (16-30 years old): Apply now for Baristas program Sept cohort

The next cycle for the Baristas Training Program for youth (aged 16–30) will run from September 21st to October 28th - apply now!

The program will take place via Zoom on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons, enabling participants to receive their certifications (Food Safe, Serving It Right, Super Host and AA5), plus employment workshops/support, a $75 weekly training allowance, and a $100 certificate completion bonus.

Click here for more details. Apply now by emailing a resume, cover letter sharing why you're interested in the program, and this application form to baristas@pcrs.ca.

UPCOMING EVENTS

VIRTUAL HIRING FAIR: STARBUCKS

2 Sep 2021 | 11 AM to 1 PM

Starbucks is now hiring for Baristas and Shift Supervisors; don't miss this opportunity to learn more about these two roles, the company, its hiring process, and more! Register now to receive an email with your event ticket/link.

Click here to register.
 

VIRTUAL HIRING EVENT: KIEWIT & CBSA

2 Sep 2021 | 1 PM to 2 PM

Are you ready to make an impact? Looking to work for a company that values service excellence and career growth? Join us on Sept 2nd with Kiewit, one of North America's largest and most respected engineering/construction companies, and CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) to explore great opportunities in their Lower Mainland locations.

Click here to register.
  

VIRTUAL HIRING EVENT: GARAVENTA LIFT & GLEN RECRUITERS

2 Sep 2021 | 3 PM to 4 PM

Discover an exciting career in the manufacturing industry! WorkBC South Surrey-White Rock and Cloverdale are pleased to present this exciting virtual hiring event in partnership with Garaventa Lift and Glen Recruiters to walk you through their current job opportunities.

Click here to register.
  

LULULEMON VIRTUAL HIRING EVENT 

8 and 13 Sep 2021 | 2 PM to 3:30 PM

WorkBC Vancouver City Centre is hosting a series of virtual hiring sessions with lululemon for their Guest Education Centre (GEC) Educator-Vancouver (in-office) role and Guest Education Centre (GEC) Educator-Work from Home role, which allows you to work remotely across BC! Group interviews will be taking place in breakout rooms after the information segment. Register for a session to learn more.

Click here to register.
 

VIRTUAL HIRING FAIR: ROBERT HALF

9 Sep 2021 | 11 AM to 12 PM

With more than 20 years in the Vancouver marketplace, Robert Half’s international reputation for excellence draws experienced candidates in the areas of finance, accounting, technology, marketing, office support and administrative jobs. Don't miss this virtual hiring event to learn more about their current job opportunities, the hiring process and more!

Click here to register.
 

VIRTUAL HIRING FAIR: BMO

10 Sep 2021 | 11 AM to 12 PM

Find your next BMO career opportunity! BMO is Canada’s first Bank with a history of over 200 years and is also the eighth largest bank in North America by assets. Join us for this virtual hiring event to learn about the company, current job opportunities, benefits, the hiring process, and more.

Click here to register.
 

VIRTUAL INFO SESSION: MICROSERVE

16 Sep 2021 | 1 PM to 2 PM

Microserve is headquartered in Burnaby and supports the IT needs of businesses and organizations across industries throughout BC, Alberta and Atlantic Canada. Register for this virtual info session to learn more about job opportunities with this renowned IT company.

Click here to register.
 

CAREER PATHS INFO SESSION: CAREER AIDE REGISTRATION FOR IEHPS (INTERNATIONALLY EDUCATED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS)

16 Sep 2021 | 5 PM to 6 PM

Care Aide registration is a great way for IEHPs to gain exposure to the Canadian healthcare system, immerse themselves in Canadian work culture, and better understand the scope of practice for their profession in Canada. At this event, we will discuss the pathways to gain care aide registration in BC and share more about supports that IEHPs can receive from the Career Paths program.

Click here to register.
 

CAREER PATHS INFO SESSION: EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES

20 Sep 2021 | 10 AM to 11 AM

This info session is for skilled immigrants with backgrounds in social services, university / college instruction, and early childhood education. Learn how the Douglas College Career Paths program assists newcomers in BC with pursuing their pre-landing occupations. Find out more about how Career Coaches provide clients with valuable tools and resources to successfully navigate the labour market.

Click here to register.
 

