Jennifer Greenhalgh
Dear editor:
On my return from vacation, I was catching up with the local news in the Fort Frances Times and was surprised to read an article in the June 1 edition on the Employment Ontario Summer Jobs Service program written by summer reporter Zoey Duncan.
The article started out with a long story from a person who was ineligible for the Summer Jobs Service program and who was unable to find full-time hours of work locally—I am therefore unclear what this young person’s predicament had to do with the Summer Jobs Service program and the article.
The eligibility criterion is basically that the student has to between the ages of 15-30 and returning to education in the fall.
When NCDS’ Employment Ontario Summer Jobs Service was approached by Zoey Duncan, the article that she was to write was to focus on the Summer Jobs Service and the students who had used it. In fact, Tyson Grinsell, the NCDS Summer Jobs Service co-ordinator, provided Zoey with the name of a student who is successfully employed locally for a second summer through NCDS.
Unfortunately, Zoey chose to use another source; in fact, a person who did not fit the eligibility criteria of the Summer Jobs Service. The information this young individual gave the reporter was incorrect.
My concern is that this 19-year-old is still employed in the community and obviously her comments about her employers could damage her future ability to get the full-time employment she is looking for. Her comment regarding her frustration with employers who have not provided her with the full-time hours she wants no doubt will make an employer think twice about her apparent attitude of entitlement.
Many people, including those with degrees and other accreditation, have to wait to find the job in their field of interest—and often longer for full-time hours.
This article also may discourage employers from offering her future employment. “Knocking employers” does not put a job-seeker in a favourable light!
Perhaps she should consider whether her education and marketable skills are consistent with our local labour market—it is possible the reason she has only part-time jobs is that her skills do not warrant a full-time position.
I understand that Zoey Duncan is probably a summer student or junior reporter, and perhaps under the impression that bad news gets more attention than good. Perhaps that is why her article headlined “Summer job hunt outlook brighter” goes on, in the most part, to air the very negative and misleading interview.
To put the record straight, the NCDS Summer Jobs Service program has been delivered throughout the Rainy River District and Atikokan since 1997 and in that time has assisted thousands of students. In 2009, the Summer Jobs Service assisted 118 students to find employment and subsidy dollars were awarded to local employers.
A further 34 students without a subsidy also were successfully assisted with their employment needs.
During that year, $83,000 was expended locally in subsidies and other employment supports by the Summer Jobs Service program.
In 2010, $93,394 was expended on local employer wage subsidies for 156 SJS students, plus another 40 students without subsidies were assisted into employment.
Unfortunately, both of these young people apparently are unaware of the damage and repercussions that a negative and spurious article can reflect on them and on the Rainy River District, particularly when being researched by new employers, individuals, and families considering the option of moving to Rainy River District.
Perhaps with a little editorial guidance, both of these young people would not have made these mistakes.
Checking one’s source of information for validity is the basis of good reporting. When making public statements, there should be some consideration regarding the impact and possible long-term damage cast on the community.
I would like to assure summer students that there are jobs available locally waiting to be filled. And employers, there are still subsidy dollars available for those who are interested in employing students.
Tyson Grinsell is eager to help find the right person for the right job! Just call 274-2282 for your employment needs.
Thank you,
Jennifer Greenhalgh
Executive Director,
Northern Community
Development Services
Editor’s note: Zoey did try to contact the person suggested by Tyson but her calls were not returned.
