HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-02-18, Page 9Volvo employees to receive job trainin
- D Smolt
signal -star staff
At a Growth For Goderich meeting
held on February 12, Volvo reported
that upwards of 225 employees are
participating in educaional programs
to teach them skill -sets needed to find
employment locally.
Employees are obtaining train-
ing through programs such as Con-
estoga's welding program, St Clair
College's manufacturing certificate
program, or project management
courses being offered in Goderich by
Volvo in collaboration with The In-
ternational Institute of Learning.
"Voluntarily, about 10 per cent of
our employees have already found
employment. They've left us to go on,
and most of it has been in the area.
What we're hoping is to track where
they are going, and thats the last step
of what we're doing, is forming those
partnerships, with places like Bruce
Power," said Amanda Dekker, Em-
ployee Relations Coordinator for
Volvo.
Jay Davis, Vice President and Gen-
eral Manager of Volvo, explained
that the plant's current inactivity is
due to market demand, saying there
isn't enough demand for graders to
keep the factory open. Susan McK-
ee, from the Center for Employment
and Learning, reported that Volvo's
downtime has brought promising
Commitments from Volvo's employ-
ees to better their skill sets and find
jobs that they are suited to.
They are currently working with
10 Volvo employees a day, helping
them assess aptitudes and character-
istics, which will help them find suit-
able employment.
McKee also spoke highly of the
Volvo employees, saying, '[The
Volvo employees] are a stellar group.
They are so pleasant to work with.
They're receptive, they're consider-
ate, they have a good sense of hu-
mour, they're open to anything."
Mayor Deb Shewfelt and several
other members of council explained
that Goderich's town council is mov-
ing forward with plans to help bring
more industry to Goderich. Chief
among their accomplishments was
hiring an economic development of-
ficer, Joyce Wilson.
Town Clerk -Administrator Larry
McCabe explained that there is in-
terest in several parcels of land for
industrial purposes, stating that they
have buyers interested in building,
which will create more jobs. He also
cited development at the harbour as a
source of future jobs.Mayor Shewfelt
was also excited at the fact that proj-
ects like the Parson's Court extension
will no longer be held up by individ-
uals as the Ministry of the Environ-
ment is attempting to make the pro-
cess quicker and easier to deal with.
The ministry will also be prevent-
ing "Not In My BackYard" situations
(NIMBY) from holding up develop-
ment.
The presentation was closed with
the proposal of an idea by Davis,
working as an independent analyst,
to help bring all the groups of Huron
County together to work towards a
common goal.
Davis suggested that each sector of
Huron County put together a board
to help govern and create and present
ideas to a development task force.
The plan outlined a two-day event
that would kick off the initiative
where speakers would help business-
es and private citizens come up with
ideas to stimulate the economy and
focus on the revitalization of the area.
The entire group was in favor of the
plan, 'and it will be further discussed
at a later meeting.
,MOMpliir.for,
Photo by Dave Sykes
River runs the course
An ice jam in the Maitland River broke free early Thursday morning and caused flooding and ice
damage in many parts of the Maitland and Ausable River watershed areas. The Maitland Golf Course
hap suffered severe damage to its 8th and 9th fairways over the years and last week, rushing water
again forced large chunks of ice onto both fairways. The Goderich area received 43 mm of rainfall in
two days last week causing water levels in the Maitland.River to rise substantially.
Pits E IN COM FO RT
1 0 u t) k c. 1 1 a l ly (1 +. 1 r_
i)ri\'1t( suit( &. srtr\
5200/I -non
too I 11
hi1(IEV. 1►( )t('lpiitir•(1Iti.
Goderkis Place
Call for details:
519-524-4243 F ,
www goderichplamcom
30 BALVINA DRIVE E. GODER1CH
Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, February 18, 2009 - Page A9
As we head into the
t
clition of the
Goderich Children's Festival,
we are looking for ideas and opinions.
What have we done well?
What needs to be improved?
When: Thursday, February 26, 2009
Time: 7:00 pm
Where: Tourism Centre Meeting Room
91 Hamilton Street
(Please enter by the Nelson Street door)
For more info email Lori Patterson -
goderichchildrensfestival@yahoo.com
or call Tourism Goderich
519-524-6600
DER�CH
Canada's prettiest town
"Who dares to teach must never cease to learn."
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