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PAST PROGRAMS

PAST PROGRAMS

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Aboriginal Work Connections

Aboriginal Work Connections was  a 12-week (3-phase) Job Readiness and Essential Skills Program with assessments, life skills, basic skills and upgrading, computer training, short-term certificate training, job search skills, and work experience.

It was supported by employment counselling, mentoring, coaching, guest speakers, and follow-up services and supplemented by wage subsidies, child care costs, transportation and extraordinary costs, where required and warranted.

BC FoodWorks

The objective of the BC FoodWorks Program was to accelerate the success of new or early growth phase agrifood processing companies based in British Columbia. The Program supported individual small and medium-sized enterprises throughout the province by providing business training, customized workshops, one-on-one coaching and mentoring, ongoing business support, networking and marketing opportunities to address challenges related to business planning, human resources, export development, investment attraction, operations, regulatory processes and/or sales and marketing.

Business Works for Youth

Business Works for Youth was an entrepreneurial program that assisted eligible youth in South and Central Vancouver Island take their business ideas/concepts and turn them into a viable business, by way of business coaching, entrepreneurial training, and support from the community.

The program was designed to assess interest and aptitude, and once determined, to assist Participants to acquire entrepreneurial and work-related skills through the development and implementation of a business plan.

We worked with each Participant to develop and implement a customized participation plan which outlined tailored activities and financial supports (where required and warranted), designed to meet the individual needs of the Participant.

Canadian Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation Services

In partnership with Canadian Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation Services, ETHOS provided business feasibility and assessment services across a variety of disciplines and industries.

CARE - Abbotsford, Mission, Gulf Islands, Nanaimo, Saanich, Sidney

Assisted clients in the Nanaimo, Abbotsford, Mission, Sidney, Saltspring and Saanich area to prepare for, obtain and maintain employment

  • Provided employment related services
  • Employment Resource Centre

Experience Works

Experience Works (EW) operated from 2000 to 2010 as a six-week career decision-making program supporting mature workers (45+) in returning to the workforce. Over 10 years, 1,448 participants benefited from facilitated group sessions, one-on-one counselling, and training in transferable skills, job search techniques, and computer literacy. The program also provided short-term training, employer connections, and individualized job search plans, helping participants build confidence to secure and maintain employment. Follow-up support was offered for 12 weeks post-program to ensure success. EW was delivered both on-site and regionally across Duncan, Lake Cowichan, Nanaimo, Parksville, and Qualicum.

Experience Works Entrepreneurs

The Experience Works Entrepreneur program provided self-employment assessment and training support to participants between the ages of 50 and 65 and who were transitioning back into the labour force through self employment.

Experience Works Mobile

Experience Works Mobile (EW-M) was a six-week program for unemployed individuals aged 50–64, focused on improving employability and transitioning participants back into the workforce. The program combined group training, one-on-one counseling, and professional and self-assessments to clarify skills and goals. Topics included job search strategies, resumes, interviews, labour market information, and computer literacy.

Participants also received employment assistance, including needs assessments, return-to-work plans, referrals, and support from a Job Connection Counsellor for job shadowing and work placements. Post-program mentoring and 12 weeks of follow-up support ensured lasting success. The program served Qualicum, Sechelt, Port Alberni, and Mission.

Job Options

The Job Options program equipped individuals with skills to secure and sustain employment. It offered up to 12 weeks of programming, including 6 weeks of group and individual sessions, followed by short-term training and work experience. Participants left the program employed, more confident and skilled in job searching, or ready to pursue further training.

Gray Skills

Gray Skills was a program for mature workers aged 54+, designed to enhance employability and address workforce gaps on Vancouver Island. Piloted in Greater Victoria, it supported non-EI eligible participants and promoted the benefits of hiring older workers to address skill shortages and retention challenges.

Key activities included:

  • Developing Return-to-Work Action Plans (RTWAPs) with a Job Coach
  • Completing assessments such as MBTI and Personality Dimensions
  • Creating résumés and cover letters
  • Facilitating job matches with small businesses
  • Providing skills training as needed for job placements
  • Offering workshops on networking, workplace communication, stress management, and online job search tools

Participants attended bi-weekly workshops, weekly networking sessions, and completed online modules to improve job search strategies and workplace readiness.

Greater Victoria Urban Older Worker Program

The Greater Victoria Urban Older Worker Program was a 12 week (3 phase) Job Readiness and Essential Skills Program for Older Workers in the Greater Victoria Area, with assessments, life skills, basic skills and upgrading, computer training, short-term certificate training ,job search skills and work experience

It was supported by employment counselling, mentoring, coaching, guest speakers, and follow-up services and supplemented by wage subsidies, child care costs, transportation and extraordinary costs, where required and warranted.

