Moncton training program helping unemployed NBers find work

MONCTON, N.B. – People on social assistance taking part in a work training program say it’s helping prepare them for the job market.

The program is called Second Chance and is part of a partially publicly-funded program to help people find work and get off social assistance.

Under the program, people learn woodworking upholstery and basic job skills.

Ken Haggart is on week four of the twelve-week course and says he finds work difficult with his criminal record. Haggart was recently released from prison, and is relying on social assistance and food banks for help.

But he hopes the woodworking skills he’s learning in the program will help him get back on his feet.

“All I ask is give me the chance to prove myself and I’ll show you what I can do,” he said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "All I ask is give me the chance to prove myself and I'll show you what I can do," he said.

Albert Butt is the program’s woodworking instructor. He says learning skills help build self confidence in workers.

“If they don’t know much they’re not going to get to where they should be in life,” he said.

Besides skills, the program is also helping people stay out of food banks. Food Banks Canada says more Canadians have been relying on the service since 2008.

The group says helping people learn skills to get better paying jobs could help curb their reliance on food banks.

That’s what happened to Chad Westhaver.

He said he needed food banks when he lost his forestry job four years ago but after finishing the program, he found work and has enough money to pay the bills.

“It’s a great confidence booster and I look forward to coming here every day,” he said.

Maurice Richard speaks for Second Chance.

“Out of the 12 there’s 8 that are working full-time and they’ve found full-time employment,” he said, noting he hopes they can build on their success to help others.