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Breaking Barriers - Paid Job Skills Program

What is Breaking Barriers?

Funded by Service Canada and the Youth Employment Skills Strategy, Breaking Barriers is an 18-week skill building and
employment readiness program designed to support youth aged 15-30 as they seek full-time employment or return to school. This program is specifically designed to support youth who are facing barriers to employment.

The program runs in two parts: Employment Skills Training and Quality Employment Opportunity. 

  • Employment Skills Training will run for 30 hours per week for 6 weeks starting September 3; Monday – Thursday 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. and Friday 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Participants will be compensated for this portion of the program at a rate of $15.00 per hour.
  • The Quality Employment Opportunity consists of a 37.5 hour/week work placement in the community, lasting for seven weeks. The schedule of this placement varies depending on the needs of the employer. Participants will be compensated for this portion of the program at a rate of $15.00 per hour

Successful applicants must be able to attend to the full 13 weeks of the program concurrently; as such, this program is not ideal for youth who are currently enrolled in school.

Am I eligible to apply for Breaking Barriers?

  • Participants must be between the ages of 15 and 30 inclusive at the start of the program
  • Participants must be legally entitled to work in Alberta
  • Participants must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents or have been granted refugee status in Canada
  • Participants must be a facing a self-declared barrier to employment
  • Participants must be ready and willing to begin full-time (37.5 hours/week) work at the end of the Employment Skills Training portion of the program

How can I apply?

Breaking Barriers starts on December 16, 2024; Applications are ongoing