oan eee ane min
oan

accep ne Maren ee ye

HAVING A
CHANCE TO GET
THE JOB DONE

The Terrace branch of the Fed-
eral Business Development Bank
recognized Employment Equity
Week with a luncheon Feb. 11
catered by the Kitselas Sister-
hood. FBDB’s desire was to create
an awareness of the four desig-
nated groups (natives,
women, visible and
invisible minorities,
mentally and physi-
eally disadvantaged
individuals) in an &
effort to create equal
opportunities in the
employment market.
An interesting statis-
tic was presented that
by the year 2010, 80 §
percent of the individ- 5
uals entering the |
workforce will be from
those four designated

gration, Kermode Friendship
Centre, the Volunteer Bureau,
Skeena MP and MLA offices,
Creative Career Options, print
and broadcast media and FBDB.

FBDB offered, “If we can help to
be a catalyst to any of your
groups, we'd appreciate the oppor-
tunity." A suggestion was put
forth to hold an employment
equity conference similar to the
AAMSA one attended by Angela
Young and Reg Stowell last fall.
As a result of that conference, a
report has been published which

mde root
ae

Kitselas Sisterhood: the minorities will be
a majority.

groups.

The Kitselas Sister-
hood served an_ all-native
luncheon of dried seaweed, ban-
nock, moose stew, clam chowder,
smoked, dried and boiled salmon,
herring eggs on kelp, and rice.

After the luncheon, FBDB man-
ager Paul Williams advised
employers to see employment
equity initiatives as an opportun-
ity rather than a problem. He
said, "We have to concentrate on
their abilities, rather than the
barriers surrounding disadvan-
taged groups.” FBDB has under-
taken an initiative internally with
the hiring of Brian, a mentally
disadvantaged man through Cre-
ative Career Options. It has been
a good experience. “They try
harder,” a co-worker explained.

Present for the luncheon were
representatives from Terrace &
District Multicultural Association,
16-37. Community Futures,
Canada Employment and Immi-

could be used in the community to
encourage employment equity. To
date, FBDB has organized two
women’s conferences, native train-
ing, fishing co-ops. On Feb. 27 the
bank will host a Youth Confer-
ence in Terrace.

Linda Bretfeld introduced the
fact that a Terrace Employer
discussion group meets monthly
to discuss regional employment
concerns. She said employment
equity is certainly among those
concerns. Roger Millions- of
Skeena Broadcasters said the
media is available to encourage
people to speak out. “Getting the
word out is our job," he explained.
Linda Pelletier of Creative Career
Options explained that with her
program there is a continual drive
to place workers. Some employers
are concerned about the unknown
and tend to focus on the handicap
rather than on the individual,
Pelletier said.

The Dr. R.E.M. Lee
Hospital Foundation
4720 Haughland
Ave., Terrace, B.C.
V8G 2W7
A thoughtful way to
remember is with an In
Memoriam gift to the Dr.
R.E.M. Lee Hospital
Foundation. Donations are
gratefully accepted at the
above address, the Terrace
Fire Department on Eby 5t.,
or by contacting Mrs.
Helene McRae at 635-
5320.Income tax receipts

are available.

IMPROVING
YOUR ODDS
AGAINST
wittt, | CANADA'S
rOREATONSH #44 KILLER

A thoughtful way to
remember is with an In
Memoriam gift to the Heart
and Stroke Foundation of
B.C. and Yukon. Please
mail your donation to the
above address, as well as
the name and address of
next-of-kin for an
acknowledgement card.

Maggie Park
#209-4526 Park Ave.,
Terrace, B.C.
638-1167

Terrace Review — February 28, 1992