WHO'S HIRING: JOEY RESTAURANTS

22 Sep 2021 | 3 PM to 5 PM

Youth employment centre Career Zone is excited to present this free virtual hiring fair with Joey Restaurants, who are currently hiring for multiple locations including Vancouver, North Vancouver and Burnaby! Available positions include: Server, Bartender, Host/Hostess, Shift Leader, Manager In-Training, Cook, Kitchen Leader, and Dishwasher.

Click here to register.
 

WHO'S HIRING: VANCITY

23 Sep 2021 | 1 PM to 3:30 PM

Vancity is Canada's largest community credit union with over 55 branches in Vancouver and across BC. Vancity is committed to hiring a diverse team, including Indigenous Peoples, newcomers and people with disabilities. Current openings include: Wealth Planner, Financial Service Representative, Member Services Representative, Account Manager and Portfolio Manager. Join us to have a chance to speak with a Vancity team member!

Click here to register.
 

 VIRTUAL HIRING FAIR: TAPHOUSE MODERN TAVERNS

24 Sep 2021 | 1 PM to 2 PM

Taphouse is a lively modern tavern with locations in Guildford and Coquitlam, and is located on a major bus route and Sky Train Line. Taphouse is a fun, social, and busy pub/restaurant with a motivational and caring team that is looking to hire energetic, passionate and positive people who love to work hard!

Click here to register.

FREE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Immigrant Public Works Technician Training Project

Over 16 weeks, participants will receive training and work experience in: public works, working safely, use of tools and equipment, environmental best practices, repairing roads and sidewalks, water systems, and more.

Upon completion, participants will be registered as Provisional Public Works Technicians by ASTTBC and will be supported towards full certification after one year of supervised public works employment.

The project starts on September 7th. Click here for more information.

IN Demand Employment Skills Training Program

In as little as 8 weeks, individuals with disabilities can get employment-ready with skills training, specialized supports and industry certifications. Expect increased resiliency in the labour market through a guided and systematic approach to finding a pathway to a sustainable career.

The program, presented by Douglas College, starts on September 7th. Click here for more information.

Skills Work Program for Persons with Disabilties 

Skills Work offers employment skills training and support to participants to prepare for and obtain sustainable employment or further education/training that will lead to sustainable employment. This is a 12-week program currently being offered virtually.

The program starts on September 7th. Click here for more information.

Enhanced Personal Support Worker Certificate Program 

Looking for a career that makes a difference AND is in high demand? The Enhanced Personal Support Worker Certificate program prepares participants for employment within 6 months. Participants will be prepared to work in areas such as group homes, private home care, private long-term care, and day programs, among others.

The program starts on September 13th for Lower Mainland residents. Click here for more information.

In Motion & Momentum+ 

This online program helps participants tap into their full potential and create the life they want to live, through goal setting and action planning. In Motion & Momentum+ is for individuals who want to improve their career readiness but are feeling stuck or like they have been moving in a direction that is not right for them.

The program starts on September 13th. Click here for more information, including eligibility.

EmploymentWorks

If you are an adult with autism or another disability who wants to enter or return to the workforce, EmploymentWorks may be the program for you! EmploymentWorks offers employment preparedness training and learning experiences to help you build the skills you need to succeed in the workplace.

The program starts on September 14th. Click here for more information.

Intro to Cook Training Program

Intro to Cook is a job-skills training program for at-risk youth (19-29) with barriers to employment. It operates under the clinical supervision of Dan’s Legacy’s specially trained therapists, and has an excellent success rate.

Participants graduatng from the training program will have the skills and stability to begin work as cooks in the food service industry, or go on to higher levels of training in pursuit of Red Seal certification.

The next cohort starts on September 20th. Click here for more information and to view the application form (PDF file).

NPower Canada - ICT Training Programs for Youth (17-30)

NPower Canada programs for youth aged 17-30 provide participants with free digital and professional skills training, and connects them to new and rewarding career opportunities with some of Canada’s largest employers. NPower Canada’s comprehensive curriculum ensures participants are equipped with the in-demand technical and professional skills sought after in the industry.

NPower is launching in Vancouver this September. Click here for more information and to apply online. 

CLIENT SUCCESS STORIES

Han-Lin's story

Han-Lin was working as a taxi meter installer for almost 2 years until he was laid off because there was not enough work to be done. As a previous client of Developmental Disabilities Association-Jobs West, he immediately took hold of his situation and went back to start looking for new work. Jobs West connected him to WorkBC to gain more access to career planning and workshops, and helped him get started on finding his dream job.

