A new NC office space in downtown St. Catharines is set to give Niagara job-seekers a big boost later this month. Beginning July 30, the College’s Employment and Training Solutions, which provides training and support for employers and job-seekers in the Niagara community, will move from its current location at 1 St. Paul St. in St. Catharines to a new office at 43 Church St., and will be renamed Community Employment Services.
Funded through Employment Ontario, Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities, services include support for individuals seeking employment or training, a resource centre, which includes computer access for job search, employment-related workshops and assistance for employers to meet their hiring needs.
The new location at 43 Church St. maintains the office’s presence in the heart of downtown St. Catharines, and is steps away from local landmarks like St. Catharines City Hall and Market Square. The new space also features a bright, open work area and three large training rooms that will allow Community Employment Services to offer new and expanded training and support programs.
The additional space will also allow the community, and other areas of Niagara College, to utilize the downtown location. “We’ll have a lot more space to accommodate partnerships,” said Rebecca Nicholls, manager of Community Employment Services. “We’re very excited to be able to offer more services to our clients, and to bring Niagara College into the downtown community in an enhanced capacity.”
Anyone in the community, not just NC grads, can avail themselves of the programs and services run by Community Employment Services, a fact the new name is meant to reflect. Former manager of Employment and Training Solutions Clara Fisher, though recently retired, helped spearhead the name change and office move. “We wanted the name to capture more clearly the role Niagara College plays in St Catharines, serving the entire community, regardless of age, employment status, education or skills,” said Fisher.
The current office at 1 St. Paul St. will remain open at its regular hours until Friday, July 27, before opening at its new location at 43 Church St. on Monday, July 30 – there will be no interruption of service. Hours will remain Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with extended hours on Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Beginning July 30, the office’s web presence will also change from www.niagaracollege.ca/ets to its new home at www.niagaracollege.ca/ces. Email contact for the office will change to [email protected], while all phone numbers and extensions will remain the same.
A grand opening event to celebrate and welcome clients into the new space will be held in late August.