Ready to Rise

The Ready to Rise (R2R) employment program was a 12-week online initiative for women aged 18+ from underrepresented groups, including LGBTQ2S+, Indigenous, racialized individuals, those with self-identified disabilities, and those with prolonged workforce absences. The self-paced program offered specialized skills training and personalized support to help participants enter or re-enter the workforce or return to school. Participants benefited from a variety of supports, including a training wage, transportation assistance, short-term certificate training, wage subsidies, and tailored job-start resources.

Skills Quest for Success

The Skills Quest for Success program was a free online training initiative for individuals with self-identified disabilities. It focused on the nine Skills for Success, which are essential for life and work as identified by the Government of Canada. The program aimed to build these foundational skills while also supporting the improvement of transferable, workplace, and self-development skills, helping participants better prepare for on-the-job demands and successfully enter or re-enter the labor force.

This program was funded by the Government of Canada’s Skills for Success Program.

Experience Works Mission

The Targeted Initiative for Older Workers offered self-employment assessment and training to help older workers transition back into the workforce through self-employment. The 7-week program focused on assessing self-employment suitability, business plan development, and small business management skills, tailored to the unique strengths and challenges of older workers. Participants completed a needs assessment, received structured assessments on self-employment, and one-on-one coaching. The program helped them create realistic business plans and career goals.

Trades and Technology Toolbox Program

The Trades and Technology Toolbox Program helped 108 clients transition into careers in trades and technology. The program included:

  • Interviewing self-referred and community-referred clients
  • Delivering group and individual information sessions
  • Facilitating 9 three-week group training programs
  • Organizing workplace tours and visits to trades and technology training facilities
  • Providing one-on-one sessions for personal plan development
  • Developing and maintaining a tracking database for HRSDC

The program was delivered by a skilled team with strong local partnerships with service providers, community agencies, employers, and training organizations in the Cowichan-Parksville corridor.

Youth Mean Business

Youth Mean Business supported 79 participants (ages 18-29) in the Victoria Capital Regional District, helping them develop entrepreneurial, employability, and occupational skills. The program focused on turning sound business concepts into formal business plans, providing training, mentorship, and financial support tailored to individual needs. Participants typically completed the program within 6 months, receiving business coaching, mentorship, and guidance on self-employment readiness.

Key program elements included:

  • Needs assessments and tailored participation plans
  • Business plan development and support
  • Mentorship from business leaders
  • Training on small business management and employability skills
  • One-on-one coaching and solution-focused counseling to address employment/self-employment barriers
  • Ongoing support for business plan implementation or job search activities

The program aimed to build self-sufficiency and foster long-term success through hands-on learning and personalized support.

QmunityWORKS

The QmunityWORKS program was an 18-week online employment initiative designed to support the LGBTQ2S+ and ally community on Vancouver Island. It began with six weeks of virtual, employment-focused workshops, followed by 12 weeks of personalized job search assistance, work experience, and/or training as well as ongoing support to promote long-term employment success. The program offered enhanced life skills and job readiness training, complemented by customized content tailored to the unique needs of the LGBTQ2S+ community and each participant received personalized support from job developers and employment counselors. Participants received a training wage during the workshop phase, along with job start and job sustainment supports. 

This program was funded by the Government of Canada through the Canada-British Columbia Workforce Agreement. 

DigitalWORKS for Young Adults

The DigitalWORKS program was designed for youth aged 17 to 29 on Vancouver Island, offering 18 weeks of comprehensive support. It began with a six-week online employment program delivered daily in a virtual format, followed by 12 weeks of personalized job search assistance, work experience, and/or training. Additional follow-up services were provided to ensure sustained employment success and each participant received personalized support from job developers and employment counselors.  The program focused on developing essential digital skills to help participants transition into employment or post-secondary education. Participants received a weekly training allowance during the classroom phase, along with job start and job sustainment supports. 

This program was funded by the Government of Canada through the Canada-British Columbia Workforce Agreement.   

RiseUP

RiseUP was a program designed to create pathways to employment for women with disabilities on Vancouver Island. Open to participants with diagnosed or self-identified disabilities, the program provided specialized skills training and tailored supports to help participants achieve success in employment or self-employment. It featured a six-week online workshop component, combining asynchronous learning with facilitator-led virtual sessions, followed by 12 weeks of job search assistance, work experience, and/or training. Each participant received personalized support from job developers and employment counselors. The program also included a training wage and access to specialized workshops. 

This program was funded by the Government of Canada through the Canada-British Columbia Workforce Agreement.  Â