United Way looks to recruit new participants into its mentoring program at UNBC    250 News photo

Prince George, BC –  The United Way has secured funding for year two of a mentoring program aimed at retaining highly skilled youth uner 30 in the region…

‘Mentor Me’ Program Coordinator, Jolene Shepherd, says more than 50 youths – many of them students at UNBC – were matched with a mentor in their career field of interest in last year’s pilot project.  This year, the Omineca Beetle Action Coalition, with funding from BC’s Ministry of Jobs, Tourism, and Skills Training, has pledged $65-thousand dollars to continue the program.

Speaking to approximately 30 students at UNBC last week, 4th year Marketing and International Studies student, Lindsey Johnston, encouraged others to take advantage of the program.  Johnston has been paired with Prince George Chamber of Commerce CEO, Jennifer Brandle-McCall, and says their discussions have helped her better understand what she’s going to ‘be up against’ when she graduates this spring. (l-r, Lindsey Johnston, Jennifer Brandle-McCall, and Dustin Elliott)

"At this point, I’m in contact with other people around the community, thanks to Jennifer," said Johnston.  "I’m in contact with fields that I’m interested in and I’m going to sit down with those people and ask them questions about the challenges they faced and how they got to where they (are)."

Brandle-McCall admitted she had a ‘selfish’ reason for getting involved in the program, "The number one challenge that we’ve heard from our 900 members that they’re facing in doing business better is skilled labour – that’s the number one thing – and it’s the only thing that’s, for a lot of them, holding them back."

But the Chamber CEO pointed out the mentees have everything to gain from the program, as well, by building an even larger network for potential job exploration.  She said, "More than any other relationship, the mentors are there specifically to open doors – they’ll open the doors, but it’s up to you to walk through them."

Dustin Elliott expects to do just that after he graduates from UNBC this spring with a Bachelor of Commerce degree.  Elliott has been focusing on human resources and general business.  He said he had been studying the concepts involved in his career, but didn’t feel like he understood the day-to-day life of it until he was paired with Canfor’s Human Resources Manager, Rob Jarvis.

Elliott said his mentor has passed on knowledge, experience, and advice that took years to gain.  "And here I was, at the ripe age of 23, getting all that information."  He said a highlight was giving a presentation to Canfor’s Senior HR Administration on a program he developed and wanted the company to adopt.  "It was an incredibly enriching and amazing experience."

So, too, has been the connections he’s made through his mentor.  Elliott says he feels he could go to any large organization in Prince George and know somebody on their HR team.  "When I graduate here in another month or so, I’m going to be able to go to these people and know them on a first name basis," he said.  "And have a better opportunity at getting a job than, perhaps, some of my peers who haven’t gone in this program and they’re just sending out a resume."