February 2012

Thank you Emily!

Emily Smith started at BOB March 2011 as our Office Coordinator.  She is starting her maternity leave this month, and we bid her farewell with excitement during this exciting time!  Her organization, cheery smile and creativity will be missed.  Although we are all excited to meet the new addition to her family over the next few months!  Thanks for all your hard work Emily.  You are a star.

Welcome Shannon!

If you are stopping in our BOB office on Mondays, Wednesdays or Thursdays you’ll see a new face!  Welcome to Shannon Kirkwood, who is our new volunteer and very helpful in picking up Office Coordinator duties.

Northern BC Job Fair

BOB is pleased to be involved with preparing candidates for the upcoming Northern BC Job Fair being put on by CME and E-MAP on Feb 29th. We will be arranging interview prep, interview clothing and haircuts for those who express a need for these. All interested candidates MUST RSVP and then follow up with BOB. Additional information is available here.

Employment Resources in Vancouver’s Innercity

There are a lot of changes in employment services happening over the next couple of months.  We want to start communicating about what is still available in the neighborhood for employment support as there are a number of important services shutting down.  You are welcome to help us add to this list!  We’ll keep it updated on our blog.

• BOB.  We might be open!  Fingers crossed for pending funding applications.
• Pathways Information Centre.  They might be open!  Fingers crossed for pending funding applications.
• Union Gospel Mission.  Employment services and computer resource room.
• Open Door Group.  Will be relocating to 112 W Hastings Street.
• Mission Possible.  Volunteer preparation and support.
• Carnegie Library.  Computers and library
• UBC Learning Exchange.  Resume help and computer lab.
• ACCESS. Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services Society
• Embers Staffing Solutions. Temporary job placement
• newSTART.  A 13 week program for women preparing for the job.
• Cycleback Bicycle Repair Training Program.  An 8 week training through Lookout Emergency Aid Society.
• HAVE Culinary Training Society.

New Job Postings and Opportunities

Visit www.bobics.org and look under ‘HR Services’ to apply.

• Intakes for the Cycleback Bicycle Repair Program are on-going.

• Northern BC Job Fair Feb 29, register with BOB

• SOLEfood Urban Farm Hiring Fair March 8, Register with BOB

Events

SHINE Supper, February 20th

All SEP clients, past and present, are welcome to join us for dinner at the BOB office from 4-6pm!

RSVP to Shannon at 778-328-7660

Happy Valentines Day from the BOB team!

If you are from the inner city, enjoy working with your hands and love to see plants grow being an Urban Farmer may be a good job for you!

At the Hiring Fair you will:

• Learn about Urban Farming
• Learn about SOLEfood Urban Farm
• Apply for work at the farm

There will be 2 sessions:

• One at BOB on March 8th at 87 East Pender St.
• One at DTES Neighborhood House on March 9th.

Please let us know if you plan on attending.  Call 778-328-7660 or jobpostings@bobics.org.

Nick with Danielle of BOB, as he's about to start work as a Service Technician.

There are a lot of changes in employment services happening over the next couple of months.  We want to start communicating about what is still available in the neighborhood for employment support as there are a number of important services shutting down.

You are welcome to help us add to this list!

• BOB.  We might be open!  Fingers crossed for pending funding applications.
• Pathways Information Centre.  They might be open!  Fingers crossed for pending funding applications.
• Union Gospel Mission.  Employment services and computer resource room.
• Open Door Group.  Will be relocating to 112 W Hastings Street.
• Mission Possible.  Volunteer preparation and support.
• Carnegie Library.  Computers and library
• UBC Learning Exchange.  Resume help and computer lab.
• ACCESS. Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services Society
• Embers Staffing Solutions. Temporary job placement
• newSTART.  A 13 week program for women preparing for the job.
• Cycleback Bicycle Repair Training Program.  An 8 week training through Lookout Emergency Aid Society.
• HAVE Culinary Training Society.

Happy Valentines Day from the BOB team!

Hello BOB blog readers!

Here is a letter from the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Gardens.  Let’s help make them one of the “Great Public Spaces” in Canada!  The real competition is a few places in Toronto..  Now we love Toronto..  But we love Vancouver more!  And we want to show off one of our gems.  So vote away!

Lovin’ our city,

The BOB Team

Dear wonderful folks at BOB,

We’ve been nominated as one of the The Great Places in Canada in the “Great Public Spaces” category!

There are first, second and third place winers based on votes, we believe….we need your help to be number 1!!  The three categories are “Great Streets,” “Great Neighbourhoods,” and “Great Public Spaces.” We’re in Great Public Spaces.

http://www.cip-icu.ca/greatplaces/en/place.asp?id=5930

You can only vote once each time you go on the site AND have to wait a while between visits. Please pass this to all your network and ask for their support for us. The voting goes on until the end of February; this is going to be a long campaign

Kathy

Executive Director

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

www.vancouverchinesegarden.com

January 2012

Celebrating Our Community Partners

In December we held our annual holiday open house in cooperation with Tradeworks. It was a delightful and well-attended event—the perfect place to celebrate our community partners!  We honoured employers Impark and Trimpac-Sysco for their outstanding commitment to hiring local inner-city residents and working with BOB to support them. We also recognized two fellow agencies—Tradeworks Training Society and the Salvation Army Belkin House—for their outstanding contribution to the lives of local residents and the spirit of communication and cooperation they show in partnering with BOB to improve the lives of their clients and members.

Impark

Impark has continued to be a leading partner in diversity hiring. Thanks to Barb, Van and Leah, they have hired 11 individuals for various positions from CSR to data entry. Their commitment to working with BOB has not only improved the lives of many but it has also created a positive change in the culture of their call center.

Trimpac-Sysco

Trimpac has been a steady partner and have hired 7 DTES residents over the last year. Operations Manager Jonathan Burke has shown a strong dedication to working with BOB to fill positions in his warehouse. In addition they have continued to support their staff positively with the help of our supported employment team.

Tradeworks Training Society

Many of our clients are referred directly to us through the great folks at Pathways and the Job Shop, both of which are outstanding programs of Tradeworks Training Society.

Arleen Dauncey from Tradeworks Women’s Workshop & Ross Gentleman, Executive Director of Tradeworks Training Society

Salvation Army Belkin House

BOB would like to recognize Belkin House for their great work in the community providing housing and transitional assistance to those who need it.  We appreciate their partnership and referrals to BOB’s program.  Thanks to Stephen Bell, Rebecca Bell and Eva Galvez from Belkin House who were present to accept the certificate.

New Job Postings

Visit www.bobics.org and look under ‘HR Services’ to apply.

Intakes for the Cycleback Bicycle Repair Program are ongoing.

Impark: Customer Service Rep (part-time)

Events

SHINE Supper, January 23rd

All SEP clients, past and present, are welcome to join us for dinner at the BOB office from 4-6pm! RSVP to Emily at 778-328-7660

From all of us here at BOB…Happy New Year!