Eager and motivated, he joined several programs, such as the Bike Mechanic and the Gear Up Program, to be able to work with his passion for bikes. He even joined an invention exhibition called the Vancouver Mini Maker Fair at Science World in 2019, where he showcased his bike light invention that he engineered himself. He uses this invention on his personal bike to this day. He also joined the Entrepreneurship program to learn the skills needed to market his invention in the future.

As months went by, Han-Lin had the skills but lacked the opportunity to use them as each lead hit a dead end. After a year and a half of job searching and skills training, he was introduced to Project Fast Track by the Canucks Autism Network. He did some work experience as an e-bike assembler for Rad Power Bikes for 6 weeks. Rad Power Bikes saw his knowledge, capabilities and potential, and hired him right after!

His manager, Tom Riley, says that “it's always challenging to find candidates that are not only able to do the job, but also align with our key values here at Rad Power Bikes.” He believes that Han-Lin is “the perfect employee: eager, meticulous, and works tirelessly throughout the day."

“WorkBC also provided very skilled and helpful job coaches for the six-week project and has been proactive in providing ongoing support,” says Tom. Tom is looking forward to training Han-Lin for more senior positions and to one day teach others how to assemble e-bikes.

What Han-Lin loves most about working at Rad Power “is being able to improve his skills and learning more about e-bikes, and the fact that the people are friendly and the job duties are clear." He can see himself working there for a long time.

If you have a disability and are seeking employment, visit the Jobs West website.

If you have an intellectual barrier, visit the Canucks Autism Network website to learn more about the programs they offer.

Before coming to WorkBC, Cris had been job searching for a year. Having survived cancer three times, including brain metastases that caused him to lose his memory, Cris was looking for work that was both meaningful and sustainable. "I knew I needed help," says Cris, who wanted support with planning out his career path. While searching for employment services online, he discovered WorkBC and decided to contact his local WorkBC Centre.

Initially, Cris received support that enabled him to get interviews and land job offers. However, because of challenges with his memory, he had difficulties keeping a job. It was at this point that Cris underwent in-depth vocational assessments through WorkBC, which helped establish that the Customized Employment approach would be a better fit and would support not only his job search, but also job sustainment.

Cris began working with a Vocational Counselor, Vicki, to guide him through the Customized Employment process that would help him find work tailored to his needs and abilities. Vicki learned that during his stint in the hospital while recovering from cancer, Cris spent his time establishing rapport with other patients and helping boost their morale. Both Cris and Vicki realized that a career change would be a great option for him, transitioning from working labour jobs to a job that would enable him to work directly with people.

To achieve his new employment goal, Cris attended workshops and received support to attain certifications that were important for the types of jobs he wanted. "I attended all the workshops, got my certifications for things like First Aid...I also got a lot of help with career advice, my resume, and finding job opportunities," says Cris. "Vicki was exceptional. She really listened and was very helpful."

Cris was eventually hired as a Client Care Worker at a recovery facility, where he now supports individuals overcome their addictions. "I think it's very empowering to be able to use the skills I've learned everyday at my job," says Cris. "I'm happy where I am. I realized there is a career out there for everybody."

HOT JOBS

Multiple positions available: Product Technical Designer, Copywriter, Senior Marketing Manager, Head of Investor Relations
Aritzia
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First Nations Technology Council
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Mustang Survival
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Multiple positions available: K9 Handler, Concierge Security , BC Liquor Retail Security Officer, Construction Security Professional
Securiguard
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Mechanical Insulator
Pacific Mechanical Systems
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Panel Recruitment Analyst
Cloud Army
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Cleaners
ACE Vancouver Cleaning
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Walking School Bus Leader Job Position
DASH (Dedicated Action for School Health)
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Multiple positions available: Early Childhood Educator & Early Childhood Educator Assistant, Youth Case Manager, Suite Inspector, Junior Accountant, and more
YWCA Metro Vancouver 
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For more postings, please visit our Job Boards on the Client Hub.

CONNECT WITH US

Vancouver Midtown East WorkBC Centre
110 East 3rd Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5T 1C8
604-829-2300
info-vancouvermidtown-east@workbc.ca
https://www.workbccentre-vancouvermidtown-east.ca/

Vancouver Midtown West WorkBC Centre
300-2150 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V6K 4L9
604-688-4666
info-vancouvermidtown-west@workbc.ca
https://www.workbccentre-vancouvermidtown-west.ca