In collaboration with Destination Northern Ontario (DNO), Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario (NOTO) and the Ontario Tourism Education Corporation (OTEC), Regional Tourism Organization 7 (RTO7) representing BruceGreySimcoe has partnered to expand Tourism SkillsNet North – an initiative designed to identify workforce labour gaps and match job seekers with available job opportunities within the tourism sector in Northern Ontario will now be available in BruceGreySimcoe.
As a result of new partnerships with Regional Tourism Organization 7, Tourism SkillsNet RTO7 will be able to identify specific workforce labour gaps in Southern Ontario, as well as identify and train 100 potential employees in the region.
Regional Tourism Organization 7 will work to connect employees hired after April 1
st, 2023, and prospective employees with free training provided virtually by project partner OTEC (Ontario Tourism Education Corporation). Additionally, Regional Tourism Organization 7 will work with employment service providers in Bruce, Grey, and Simcoe counties to match prospective employees with available job opportunities within Region 7’s tourism sector.
For employees hired after April 1
st, 2023, while the training is free, qualified employers will be eligible for a 50% wage subsidy for up to 10 employees. This subsidy is capped at:
-
Seasonal employer (new TSN7 job seeker/employee): $3,000
-
Seasonal employer or year-round employer (returning TSNN job seeker/employee): $2,500
-
Year-round employer (new TSN7participant/employee): $5,000
“We are excited to collaborate on this initiative with our partners to support the thousands of tourism operators in Region 7,” states Bill Sullivan, CEO of RTO7. “Workforce shortages in the tourism sector pre-date the pandemic. We think this program provides sought after training opportunities and showcases opportunities to work in this vibrant, diversified and rewarding sector.”
Participants and job seekers will be enrolled in a free blended learning environment which includes virtual, instructor-led workshops and self-directed e-learning courses. Employers participating in the program are eligible to enroll in free instructor-led training. In addition, Regional Tourism Organization 7 will work with various Employment Service Providers in the region to help match employees with employers.
Registrations will be accepted from May 16, 2023 and the program will run until March 29, 2024, pending available funding. Registrations are being accepted from both employers and job seekers/employees with an emphasis on spreading out the funds over Region 7. Each organization is eligible to receive wage subsidies for up to a maximum of 10 employees for the program.
For job seekers/employees and employers looking to participate in the program,
please visit the RTO7 webpage for full information on the program. Details of the
Tourism SkillsNet RTO7 initiative, including the link to the online registration form are available on
RTO7.ca.
For more information about the program, please contact:
Kim Clarke
Manager, Stakeholder Relations
kclarke@rto7.ca
Regional Tourism Organization 7
About Regional Tourism Organization 7 (RTO7)
RTO7 is a regional tourism organization established in 2010 that is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. RTO7 actively promotes tourism within Bruce, Grey, and Simcoe counties and works to support and grow the tourism industry through marketing, product development, investment attraction, and workforce development initiatives.
For more information, please visit our website:
www.rto7.ca
About Destination Northern Ontario (DNO)
Destination Northern Ontario is one of 13 not-for-profit regional tourism organizations funded by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. We are the largest tourism region in geography, the second largest in expenditure and the only region that includes sub-regions.
Our Vision: Northern Ontario will be a unique and distinctive tourism destination wherein high-quality products and experiences resonate with consumers, entrepreneurship is valued, and tourism provides local, regional and global connections for the entire region. Destination Northern Ontario will take a leadership role to strategically guide and champion growth in Northern Ontario’s tourism industry, through strong communication, collaboration and partnerships with industry.
For more information on Destination Northern Ontario, please visit:
www.destinationnorthernontario.ca Follow us on Twitter or on Facebook for the most up-to-date news and information.
About Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario (NOTO)
NOTO is a sector organization that has been representing the needs of over 1,100 resource-based tourism businesses in Ontario since 1929. We are a membership-based organization that works to advocate for policies and regulations that support a vibrant and prosperous outdoor tourism industry in Ontario. We engage with all industry stakeholders, tourism organizations, and government offices at all levels to collaborate for optimum outcomes.
For more information please visit our website:
https://noto.ca/
About The Ontario Tourism Education Corporation (OTEC)
The Ontario Tourism Education Corporation (OTEC)The Ontario Tourism Education Corporation (OTEC) is a not-for-profit organization delivering award-winning skills training, consulting, research and insight – guiding workforce strategy and evidence-based investment for a wide variety of industries, business and destinations. OTEC leads Tourism SkillsNet Ontario – an award-winning alliance of industry partners aligning provincial workforce strategy with local labour challenges to build an empowered, resilient industry.
For more information please visit our website:
https://otec.org/