The five local women enrolled in The Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) program - (seen on the roof of the building above) left- right: Kaitlyn Hatt, Chantelle Wishira, Isabelle Wishira, Lisa Kitchemonia and Jaz Brazeau, spent the last three weeks of their 17-week program applying the practical construction and trade skills they’ve learned.

By now, you may have seen a fancy new warming shack at the outdoor rink between the Never Better studio and the Leisure Centre on the north end of Russell’s Main Street.
The much needed warm up building at the outdoor rink has a bit of a story behind it - who built it and how it came to be.
Duane Klimack, who taught at Major Pratt school for decades, has now taken on a new project, one that incorporates both his teaching skills and his knowledge of construction.
Here’s what the government has to say about their program which is now being offered by Assiniboine Community College
“The Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) is a Government of Canada initiative that delivers 16 programs, including Canada Summer Jobs through a network of 12 federal departments, agencies, and Crown corporations.
The Strategy is designed to support diverse youth (aged 15 to 30) to become job-ready through work experience, training, skills development and supports that allow them to successfully transition into diverse sectors of the labour market. Through its wide range of programs, the strategy invests in young people to build a strong Canadian economy while ensuring we continue to support those who may struggle to get ahead.”

Get the whole story on the front page of this week's Russell Banner.