TIMISKAMING-COCHRANE – The Ontario government is providing more than $1 million through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) for 33 internship opportunities in the Timiskaming-Cochrane region. This investment will help businesses invest in and grow Northern Ontario’s workforce.

“Our government is keen on strengthening the North’s skilled workforce by investing in career development opportunities that benefit employers and employees across the region,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development. “By leveraging tools like the NOHFC’s Workforce Development Program, we boost local economies and provide the financial assistance for business owners to train the next generation of skilled workers.”

Internship projects receiving NOHFC funding include:

• $35,000 for the Board of the Timiskaming Health Unit to hire a Drug and Alcohol Strategy Coordinator Intern to engage in public health promotion
• $30,227 for the Iroquois Falls Chamber of Commerce to employ a Business Facilitator Intern to strengthen the chamber’s business revenue streams, plan events and engage in membership retention
• $22,724 for the Dr. Casey Baldovin Optometry Professional Corporation to recruit an Optometric Assistant Intern to greet patients and assist with eye measurements and readings
• $21,528 for Dalew Farms Inc. to secure an Inventory and Marketing Intern to organize product inventory and assess the quality of incoming products
• $25,116 for the Susan T. McGrath Professional Corporation to hire a Bookkeeping Intern to collect data and handle sensitive documents.

The Ontario government is supporting local internships through the NOHFC’s Workforce Development Program. The program supports a wide variety of internships, including skilled trades, and addresses the unique needs of other in-demand jobs. Program candidates include new entrants into the workforce, those transitioning to a new career, the unemployed and underemployed.

The NOHFC promotes economic prosperity across Northern Ontario by providing financial assistance to projects—big and small, rural and urban—that stimulate growth, job creation and skills development. Since June 2018, the NOHFC has invested more than $864 million in 7,028 projects in Northern Ontario, leveraging more than $2.5 billion in investment and creating or sustaining over 10,932 jobs.

Quick Facts

• The Ontario government’s enhanced NOHFC programming supports more projects in rural northern communities and makes it easier for more people and businesses to apply. The programming targets existing and emerging markets, provides more work opportunities for Indigenous people and addresses the skilled labour shortage in the North.

Additional Resources

• The NOHFC, Northern Development Offices and Small Business Enterprise Centres are available to support northern communities, businesses and other stakeholders in identifying economic development opportunities and assist in accessing government funding programs.
• Full list of the 36 Temiskaming-Cochrane region internships receiving NOHFC funding.

 Quotes

“With funding from the NOHFC’s Workforce Development Program, the Timiskaming Health Unit was able to hire a qualified and passionate new graduate to coordinate the implementation of the Timiskaming Drug and Alcohol Strategy. To date, we have been able to maintain his employment, effectively increasing the professional capacity in the region, and in our organization.” – Randy Winters, Director of Corporate Services, Board of the Timiskaming Health Unit

“The Workforce Development Program has benefitted the Iroquois Falls Chamber of Commerce immensely over the years. The ability to have a funded intern as a non-profit organization allows us to offer benefits and quality services to our members and business community, as well as events for the area. The Chamber appreciates the generosity and commitment of those involved in the Workforce Development Program and hopes to be able to continue working with them in the future.” – Justice Rivest, President, Iroquois Falls Chamber of Commerce

Media Contacts

Erika Robson, Minister’s Office
erika.robson@ontario.ca

Media Desk, Communications Branch
mediadesk.ndm@ontario.ca