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Segue Career Options Receives Government Funding

M.P. Candice Bergen was in Winkler Tuesday with a funding announcement for Segue Career Options.

The Government of Canada will help people with disabilities in the Winkler area develop the skills, knowledge and experience they need to find jobs.

Candice Bergen, Minister of State for Social Development was in Winkler yesterday to make a funding announcement which sees $43,000 going to Segue Career Options in Winkler for their job skills workshops. The money will be coming from the Government's Opportunities Fund.

Through a variety of workshops, participants will develop life and job skills to help them prepare for and succeed in the job market. They will develop action plans and gain hands-on experience by volunteering in local grocery stores or restaurants to help them find and maintain a job. Participants will also benefit from coaching to become more independent. That from Program Director of Segue Career Options, Debra Stockwell. She talks about how the program is going.

"We shoot for 20 clients a year, they're all different levels of disabilities, depending on what their needs are. The program has been fairly successful, I'm thinking we're Bergen speaks with one of the workshop participantsprobably at about 80% success in this particular program."

She says clients that attend these workshops and go through this program are showing a lot of growth when it comes to being more independent and using their social skills. She notes being a part of these workshops is incredibly heart warming, when you see this growth. She adds, this money will do wonders to keep such an important program running.

"Our government remains committed to helping Canadians get the skills they need to gain access to good-quality jobs in the labour market," said Minister Bergen. "In particular, people with disabilities face challenges entering the job market and that's why our government's partnerships with organizations like Segue Career Options are so important."

Bergen added, it was wonderful to come back to Winkler is this capacity and she's proud of the work Segue has been doing in this community. She adds, this funding will be good for both community and economy in the City of Winkler.

Segue Career Options Program Director Debra Stockwell at yesterday's funding announcement.

Story from Golden West Broadcasting