Manitoba Youth Job Centre

By Brent Stokes

Published May 17, 2006

Living, Working in World of SIN

    One of the questions asked on the Manitoba Youth Job Centre registration card is whether or not you have a social insurance number (SIN). A SIN is a nine-digit number used in the administration of various Canadian government programs. You need one to work in Canada or to receive government benefits. In other words, if you don't already have one, you'll need one at some point in your life.  

    The good news is, for folks in the North Eastman region, SINs are a lot easier to acquire than they were the last time the MYJC was in operation. That's because the federal government has introduced a new Service Canada Centre in Selkirk, which operates weekdays from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at 237 Manitoba Ave.  

    If that still seems like quite a drive, the news gets better. The Selkirk office operates three outreach locations in the following communities:

• Lac du Bonnet (Winnipeg River-Brokenhead CFDC, 4 Park Ave., open May 25 and every second Thursday after from 9 am to 3:30 pm)
• Pine Falls (Empower Education Centre, 1 Oak St., open May 31 and every second Wednesday after from 9 am-3:30 pm, bilingual service available)
• Beausejour (Manitoba Employment and Training Services, 20 First St. S., open June 1 and every second Thursday after from 8:30 am-noon and 1 - 4:30 pm).

    To apply for your SIN, head down to any Service Canada Centre or outreach location with your birth certificate. If you can't make it during office hours, have someone else go for you. They will need a note signed by you authorizing them to apply for a SIN on your behalf, and will be requested to show photo ID. Questions about Service Canada and its outreach sites can be directed to the Selkirk office at 1-800-622-6232.  

School Visits

     A big thanks to Whitemouth School for having me in on Tuesday to talk to Grade 7, 8 and Senior 1 students about the MYJC, Odd Job Squad, cover letters, and resumes. Thanks also to the friendly employers I visited in Whitemouth and Seven Sisters. I'll be touring Pinawa, Powerview, Sagkeeng and Lac du Bonnet this week visiting schools and employers there as well. The MYJC will be closed during these times, so please call ahead (345-6916) before dropping in to our office at New Directions School, 40 Park Ave., Lac du Bonnet to make sure we're open.

Manitoba Day

    The Lac du Bonnet MYJC celebrated our province's rich history with a Manitoba Day celebration on Friday, May 12. Quite a few people who had never been to the MYJC before were treated to free chocolate Manitoba cake upon their arrival. If you missed your chance to party, be sure to come out on Friday, May 19 for our open house from 2:30 to 4:00 pm. Program staff from Winnipeg will be on hand as well as several local dignitaries. Be sure to join us for the ribbon cutting at 2:45 p.m.

Published May 24, 2006

    I'm back from a whirlwind week of touring the region. The Manitoba Youth Job Centre travelling office visited four schools in four days. Grade 7, 8 and Senior 1 students from Pinawa, Sagkeeng, Powerview and Lac du Bonnet heard how the MYJC could land them the ultimate full-time, part-time or casual job this summer, heard about the Odd Job Squad and learned what a social insurance number is and how to get one. Some classrooms were also shown how to make a resume look its best, so it ends up in the “to interview” pile and not in the garbage.  

    For students and youth age 12-29 who didn't have their classroom or house visited: don't worry, we still have plenty of jobs for you as well! May has been an exceptionally busy month and our job order book is bursting at the seams. 

    Lots of registration cards have been handed out already, mainly during our school visits. There's no deadline to get these forms in, but obviously the sooner the better for anyone looking for work. Anyone interested in the Odd Job Squad should strive to have their form in by the end of the month to ensure they don't miss out on any opportunities.

     Completed forms can be handed in to the school office (guidance counselor's office in Pinawa) or directly delivered to our office in New Directions School, 40 Park Ave., Lac du Bonnet. Please call me at 345-6916 with any questions. I'm usually in the office weekdays from 8 a.m. noon and to 1 p.m. 4 p.m., but I also have voicemail, which means you can leave me a message 24 hours a day and I'll call you back as soon as possible.  

