Duane Hicks
Looking to build your résumé? The Town of Fort Frances has opportunities for you.
With the new term of council set to begin Dec. 1, the town is looking for applicants for its various boards and committees.
Not only is volunteering for such positions a way to effect positive change in your community, but the experience will give a leg up in the competitive job market, especially those age 18-35, said Aaron Petrin, the town’s human resources manager.
“It’s one thing to include marketable skills on your résumé but taking an active leadership role in your community speaks for itself,” he noted.
“It’s a great way to validate yourself as a job-seeker, and to become a known product in your community.
“And volunteer experience is absolutely linked to your employment prospects,” Petrin stressed.
“As an HR professional, I can speak to that directly, and I’ve gotten great value out of my volunteer experiences—tremendous value.”
While the purview of each board and committee varies, Petrin said skills you’ll take away from serving on any one of them include leadership, teamwork, communication, creativity, time management, and problem-solving.
“All those skills sound great on a résumé,” he noted.
Petrin said being on a town board or committee is beneficial for anyone.
But for the younger generation, who may be trying to find employment in the tough job market, he feels it’s a great
opportunity to get involved in the community and develop those skills employers are looking for.
In return, those younger volunteers bring their own strengths—namely their tech savvy and a tremendous amount of energy, resources, creativity, and a fresh perspective—to the table.
Petrin noted people who live here want to stay here. They have roots and enjoy the lifestyle, but there aren’t the job prospects there used to be.
“We’re all vying to the same limited amount of jobs,” he remarked.
“It’s difficult as a job-seeker if you don’t have a way to differentiate yourself,” he warned.
“And for a young person, whether you’ve been working post-high school or whether you went away to school, this can really tie it together and develop those marketable skills for your résumé and set yourself apart in the competitive job market.”
The various divisions, committees, and how many citizen appointees needed for each are as follows:
Operations/Facilities
•Traffic Safety Committee (two)
Community Services
•Fort Frances Public Library Board (five);
•Kiwanis Sunny Cove Camp Advisory Committee (two);
•Museum & Cultural Centre Advisory Committee (five);
•Sister Kennedy Centre Board of Management (five); and
•Theatre Management Advisory Committee (one)
Planning/Development
•Business Improvement Area board of management (11 but must be a business land owner, tenant, or an appointee of such);
•Committee of Adjustment (seven); and
•Fort Frances Municipal Non-Profit Housing Corp. (one person needed for one-year term)
Council
•“Citizen of the Year” committee (three);
•Economic Development Advisory Committee (nine); and
•Fort Frances Police Services Board (one).
The term of office for each is four years, expiring Nov. 30, 2018 (unless otherwise indicated).
Current board and committee members can re-apply and may be re-appointed.
Applications must be submitted to the town by 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 19.
Those received will be referred to their respective executive committee for recommendation to council.
For further information, contact clerk Lisa Slomke or deputy clerk Kathy Lawson (274-5323), e-mail town@fort-frances.com, or contact the respective division manager.
