Military Employment Transition conference draws hundreds

Veteran employment program receives $1.1 million in funding
By Lookout on Dec 02, 2016



Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~

Canada Company’s mission to assist veterans in their transition to the civilian workforce has received a $1.1-million boost from the Government of Canada.

Minister of Veterans Affairs Kent Hehr made the funding announcement on behalf of the Ministry of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour at the Canada Company’s 2016 National Transition Exchange Conference on Nov. 15 in Ottawa.

The funding will be used to create a searchable online database and analytics tool to help former military personnel transition to existing high-demand private sector jobs and compatible educational and skills upgrade programs.

“Helping Canada’s veterans find good jobs in the private sector is truly a win-win for everyone involved because veterans get to put their training and hard-earned skills to good use following their release from the military, while Canadian businesses benefit from the unique skills veterans offer,” said Hehr.

Canada Company’s  National Transitions Exchange held at Canada’s Aviation and Space Museum brought together more than 250 veterans and their families, and close to 200 corporate employer partners representing 70 different companies. The event featured several Educational Labs in the morning, which included corporate and military guest speakers, and an exclusive Career Connect fair in the afternoon.

Canada Company, a Toronto-based non-profit, was established in 2006 with its pledge to “stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the troops for the sacrifices they make every day.” With only a handful of members in its first days, today it boasts over 600 members and has become a growing outreach between the Canadian Armed Forces and the business world.

Canada Company President Angela Mondou said the funding announcement by Minister Hehr was “a massive boost” which will assist her group’s efforts to reach out to members on digital programs with new interactive job-search software.

“Put simply, the new software operates much like a Match.com [dating service] and is a two-way street for veterans to showcase their skills and unique experience to potential employers, and the corporate world to get information about their employment needs to veterans,” said Mondou.

Mondou was a Mobile Air Movements/Logistics Officer for the Canadian Armed Forces between 1986 and 1994, and did tours in the former Soviet republic of Yugoslavia and Operation Desert Storm. She has first-hand experience of the struggles former military personnel go through when making the transition to the civilian work force.

“When I transitioned in the mid 1990s we really didn’t have the support network to make the transition. My biggest resource during my transition was the careers section in the newspaper. There was very little guidance back then.”

Reservist, MCpl Jenn Labrador was part a five-member panel discussion at the conference. She spoke about the advantages for potential employers hiring reservists. She works at the B.C. Institute of Technology and assists with their National Advanced Placement Prior Learning Program that helps current and retired service members prepare for employment in the civilian world. She says the funding will further the Canada Company’s efforts to help the corporate world better recognize the advantage of hiring both reservists and full-time military.

http://www.lookoutnewspaper.com/veteran-employment-program-receives-1-1-million-funding/

MONTRÉAL, June 3, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - In anticipation of Canadian Forces Day on Sunday June 5th, VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) announced its intention to continue passenger rail's over a century of support for our nation's military and attract more Canadian Forces members and veterans into its ranks. This initiative will be done by introducing a new leave policy for employees who serve in the military reserves and through renewed efforts to help veterans join Canada's intercity passenger rail company.

"VIA Rail has a long and proud tradition of supporting members of the military and veterans communities and their families," said the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport. "This is yet another initiative that clearly demonstrates VIA Rail's commitment to serve and support the men and women in uniform who selflessly serve Canada, both at home and abroad."

"Remembrance means not only thinking about the commitment and the ultimate sacrifice made by our members of the military – past and present - but also acting on it," said the President and CEO of VIA Rail, Yves Desjardins-Siciliano. "Veterans can make a definite contribution to the future of VIA Rail since they can bring their technical and leadership skills as well as discipline and commitment to serving Canadians."

VIA Rail Canada is already working with partners such as Canada Company's Military Employment Transition (MET) Program and the Commissionaire's MISSION EMPLOI which both help former Canadian military members make the transition to civilian life.

"This is great news for Canadian veterans. I applaud VIA Rail Canada for leading the way for other Canadian Corporations and the Rail Industry to support Veterans by providing them outstanding employment opportunities," said the Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence. "By helping military members make the transition to civilian employment, VIA Rail is affirming that Canada's men and women in uniform are well-trained and accomplished individuals with the skills and experience to be a real asset to any organization."

In addition to its partnerships with veteran-hiring groups, VIA Rail's has a specifically designed webpage for members of the military and veterans communities: career.viarail.ca/en/why-choose-us/veterans-program.

VIA Rail also supports members of the Defence community through partnerships with the Royal Canadian Legions' National Poppy Campaign, True Patriot Love and the Army Run. In addition, a 25% reduction on the best available fare is offered to members of the Canadian Forces, as well as veterans and their families. Since 2010, over 150,000 military personnel have taken advantage of this offer and travelled on VIA Rail trains.

About VIA Rail Canada

As Canada's national rail passenger service, VIA Rail (viarail.ca) and its 2,600 employees are mandated to provide safe, efficient and economical passenger transportation service, in both official languages of our country. VIA Rail operates intercity, regional and transcontinental trains linking over 400 communities across Canada, and safely transports nearly four million passengers annually. The Corporation was awarded seven Safety Awards by the Railway Association of Canada over the last eight years. For more information, visit: www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail.

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SOURCE VIA Rail Canada Inc.


For further information: Mylène Bélanger, Advisor, Public Relations, VIA Rail Canada, 514 871-6309, 1 877 393-8787, mylene_belanger@viarail.ca, media@viarail.ca

http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/via-rail-canada-shows-commitment-to-military-and-veterans-581805741.html

'You don't know what's out there': Soldiers seek civilian jobs after military service.

About 250 Canadian Forces members gathered in Halifax Wednesday at a conference aimed at finding them jobs when their service ends.

The Military Employment Transition Atlantic Conference seeks to connect people nearing the end of their military careers with 48 employers in such industries as communications, banking, construction and information technology.

Put on by the charitable organization Canada Company, the MET program helps those leaving the military make themselves more attractive to future employers.

"I see it all the time [with] guys getting out. You don't know what's out there. Like when's the last time you had to do a job interview?" said Kevin Dugay, a mobile support equipment operator who has been with the Forces for more than 25 years.

Dugay is optimistic about the future after talking to a few employers at the conference.

"I'm coming to realize that there's a lot more opportunities out there, and that the experience I've gained in the military, that's going to help me transition into some pretty decent and interesting jobs," Dugay said.

Often, those who leave the military have trouble finding jobs that suit the skills they've honed during their service. Many of their resumes are a complex maze of military jargon.

"Poor soul — if it ends on the desk of someone with zero military experience," said Alain Grenier, who was at the event representing the industrial and auto parts supplier Johnson Controls.

"Everything is based on acronyms. When you want to translate that to a business level of understanding, you need guidance and coaching."

Nova Scotia has the largest military presence in Canada, with more than 10,000 members serving in the province, but this is the first time Canada Company has held a conference in Halifax. The organization also announced the launch of an Atlantic chapter.

Nearly 1,400 people have been hired through the MET program nationally over the last 10 years.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/military-employment-transition-met-atlantic-conference-1.3610593