Published May 31, 2006

    The Manitoba Youth Job Centre celebrated the beginning of another great summer with an Open House on Friday, May 19. Chelsea Sargent, MYJC regional assistant, came out from Winnipeg to help us celebrate along with Bob Bruneau (representing both the R.M. of Lac du Bonnet and Winnipeg River Recreation District) and RCMP Staff Sgt. Mel Mitchell. A ribbon cutting marked the official opening of the centre, but we've been hopping since the beginning of May to keep up with all the job orders and student registrations coming in.  

Social Insurance Number Update

    Earlier this month I talked about how you can get an SIN from Service Canada outreach offices, which operate twice a month each in Lac du Bonnet, Beausejour and Pine Falls. While these offices can provide you with a SIN, it will now take 6 to 8 weeks for you to receive your number. You will still receive proof of application immediately, which should be satisfactory to employers until your number arrives. For more information call Service Canada at 1-800-622-6232 or the MYJC at 345-6916.  

Registrations, Anyone?

    If you've still got a blank MYJC registration card hiding in your backpack or under your bed, the time to fill it out is now. If you've been out of school for a while and the job search just hasn't been working out, relax, there are still some great full-time jobs available that start in early June, including a great looking lifeguarding one.

    Odd Job Squad season is just around the corner as well. We've already had quite a few calls for casual labour jobs, so make sure you get your forms in fast. The earlier you register, the more opportunities you'll hear about. You're also helping the office to plan for, and include you in, the various Odd Job Squad events that we run. While these activities usually take place after school has been let out for the summer, we might have a thing or two up our sleeves before then.

    If you need a registration card, stop by the office in New Directions School, 40 Park Ave., Lac du Bonnet. I'm regularly in my office weekdays from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. You can always call 345-6916 and leave a message.

Published June 14, 2006

    The Manitoba Youth Job Centre is fired up for another Odd Job Squad summer. The Odd Job Squad gives students and youth age 12-16 the chance to earn some valuable work experience and extra cash. Since odd jobs only last a few hours, summers can still be filled with tubing, trips to the Red River Ex and catching the latest flicks.

    Our young hard workers are involved in two different types of work, the first of which, helping homeowners, is already underway. People who are looking for help around the home with lawn mowing, gardening, cleaning, moving and painting call the MYJC, who finds and refers qualified students and youth to help.

    The Odd Job Squad also runs independent events such as our hot dog barbecues and labour raffles, from which workers collect the profits. Events will be announced throughout the summer.  

Canada Day Flower Frenzy

    First on the list, as always, is the annual Lac du Bonnet Flower Frenzy, just in time for Canada Day. We'll be delivering pre-ordered bouquets of red and white carnations on Thursday, June 29. Each bouquet is only $5. Orders can be made in person at our office in New Directions School, 40 Park Ave., Lac du Bonnet, or by phone at 345-6916. All orders must be prepaid.  

Regular Work Also Available

    If part-time and full-time employment is more up your alley, you're in luck too. We still have some great jobs offering 20, 30 and 40 hours per week.  

Looking For A Student Loan?

    The MYJC has the low-down on Manitoba's student loan program. You can apply for your student loan right now, even if you aren't sure which college or university you'll be attending in the fall. Avoid the long lines and campus crush,call or visit the office to find out more.

MYJC On The Road

    The Manitoba Youth Job Centre will be closed part of the day on Wednesday, June 7 for one of two regional meetings our offices conduct during the summer. The office will also be closed Thursday, June 8 and Friday, June 9. You can always call 345-6916 and leave a message. I'll return your call as soon as possible. The MYJC will also be setting up at the divisional junior high track meet, Tuesday June 13 at Lac du Bonnet Senior School, so be sure to come by and check us out!

Published June 21

  Some powerful creatures were unleashed at Old Pinawa on Saturday. As part of the Power for the People Centennial Celebration, the Odd Job Squad transformed members of the younger crowd into their favourite superhero, pet or cute critter.

Bianca Pengelly, Phil Mitchell, Jessica Hannah and Jolene Shoup made the dreams of youngsters—including a couple who came all the way from Ottawa—into reality with a few dabs of a sponge and stroke of a paint brush. Spiderman was the most popular request of the day, and the most intricate design as well. The Odd Job Squaders didn't back down, and it paid off every time a young web-slinger took a look at himself in the mirror and a huge smile or awestruck look overtook his face.  

