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Georgian adds new programs to address local labour shortage

Vice President of international workforce development and partnerships at the college gave a presentation at Collingwood council on Monday
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The Georgian College South Georgian Bay campus. Photo from Google Maps.

A shortage of skilled labourers in the South Georgian Bay area is an issue that has been discussed at length locally.

On Monday night at Collingwood council, Georgian College representatives came forward with some solutions.

Kevin Weaver, vice president of international workforce development and partnerships at Georgian College, gave a presentation to council about the college’s efforts, specifically at the John Di Poce South Georgian Bay campus.

“We worked closely with the community to address labour shortages, specifically in the tourism sector,” said Weaver.

The college recently participated in the South Georgian Bay Tourism Industry and Labour Supply Task Force, which worked to strategize solutions to the labour shortages in the area.

“Two key recommendations of that task force include support for post-secondary tourism programming and attainable housing,” said Weaver.

Weaver says this recommendation translated into the college bringing a new program to the campus in partnership with local resorts: a Hospitality and Resort Operations Management program. Thirty six students participated in the program this year.

“We collaborated with local resorts to make sure the programming was suiting their needs,” said Weaver.

Weaver said the majority of students came from India, where they were given the opportunity to interview for employment and obtain part-time jobs at Blue Mountain or Living Waters Resorts with options of on-site accommodations should they so choose.

“The employer, in turn, gets students that are in a tourism-focused program, they get work experience and those students will have the opportunity to complete their co-op with those employers.

“The hope is, after their program completion, full-time work with those industry partners,” said Weaver. “We’re very proud of this personal relationship.”

Weaver attended council specifically to acknowledge the efforts of council that helped the program to be so successful.

“We would also like to thank this council because we couldn’t have done this program without the extended hours on the transit link,” said Weaver. “That was critical for this to happen.”

Weaver said the program has been a success so far, with plans in the works to start advertising a second intake, with interest coming in from both international and domestic students.

“As the number of students grow, as will the number of employers we’re working with,” said Weaver.

Since the program’s success, Georgian has decided to go further, offering two more programs coming September 2019 to address other local labour shortages: Snow Resort Operations (with work underway to add Adventure Guide Training to the program) and a two-year Computer Programmer co-op program.

“These industries will provide part time, co-op and full time opportunities for our students,” said Weaver. “We’re proud of the partnership we have with this community. We hope we’re doing our part to help with the labour shortage.”

Coun. Mike Edwards made the only comment on the endeavour.

“Many years ago I sat on the Georgian Bay college committee, and we put forth a request to get resources for a ski program here and it’s been great to see that finally happen. If you could fit the golf program in too, that would be great,” said Coun. Mike Edwards, to laughter from council and the gallery.

Overall, Georgian College serves about 2,500 international students from over 60 countries annually.

For more information on Georgian College and their programs, click here.


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Jessica Owen

About the Author: Jessica Owen

Jessica Owen is an experienced journalist working for Village Media since 2018, primarily covering Collingwood and education.
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