The Women’s Centre in York Region will be able to assist more local women overcome barriers to employment with $150,000 in annual funding from the province over the next three years.
The Newmarket-based non-profit organization is one of 10 in the province getting a financial boost to offer more employment readiness support. Provincial dignitaries attended the centre on March 27 to announce the recipients.
Women’s Centre of York Region executive director Liora Sobel said the funding will enable them to hire a new staff person and enhance services.
“Together, with our community partners, we will make Ontario a safer space for women to work and provide economic support for them to thrive,” she said.
The investment is part of the Investing in Women’s Futures program, with 33 locations across the province now offering associated women’s employment services.
The annualized funding in York Region will help it offer a new first-step program to provide wrap-around, one-on-one services for women to navigate the community. The centre aims to help women, particularly those coming from abusive situations, transition in their lives.
In total, the province is adding an additional $6.9 million to the program in 10 centres across Ontario, with more than 150 applicants, according to Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity Charmaine Williams.
“Our goal is to work with communities to lift women up,” she said. “Empower them to excel in business, leadership roles, as entrepreneurs and in sectors where they’re underrepresented.”
Support like this also stands to help get more women into the trades, according to Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development Monte McNaughton.
“Our government’s mission is to give more people the hand up they need to get better jobs,” he said.
Newmarket-Aurora MPP Dawn Gallagher Murphy said the Women’s Centre in York Region has been a driving force for more than 45 years and does a lot to better the community.
“I am proud of our government’s investments that help more women build on the skills they need today in order to obtain good-paying jobs,” she said.
Thanks to the funding, the new staff member will help women access the centre’s services such as counselling, economic support and guidance toward work placements, Sobel said.
“We know that when we help a woman, we help more than just her. The ripple effect to her family and community are influenced by her successes,” Sobel said.
