NPower Canada Hosted its First York Region Cohort Graduation Ceremony

The graduation ceremony celebrated the accomplishments of participants of NPower Canada's job training and placement program, funded by United Way's Career Navigator Initiative

TORONTO, March 30, 2017 /CNW/ - 44 youth graduated from NPower Canada's Information Technology (IT) Workforce Development Program last night at the 105 Gibson Centre.

Since 2014, NPower Canada has launched more than 200 low-income 18-29-year old youth into meaningful careers in IT by providing free technical and professional training, paid internships, job placement and post-hire supports. More than 85 per cent of alumni to date were employed and/or in postsecondary education within six months of program completion.

In 2016, NPower Canada expanded to the York Region opening a second program delivery site at the 105 Gibson Centre. The Centre is a Christian faith-based centre in Markham devoted to making positive change through a wide range of social services. 105 Gibson's emphasis on youth services and dedication to serving all members of the community regardless of their ethnicity, religion, gender and background provided an ideal foundation for a partnership with NPower Canada. The first NPower Canada cohort launched in September 2016.

"NPower came to the 105 Gibson Centre just at the perfect time while we have been looking for ways to help local youths with something professional and career related. Their technical professionalism as well as a professional team with diverse skills is highly recognized," said Jonathan Chan, General Director, 105 Gibson Centre. "They also bring in students with multiethnic background, which is proudly a uniqueness of Markham, and of Canada!"

Graduates of NPower Canada's first York Region cohort have begun their IT careers at more than 15 different organizations in roles including Application Technical Support, Data Integrity Agent, IT Field Service Technician, QA Technician, Technical Support Representative and more.

"We would like to thank all of the funders, referral partners, employers and supporters who made it possible for us to expand into the York Region and for making the first cohort such a success," said Julia Blackburn, Executive Director, NPower Canada. "Specifically, we want to recognize the significant support of United Way Toronto and York Region which provided the lead gift to launch this new NPower Canada site. Congratulations to all of our graduates."

"United Way's Career Navigator is one important piece of our Youth Success Strategy, and it's all about connecting young people to education and training,and all necessary supports that will help will help them secure good, stable jobs," said Daniele Zanotti, CEO, United Way. "We're so grateful to partner with and support organizations like NPower Canada that have expertise in the IT sector, one of five sectors Career Navigator is targeting because of its potential in the job market."

In addition to the site in Markham, NPower Canada also runs classes at Ryerson University and the MLSE Launchpad in downtown Toronto.

NPower Canada
NPower Canada is a sector-based workforce development program that addresses youth unemployment. NPower Canada launches low-income 18-29 year old youth into meaningful careers in technology (IT) by providing free technical and professional training, paid internships, job placement and post-hire supports. More than 85 per cent of alumni to date were employed and/or in postsecondary education within six months of program completion. NPower Canada is known for its agile, employer-driven model, having been championed as a CivicAction 2014 Escalator initiative and recently receiving the City of Toronto Partnership to Advance Youth Employment (PAYE) Leadership Award.

SOURCE CivicAction

For further information: Media Contact: Carly Dwyer, NPower Canada, 416-254-7387, Carly.Dwyer@npowercanada.ca

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