IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 2015
Internship program offers employment opportunities in the environment sector
ECO Canada program to create over 100 jobs this year
Calgary, AB – At a time when cutbacks, downsizing, and layoffs are the current reality for many Canadian businesses, ECO Canada’s Environmental Youth Corps (EYC) Internship Program is offering some good news to employers and job seekers. Funded through Environment Canada’s Science Horizons program, EYC Internships give eligible employers up to $12,000 to hire interns for full-time, meaningful environmental jobs related to science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
The EYC Internship Program will create over 100 jobs this year and issue $800,000 in wage subsidies. Eligible employers, who must meet specific criteria, receive 33% of an intern’s salary, up to $12,000. Interns must be 30 years of age or younger, eligible to work in Canada, have graduated from a post-secondary institution and currently be unemployed or underemployed. The intention is that interns will be hired on for full-time work once the internship has been completed. In 2014, over 90% of the interns were hired on for permanent positions with their internship host.
ECO Canada reports that applications for internships are well ahead of pace of previous years, reflecting both the challenges facing young people embarking on their first professional job and the current economic conditions.
“We’re pleased to partner again this year with Environment Canada’s Science Horizons program to offer EYC Internships,” says Michael Kerford, President and CEO of ECO Canada. “One of the key challenges that young environmental professionals face is simply getting their foot in the door—they need that first opportunity to prove their skills and build hands-on experience.
“Our internship program has been giving young professionals this opportunity since 1995 and it has helped directly launch over 2,500 environmental careers. Many of the past interns in this program have gone on to accomplish great things, like running their own environmental consulting businesses or quickly moving up into senior leadership roles. We’re excited to see how this year’s interns will accelerate their careers.”
At a time when companies across a variety of industries are faced with staff and budget reductions, and post-secondary graduates are competing against more experienced professionals for jobs, the EYC Internship Program provides welcome relief. Check; Kroger Weekly Ad, ALDI Weekly Ad, ALDI Catalogue, IGA Catalogue, Meijer Weekly Ad, Publix Weekly Ad, Coles Catalogue, Supercheap Auto Catalogue.
“Since Canada faces a youth employment crisis, programs like ECO Canada’s EYC Internship Program are needed more than ever to propel young graduates into their chosen fields. Over the last decade, the environmental sector of the economy has continued to grow even when the rest of the economy has not. Enabling funding support for internships in this growing sector is simply smart public policy,” says Tim Grant, Editor at Green Teacher.
Adds Patricia Cavallari, CHRL, Human Resources Manager at ECOH, “The nature of our business is very scientific, and our training program for new hires is quite extensive, lasting a period of 8-10 months. During this time, we are faced with absorbing most of the salary costs, as they are non-billable to our clients. The subsidy provides significant assistance, and it is definitely a motivating factor for ECOH when deciding to hire new graduates.”
Click here for more information on the program >
About ECO Canada
Founded in 1992, ECO Canada supports the success of the environmental workforce at every career stage, offering training, certification, HR services, and labour market research.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact: media@eco.ca
