Labour News Roundup
For those of you who may have missed the top stories here's the news we think you should know:
1. CBC Windsor: Batman's Ontario illustrator draws own dreams
Posted: Aug. 22, 2012
"Jason Fabok, 27, of Harrow, Ont… said it's unheard of to get an opportunity like this after just a few years in the business.
But it's not impossible, he said, and encourages any young artist to pursue his or her dreams because they do come true.
"This industry is a terribly hard business to get into," said Fabok.
Growing up, Fabok was always fascinated by cartoons, and as a teenager, comic books became a basic necessity.
Home-grown Windsor comic book artist David Finch, who has worked for DC Comics and Marvel, was a mentor to Fabok and played a pivotal role in his rising career, he said.
Finch also recently brought Batman to Toronto by putting the city's backdrop on the cover of DC Comics' Batman: The Dark Knight, issue No. 11.'"
Note: Jason Fabok graduated from the three-year tradigital animation program at St. Clair College in Windsor, Ont.
2. The Globe and Mail: Older workers feel 'not very good' about job prospects
By Ora Morison, Posted: Aug. 22, 2012
"Older job seekers are more pessimistic than unemployed young people, and more likely to accept a job that pays less.
Among jobless Canadians aged 55 to 64, 81 per cent said they would take a job that offered 10 per cent less pay than their previous job, while only 69 per cent of those aged 20 to 34 said they would do the same, according to a Statistics Canada study released Wednesday.
People in the older group were also twice as likely compared with younger job seekers to say their chances of finding a job were “not very good,” with many citing their age and health as the main barriers they faced.
Despite these differences, people in both age groups spent about 13 hours each week on the job hunt, and older and younger job seekers were about equal in their likelihood to look outside their community for work."
3. The Windsor Star: Early EQAO results released
Posted: Aug. 29, 2012
"The province’s Ontario Education Quality and Accountability Office released the highlights of the 2012 test results on Wednesday.
Similar to last year’s results, math scores among Grade 3, 6 and 9 students are lagging behind the provincial standard for reading and writing scores.
Compared to five years ago, however, scores in all three areas are up, with the exception of Grade 3 math, where rates remained the same, and Grade 6 math, where the scores have dropped slightly.
Board-specific and school-specific results will be released Sept. 12."
4. The Windsor Star: Leamington's Uni-Fab expanding
By Dave Hall, Posted: Aug. 29, 2012
"Slow, steady growth has enabled a Leamington company to expand its manufacturing footprint, hire more staff and provide its products to a variety of customers around the globe.
Uni-Fab, established in 1991 by brothers Abe and Jake Fehr and two business partners, is adding 15,000 square feet to its Highway 77 plant. The company, which has 114 employees, plans to hire a dozen more welders and recently landed a contract with Bosch Rexroth Inc. in Bethlehem, Pa., to supply 145 stainless steel hydraulic tanks for use in the Panama Canal locks system.
'Business is brisk and we anticipate it remaining so for the next two or three years,' said Uni-Fab president Abe Fehr. 'We’re been fortunate in that not a lot of companies do what we do. We have a solid base of customers we’ve worked with for a number of years in automotive, mining, oil, gas and even in the airline industry.'”
5. The Windsor Star: Brave Control of Windsor hits Top 50
By Dave Hall, Posted: Aug. 30, 2012
"A Windsor company focusing on knowledge-based automation solutions has been named to Profit Magazine’s Hot 50 list for the second year in a row.
Brave Control Solutions was established in 2008 and specializes in automation and control systems for the manufacturing sector.
'Being recognized two years in a row is a great accomplishment but what makes us very proud is the fact that our company supports the manufacturing sector of our economy,' said Brent McPhail, a partner with Brave.
'As an automation company that delivers solutions to manufacturers of cars, food, beverages, farm and greenhouse products, we feel we are on the leading charge of the resurgence of manufacturing in Southwestern Ontario and Michigan.
Co-owner Joe Aarssen said 'Windsor is a leading hub for providing automation controls and being located here at this time in history is very important for our growth.'"
6. The Windsor Star: GenNext grants help youth become our next leaders
By Craig Pearson, Posted: Aug. 30, 2012
"The leaders of tomorrow got a boost Thursday thanks to two grants handed out by GenNext Windsor-Essex County.
GenNext – a United Way committee of young professionals working to increase volunteerism, philanthropy and leadership development among 20- and 30-somethings – handed out $2,500 grants to the AIDS Committee of Windsor and the Youth & Family Resource Network."
7. CBC Windsor: Region's teachers schooled in technology
Posted: Aug 31, 2012
"'We have to flip the classroom. It's a different age. It's a different student then it was ten years ago and now we have to meet their needs,' St. Joseph's high school vice principal Doug Sadler said.
At his school, Sadler is the most tech savvy teacher on staff. So, he's helping teachers at other schools learn to use the newest tools of the trade — tablets…
Last year St. Joseph's had a Future Shop grant. 'I believe it was worth $50,000 and this past year Catholic Central received a Future Shop grant,' said John Ulicny, the Catholic board's superintendent.
This year St. Joseph's will launch a bring-your-own-device program. Students who own tech tools, like tablets, can use their own, while others will have prime access to the school's supply.
'We want to see if this is the direction we want to go,' Sadler said.
If the pilot project proves there is a lack of equal access to technology, board officials say they'll have to look at ways at rectifying that. Educators said by using tablets and other devices, their goal is to use less paper. Schools will never be paper-free, they said."
8. Financial Post: Skilled trades talent shortage is next crisis for Canadian businesses
By Rick Spence, Posted: Sept. 3, 2012
"Ask any entrepreneur about the biggest challenges facing his business, and they’ll likely say it’s hiring good people. Seasoned executives and sales people are always scarce, but the shortage of traditional skilled trades — cooks, electricians, mechanics and carpenters — is a national problem that shows no sign of easing.
Despite rising unemployment in 2009, a Statistics Canada study that year found 24% of Canadian companies weren’t able to find “the right talent” to fill the jobs available. Of the 10 jobs business owners found hardest to fill, the most serious gap was in trades — ranking ahead of engineers, teachers and nurses."
Where to Network in Windsor-Essex this August
If you’re looking to network this August, here are a few events taking place across Windsor-Essex.
Courtesy of WEtech Alliance
Special Opportunity:
Do you have news we should know? Contact us and we'll review it for our Roundup.
Short URL: http://www.workforcewindsoressex.com/?p=5516
