The Rotary Club was delighted to welcome Michael Austin to the meeting today. Michael runs a new initiative to assist newcomers to the community with employment and it's called the Medicine Hat Area Employment Mentorship. Michael was welcomed to the meeting by PE Bruce and introduced to us by Milan Vujovic. Michael is almost "related" to our Rotary club, as he happens to be Dick Northcott's son-in-law.
Michael explained the Medicine Hat Area Employment Mentorship (MHAEM ) organization, a local professional partnership between Industry and Community Leaders with Newcomers. The organization has two distinct visions:
- "..creating a streamlined system for helping newcomers to Medicine Hat: close their professional/education gaps, build networks and friendships and find productive and fulfilling employment in a timely manner."
- "...work to enrich the Medicine Hat community through diversifying the workplace, filling the skill gaps, improving workplace understanding and culture in Medicine Hat and empowering individuals to better contribute to this wonderful community"
Their organization can be found downtown and much more information is available on the website. http://mhaem.ca
Michael spoke about the trends in employment within the province and the risk that many of the newcomer community are seriously underemployed. He talked about a few different industries and how they have found variation across Alberta. The program works on a mentor/mentee relationship and they are looking to recruit a wide variety of industry professionals across many disciplines.
They have provided a variety of workshops on resumes, interviews, financial culture and business culture in North America. They have also been partnering with established organizations such as Saamis Immigration, Being Human Services, MH Chamber of Commerce and the MH College to both provide service, mentors, and help with job placement.
Michael was thanked by PE Bruce Shepard for his excellent presentation and given our traditional "thank you" coffee mug, made at Medalta Pottery with the Rotary logo.