Julie Stachiw says she’s not sure she’d have her job today without Ontario’s Summer Jobs program.
A registered dietician at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Stachiw got her start at the hospital thanks to funding from the program that provides a $2-an-hour incentive to public- and private sector employers to hire returning students and provide them with on-the-job experience in their fields.
All totalled, the province is investing more than $3 million in the Summer Jobs incentive in 2013.
Stachiw said she needed more leadership, administrative and project-based experience to qualify for full-time work down the road, something she got through the program.
“This opportunity provided all those things,” she said.
“In order to get the job, I had to get the internship. In order to get the internship you really need that work experience. And If I hadn’t gotten it here, I’m not sure I would have gotten it elsewhere.”
Cathy Paroschy-Harris, director of nutritional and food services at the hospital said every dollar helps. The program allows workers to be mentored by professionals in their chosen field, which makes them much more qualified hires down the road.
It’s a win-win for everyone, she said.
“They are the future. They’re the future for Northern Ontario. I find that they come with a lot of energy and they’re excited to learn. It helps our staff because they then are excited to teach. And I find when you teach something you actually will know your own job a lot better because you have to explain it to people,” Paroschy-Harris said.
“And it helps you think through things more properly. So I find there is a reciprocal benefit both for the students and department we hire summer students.”
She added the hospital does budget for summer students and the money helps cover the cost.
“It gives us some flexibility and helps us balance our budget a little bit,” Paroschy-Harris said. “So we anticipate we’re going to get some kind of assistance and if not than we may not be able to offer the opportunity. So we’re pretty lucky over the last several years we’ve been able to get at least one summer student in through the program.”
Minister of Northern Development and Mines Michael Gravelle said several hires have already been confirmed, including 11 at the hospital, seven at Lakehead University and four at TBT Engineering and one more at the Thunder Bay Agricultural Research Station.
“it’s a great program that works really, really well. And part of our goal today is to encourage employers to go on the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines website and take advantage of the program. We know it helps employers hire more people, more summer students.”
Students between 15 and 30 are eligible for the program.
