Free virtual event aims to help displaced workers get back into the workforce

Waterloo Region – The Region of Waterloo and the City of Kitchener are partnering to help local workers, who may have been displaced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, re-evaluate their skills and get back into the workforce.

Partnering with Plum and Communitech, the Region of Waterloo and the City of Kitchener are hosting a free one-hour virtual event on October 20, 2020 called Retooling Yourself for the Jobs of the Future.

The event has been designed for members of the local workforce who have found themselves without work, or worry that they may be out of work soon, due to the ongoing pandemic.

Co-hosted by Regional Chair, Karen Redman and Kitchener Mayor, Berry Vrbanovic, the event will feature panelists from local organizations providing information and advice on:

• job seeking;
• insights into the job market in Waterloo Region;
• virtual interview skills;
• how to get involved in the local tech market;
• and, inspiring first-hand stories from three Waterloo Region residents who have undergone big career transitions.

In addition, event registrants will receive access to free, personalized skill assessment from Plum, a local Waterloo Region company. Plum helps workers better understand their innate transferable talents, such as innovation, communication, and teamwork. The Plum assessment provides a personalized profile that includes advice on how workers can leverage their unique talents in order to thrive in their careers. While the Plum professional development guide usually comes at a charge, Plum is offering it, free of charge, to up to 500 Waterloo Region residents for this event.

“We’re pleased to be partnering to put this event on for our local residents,” said Regional Chair, Karen Redman. “The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly been felt by our local workforce and economy, and this event is a great example of how we’re trying to help get people back to work.”  

“The focus of this event is on transferrable skills and helping job seekers in our region figure out how to make the leap to a new career,” said City of Kitchener Mayor, Berry Vrbanovic. “It’s been designed to give job seekers the tools and knowledge they need to get back into the workforce during these turbulent times.”

This is a Future of Work & Learning event. The Waterloo Region Future of Work & Learning Coalition began as an informal conversation in 2019. Today, we are a community of employers, employees, academia, and government dedicated to future-proofing our workplace.

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For more information, please contact:

Laura Philippe, Communications Coordinator, Office of Regional Economic Development, Region of Waterloo

226-753-0676 or lphilippe@regionofwaterloo.ca

Brad Moore, Communications and Marketing Associate, Corporate Communications and Marketing, City of Kitchener

519-741-2200 ext.7816 or Brad.Moore@kitchener.ca