Are you looking for work or considering a change in career? Is the daunting task of navigating the job market holding you back? The Montérégie West Community Network (MWCN) can help.
The MWCN recently launched a new program in collaboration with 4Korners, the English community network in the Laurentians, called English as an Asset: Boosting Employability. The regional initiative will deliver locally accessible and inclusive English-language employment services across the Montérégie Ouest and the Laurentians in partnership with YES Montreal.
Despite relatively high levels of education, English-speaking residents continue to face systemic barriers. According to a press release issued by the MWCN, unemployment rates are up to 3.7 per cent higher than those of francophones, and average annual earnings are approximately $5,000 lower. Limited access to services in English often requires individuals to travel long distances, delaying workforce entry or pushing them to seek employment outside their region.
Serving more than 103,000 English speakers in the Montérégie Ouest region and 47,000 in the Laurentians, the program expands access to employment support and helps individuals find meaningful work closer to where they are living. The initiative, which is open to all job seekers, aims to strengthen workforce readiness, enhance bilingual capacity, and support the growth of local economies.
Funding for the new program has been provided through YES Employment +Entrepreneurship’s Community Opportunity Fund, which is supported by the federal government.
“When we invest in people, we build stronger, more inclusive communities. Initiatives like English as an Asset help ensure English-speaking residents can fully access employment opportunities, while also helping local businesses connect with the skilled talent they need to grow,” said Vaudreuil MP Peter Schiefke. “Our government is proud to support projects that remove barriers, boost workforce participation, and strengthen the resilience of our regional economy.”
“Many residents are ready to contribute to the workforce, but language barriers and limited services make it harder to find sustainable employment,” said Pauline Wiedow, the executive director of MWCN. “This initiative brings skills training, personalized support, and job opportunities closer to home,” she added.
The program, which is expected to run until March 2027, will directly support 240 English-speaking job seekers through employability workshops focused on interview skills, communication, and artificial intelligence (AI), while providing individualized employment counselling tailored to their career goals and the needs of the current labour market.
Within the framework of the new program, the partner organizations will host job fairs as well as an AI focused ‘Future-Ready Careers’ event that will connect candidates with employers. The initiative will also work to build partnerships with area employers, training providers, and community organizations.
For Gabrielle Limoges, the president of the Association des Gens d’Affaires d’Ormstown et des Environs (AGAO+), bilingual communities are important. “Accessible employment services for English speakers supports families, their aspirations, and their full participation in our regional economy,” she explained.
Joanne Basilières, the employability coordinator with the MWCN, agreed. “This project brings opportunities directly into communities,” she said. “We are equipping residents with the skills and confidence they need to succeed locally while strengthening our workforce.”
For more information on the English as an Asset: Boosting Employability program, or to book an appointment, contact Basilières directly at joanne@mwcn.ca. (SR)