Dauphin Neighbourhood Renewal Corp (DNRC) has launched a new initiative to support young people in the job market.

The DIVERSEcity Youth Employment Readiness Program is designed to support young people who are facing barriers or feel limited as they attempt to make their way in the workforce.

“What we’re wanting to do here is really assist youth who are ages 15 to 30 who are struggling to find meaningful employment,” said program co-ordinator Stacy Purdey.

“We want to help them gain the skills and the confidence to get into a job that is of value to them.”

Whether it’s a first-time job seeker or someone looking to level up to more meaningful employment, Purdey said there can be any number of barriers holding a person back.

The program will not only focus on job skill training, but will work with each participant to manage or remove obstacles they face as it relates to employment.

“Whether it’s that they just haven’t found the right employer, whether they’re struggling with child care, addictions, housing, social skills,” she said.

“We really want to individualize the program to those who are attending, which is why we only accept about five people for the intake. So that we can really work closely with them to overcome any of those concerns that they’re having.”

The DNRC DIVERSEcity program is set up to offer training which targets three high-demand sectors - customer service, childcare, and trades.

The 11-week sessions will offer participants valuable skills tailored to the community’s labour market needs, Purdey said.

The first session on customer service is open for registration now and gets underway, Nov. 25. It will be followed by a session on child care in early March 2025 and a session on trades in May.

To support success, participants will be provided with a living allowance based on their participation. Each 11-week session includes eight weeks of skill development and three weeks of practical experience.

“We do a lot of things as a group, but there is also opportunities for one-on-one, depending on what the needs are,” Purdy said.

The program will connect participants with local businesses and organizations, in an attempt to address the growing demand for skilled, motivated employees, Purdey said, and is an important step toward building a sustainable future for Dauphin’s workforce.

Local businesses and organizations interested in partnering to provide job experience are encouraged to contact Purdey at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

“We’ll reimburse businesses to employ them during their work experience. So if there’s any businesses who are interested, they should absolutely reach out, as well,” Purdy said.

“We reimburse for minimum wage, so if they pay them more that’s out of their pocket.”

Anyone interested in applying for a seat in the program is encouraged to apply now for any of the upcoming sessions. The application and more information can be found on the DNRC website at dauphinnrc.ca.

“Or they can stop by in person, as well,” Purdy said.

“We still have space available.”