Show N Shine

    The face painters will be back in full force this Sunday at the Cruisin' Manitoba for MS Pinawa pit stop, held at Sundial Park from 2 to 4 p.m. Come by, check out the hot cars, have us paint your face, play around with the bubbles and grab some free schwag including stickers, balloons, bookmarks, and tattoos.

Lac du Bonnet Farmer's Market

    Anyone interested in some bargain hunting Saturday morning should hop on over to the Farmer's Market this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Lac du Bonnet arena parking lot. We'll keep you cool with refreshing drinks, and, as always, have tons of free stuff to give away.  

Student Labour Raffle

    Our first student labour raffle kicks off in Lac du Bonnet this Friday. Students will be going door-to-door selling raffle tickets for $1 each. Winning tickets are worth three hours of free labour from the seller. There's at least one winner every 25 tickets sold. The raffle continues through the Canada Day long weekend, with winners to be announced the following week. A student labour raffle is being planned for Pinawa in July.  

Outdoor Office A Huge Hit

    Our 2nd annual outdoor office, held at the divisional track meet at Lac du Bonnet Senior School, drew interest from around the region. Students, parents and teachers from Whitemouth, Pinawa, Lac du Bonnet and Wanipigow stopped by our full-service table to check out our services. For some, it was their first time learning about the MYJC, while for others, it provided a convenient way to find out more about the program, after hearing of it through the school tours we did last month.  

    If you've got a question for the MYJC, are looking for work or want to hire a student, give us a call now at 345-6916 or stop by the office in New Directions School, 40 Park Ave., Lac du Bonnet.

Published June 28, 2006

There was lots of pre-Canada Day hubbub in Lac du Bonnet and Pinawa over the weekend. The weekly farmer's market transformed the parking lot of Lac du Bonnet's arena into a square of browsing and buying. Eyes in the crowd were busy examining cinnamon buns, hand-painted crafts, bison meat, beef, wooden chairs and toys. Devin Shauman, Cody Valentonis and Alex Bergman helped keep customers cool with ice cold drinks, and gave away calendars, tattoos, stickers, bookmarks and zipper pulls.

On Sunday, Pinawa hosted a pit stop along the Cruisin' Manitoba for MS Show ‘n' Shine tour. Hundreds of drivers and passengers made their way out from Winnipeg to show off their beauties, after raising thousands of dollars in pledges for the MS Society of Manitoba. Bianca Pengelly and John Baty kept the kid in all of us entertained with face painting, bubbles and another batch of giveaways. Not long after the cruisers' arrival, ninjas, butterflies, cats and dogs were spotted in the crowd admiring the rides, totting balloons and unleashing a wave of soapy circles into Sundial Park.

Behind the scenes, Rhys Hatherly, Tommy Town, Amber Bilecki and Reanne Krupka helped prepare the community centre for the after-show banquet that ensured 400 stomachs were plenty satisfied for the drive back to the city. The quartet returned during the meal to clear away dirty dishes as dinners were devoured.  

Flower Frenzy

A big thanks to everyone who ordered Canada Day carnations from the Odd Job Squad. Your flowers will be delivered on Thursday, June 29.  

Canada Day Parade

As usual, Lac du Bonnet will be awash in Canadian pride this weekend, and one the best-attended events every year is the July 1 st parade, which departs Watertown at 12:30 p.m. Watch for the Odd Job Squad to be tossing things your way.

Student Labour Raffles

The Lac du Bonnet Odd Job Squad is selling labour raffle tickets until the end of the long weekend. For just a loonie, you could win three hours of free labour. At least one in every 25 tickets is guaranteed to win. Draws will be held July 4.  Pinawa's Odd Job Squad will kick off their labour raffle the following weekend.

If you have any questions about any of these events, want to participate in them, or want to hire a student for full-time, part-time or casual work, please call 345-6916 or stop by the Manitoba Youth Job Centre in New Directions School, 40 Park Ave., Lac du Bonnet.

Editor's Note:  Because of a technical problem we can't share the photos that Brent took of his crew helping out at the Show 'N Shine.  If everything works out I will include them in next month's report from Brent ~ Nancy.

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