The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), which operates Pearson Airport in Mississauga, has disbursed $387,000 to six organizations to help tackle underemployment in communities that surround Canada’s busiest airport.
The money, disbursed through the GTAA’s 2022 Uplift Fund, will fund programs established to break down employment barriers and foster opportunities for communities around Pearson.
The Uplift Fund is an ongoing initiative which seeks to tackle peculiar workforce issues in areas of Toronto, Mississauga and Brampton located close to the airport.
In a recent news release, officials of GTAA said: “From providing employment opportunities to Ukrainian newcomers and mentoring for jobs in aviation to opening pathways to careers in the arts, our commitment to surrounding communities has never been stronger.”
After an extensive period of evaluation, the GTAA decided on six recipients of this year’s Uplift Fund:
- Urban Pilots Network’s Top Flyers Canada program prepares Black and racialized youth for entry-level employment with leading aviation agencies
- ACCES Employment’s Ukrainian Newcomer Assistance Program provides employment service supports to recent Ukrainian newcomers
- Brands for Canada’s Suitable Impressions Program is a first impressions-focused employment program that coaches participants to succeed in a job interview
- Blue Door Support Services’ Construct Program recruits, trains and employs motivated individuals to learn and work on-site with qualified tradespeople to prepare for a career in the construction industry
- JAYU’s iAM is a free, eight-week employment arts and culture training program for equity-deserving youth which allows them to access career paths that would have otherwise been unavailable to them
- Shakespeare in Action’s Backstage Centre Technical Apprenticeship is an innovative performing arts technical skills development program that provides paid job training in theatre production for youth aged 15 to 30
Robyn Connelly, the GTAA’s director of sustainability and social impact said: “We’re delighted to announce this year’s Uplift Fund recipients, who work to lift up the communities we serve.
“Although COVID-19 has had a significant impact on our business, it has also disproportionally impacted our neighbours. We’re looking forward to working collaboratively with these like-minded organizations to address underemployment, and in doing so support a strong post-pandemic recovery for the Greater Toronto Area.”
Earlier in 2022, interested organizations were invited by the GTAA to submit applications for up to $75,000 in funding for one-year projects.
According to GTAA officials, the Uplift Fund has been investing in programming, advocacy and research since 2018 to support efforts of area residents to acquire the skills, connections and opportunities required to be meaningfully employed.
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