CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - One plus one can equal three.
That is the idea and the math behind the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce’s P.E.I. Network program launched in Charlottetown on Wednesday at the Kettle Black.
The program involves one business owner (the connector) meeting one job seeker, either a new graduate or a new Islander (the connectee), that results in three new Island networking connections provided by the connector to the job seeker.
“It takes the sting out of the cold call,” explained Alana Walsh, P.E.I. Network program manager.
“Anything we can do to make people feel welcome and connected,” she said.
“The goal of the program is to keep people on Prince Edward Island.”
The program is offered in 21 Canadian cities. The first program launched in Halifax.
The P.E.I. version is currently a one-year pilot project. It is receiving $40,000 in funding from the province in this year’s budget.
The program’s requirements for participation include connectees being “job ready,” which includes having a post-secondary diploma or degree, being able to sufficiently speak English or French, be legally entitled to work in Canada, have a Linkedin profile and be registered with Work PEI.
In addition, job seekers are expected to be in the province and want to stay. Walsh explained this expectation to enter the program isn’t tied to the province’s residency requirement.
“We’re not making people commit. But we want them to have good intention, good faith. And really just plan to make a life here because we don’t want to waste the time of the people volunteering to be connectors for people that are just kind of flying through,” she said.
“People don’t know where to start. They come from away, and, you know how the Island is. It’s all about building relationships.”
-Cora Lee Dunbar
Walsh is responsible for connecting the two groups together through email. Then it is up to them to set up a meeting and have a chance to talk about businesses that are hiring and which ones might be a good fit.
“There’s no guarantee at the end that there’s a job. We’re not asking people to meet and offer people jobs. We’re just offering to have a cup of coffee,” Walsh said.
Over the year, Walsh will be tracking the program’s progress to make sure it is working.
Since the program is new, business owners or business leaders and job seekers haven’t officially signed up. But Walsh said there has been interest in the program from both sides.
Cora Lee Dunbar attended Wednesday’s program launch. Based in Summerside, Dunbar has been a business owner for more than 20 years, and recently started a consulting business. One of her contracts is with the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce’s Connector’s program. After hearing the new program’s presentation, she is considering getting involved as a connector.
“I definitely have an interest. And, I want to talk to Alana a bit more about it and see how I can be part of that in terms of my own business,” she said.
Given her extensive experience in business on the Island, Dunbar feels that she can help direct job seekers in the right direction.
“People don’t know where to start. They come from away, and, you know how the Island is. It’s all about building relationships,” she said.
Also attending the program launch was Finance Minister Heath MacDonald, Workforce and Advanced Learning Minister Sonny Gallant and Economic Development and Tourism Minister Chris Palmer.
The program is a partner of the National Connector Program, according to a press release. In 2016-17, the national program had 545 connectees and 392 connectors that resulted in 254 connectees finding jobs in their related field.
More information, including how to get involved, can be found on the program’s website at www.peinetwork.ca.
