Mississauga Summit 2009

Mayor challenges employers

Summer job initiative. Mayor Hazel McCallion's first summer jobs were picking strawberries and raspberries and then at her dad's general store, tracking barter transactions with local fishermen. Yesterday she and other business leaders in Mississauga launched an initiative aimed at getting more summer jobs for area youths this year. File photo

Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion remembers her first job: picking strawberries and raspberries in the Gaspé, Quebec, hundreds of miles outside Montreal. She was barely 10. Then, before she left high school, she was holding down a serious job at her dad’s general store, keeping track of barter transactions with local fishermen.

And by the time she finished high school, a kindly businessman, a Red Wood lumber distributor, took her under his wing, gave her a clerical position and taught her enough to give her a great feel for business. That would later land her in the position as just about the most popular mayor on the planet.

“I got into business pretty young, as you can see,” says the 89-year-old, who's been Mississauga's mayor for almost 32 years. “I worked for my dad in a general store — I did not earn very much . . . but it teaches you to be responsible at a young age . . .”

But what if there is no summer job experience? That is the reality for far too many young people, even in leading industrialized nations, Canada included. An OECD study out this month frets about a “lost generation” of 15- to 24 year-olds caught in bad recessionary times, dwindling jobs and diminishing prospects of entering the workforce.

On Monday, McCallion and other business leaders in Mississauga launched an initiative to get businesses to each create just two more summer jobs for area youths this year. The event was part of a follow-up to the jobs summit that the mayor called late last year to deal with the problem of youth unemployment in the city.

“That first job — it’s not just the money they will earn to help get through university and high school. It gives confidence in the future of the province and city and country,” McCallion said. “It tells that young person that the community cares. It keeps them occupied and shows them that the future holds well for them.”

Studies have shown that work experience as a youth, paid or in internships, is an important launching pad for a productive life. Executives in all spheres frequently go back to that early job, from paper route to store clerk, as playing a defining role.

Shelley White, CEO of the United Way of Peel Region, found herself teaching swim instructors at an early age. The Sheridan Homelands resident has never looked back.

“The return on the investment is much greater than the cash investment. What will you get? Talent, yes. But you are providing students with a promising future. What they’ll give back to the community and the economy is priceless.”

Ellen McGregor, co-founder of Fielding Chemical Technologies on Mavis Rd, said her future was launched through an Opportunities for Youth grant in the Pierre Trudeau era. The recently retired president of the Mississauga Board of Trade used the grant to establish the first travelling camp for kids from economically challenged backgrounds, picking them up from hostels and low-income neighbourhoods.

At age 18, “I had to hire, fire, manage a budget. It defined who I’ve become,” she says. Now, despite tight economic times, Fielding will hire two students as part of Hazel’s Job’s Challenge. And McGregor is challenging other companies to do the same.

“At least offer an internship,” she says. With the economy under strain, “it’s a great time to reach out; even if you can’t hire them, you can give them an opportunity.”

Mississauga is particularly hard hit by unemployment, with youth joblessness at twice the provincial levels, and higher among newcomers.
~ Torstar Network

Media

In the News:

Mayor challenges employers



	Media In the News: May 18, 2010 Mississauga News Mayor challenges employers Summer job initiative. Mayor Hazel McCallion's first summer jobs were picking strawberries and raspberries and then at her dad's general store, tracking barter transactions with local fishermen. Yesterday she and other business leaders in Mississauga launched an initiative aimed at getting more summer jobs for area youths this year. File photo Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion remembers her first job: picking strawberries and raspberries in the Gaspé, Quebec, hundreds of miles outside Montreal. She was barely 10. Then, before she left high school, she was holding down a serious job at her dad’s general store, keeping track of barter transactions with local fishermen. And by the time she finished high school, a kindly businessman, a Red Wood lumber distributor, took her under his wing, gave her a clerical position and taught her enough to give her a great feel for business. That would later land her in the position as just about the most popular mayor on the planet. “I got into business pretty young, as you can see,” says the 89-year-old, who's been Mississauga's mayor for almost 32 years. “I worked for my dad in a general store — I did not earn very much . . . but it teaches you to be responsible at a young age . . .” But what if there is no summer job experience? That is the reality for far too many young people, even in leading industrialized nations, Canada included. An OECD study out this month frets about a “lost generation” of 15- to 24 year-olds caught in bad recessionary times, dwindling jobs and diminishing prospects of entering the workforce. On Monday, McCallion and other business leaders in Mississauga launched an initiative to get businesses to each create just two more summer jobs for area youths this year. The event was part of a follow-up to the jobs summit that the mayor called late last year to deal with the problem of youth unemployment in the city. “That first job — it’s not just the money they will earn to help get through university and high school. It gives confidence in the future of the province and city and country,” McCallion said. “It tells that young person that the community cares. It keeps them occupied and shows them that the future holds well for them.” Studies have shown that work experience as a youth, paid or in internships, is an important launching pad for a productive life. Executives in all spheres frequently go back to that early job, from paper route to store clerk, as playing a defining role. Shelley White, CEO of the United Way of Peel Region, found herself teaching swim instructors at an early age. The Sheridan Homelands resident has never looked back. “The return on the investment is much greater than the cash investment. What will you get? Talent, yes. But you are providing students with a promising future. What they’ll give back to the community and the economy is priceless.” Ellen McGregor, co-founder of Fielding Chemical Technologies on Mavis Rd, said her future was launched through an Opportunities for Youth grant in the Pierre Trudeau era. The recently retired president of the Mississauga Board of Trade used the grant to establish the first travelling camp for kids from economically challenged backgrounds, picking them up from hostels and low-income neighbourhoods. At age 18, “I had to hire, fire, manage a budget. It defined who I’ve become,” she says. Now, despite tight economic times, Fielding will hire two students as part of Hazel’s Job’s Challenge. And McGregor is challenging other companies to do the same. “At least offer an internship,” she says. With the economy under strain, “it’s a great time to reach out; even if you can’t hire them, you can give them an opportunity.” Mississauga is particularly hard hit by unemployment, with youth joblessness at twice the provincial levels, and higher among newcomers. ~ Torstar Network []	Building human capital Post Secondary education Waterfront development and environment Centre of excellence for diversity and immigration The Mississauga Works Task Force










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