SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A vital service for Yellowknife job hunters has changed hands after professional development company Genesis Group was closed last month.
The acting executive director of the Conseil de developpement economiques des Territories du Nord-Ouest, Anne-Christine Boudreau, left, and Career Centre manager Natalie Van Dusen sit in the Nunasi Building last Friday. The French business association has officially taken over the Genesis Group's facility. - Thandiwe Vela/NNSL photo
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The Genesis Group Career Centre, which has provided assistance on developing resumes, cover letters and job searching for more than a decade, has been taken over by French business association, the Conseil de developpement economiques des Territories du Nord-Ouest (CDETNO).
It is now known only as the Career Centre.
"Officially, it's the Career Centre. And in French, Carrefour Carrières," said CDETNO acting executive director Anne-Christine Boudreau. "CDETNO is really happy administrating it. It's a great opportunity as well for CDETNO to ensure the quality of services that are both in French and English."
The same services will be offered under the new administrator, said Career Centre manager Natalie Van Dusen.
"We have eight computers, a fax machine, you can scan, there's a free telephone for the public to call employers, and just that assistance really, for people that are unsure," Van Dusen said. "Sometimes people have been laid off or they're new to town and really unfamiliar with the labour market and where they should be applying. So we can help them."
The Career Centre sees on average 20 to 25 people a day and logged 4,103 individual visits last year.
The centre does not track success stories but regularly receives anecdotal accounts of clients securing jobs, Van Dusen said.
Marilyn, a client who was in the Career Centre last Friday, said she recently secured a job in finance with the help of the staff.
"I found a job the last time I came here within a month," she said. "I come back to look online for any training that's upcoming.
"I am really happy to have this service here, especially for people who don't have access to a computer at home."
CDETNO has offered career development services from its BDC Building office for the French community and sees about 200 clients per year in French.
Nunasi Corporation announced last month it is closing its Genesis Group Conference and Training Centre as well as the downtown Yellowknife campus of Academy of Learning College -- both arms of the corporation's Northern Learning Institute.
The corporation struggled to find profitability in the businesses following the recession.
CDETNO is a non-profit organization.
The Career Centre, located on the main floor of the Nunasi Building, will be holding its grand opening today from 4 to 6 p.m.
