One of the main reasons I came here was with being a young mom, and I didn’t have my kids in my care. So with all of the supportive groups YOU has, it’s really good to get connected to them. I took the YJC program. It was just a general connection with the community. If I needed to come and talk to someone, I could come here and know it was a safe environment. YOU has helped me to get a job. It’s helped to set me on the right track, and to put me in the right mindset. YOU helped me with the skills to look for a job and to find one.

I started out coming for the dental program. From there, I got connected with an Employment Counsellor, who signed me up for Youth Job Connection. I started going to the YAC and hanging out there as well. There is a staff there that was involved in the process of signing me up for housing at the Cornerstone. The suites are pretty homey and you get a sense of belonging there. YOU has helped me feel comfortable talking to people and getting out there in the community for working or volunteering. I believe the New Additional Building is going to have a huge impact on people.

Working with YOU, and being able to volunteer to do the Pop Up shops, and sampling with other volunteers and youth has given me great communication skills that I can use in finding a job ... I feel confident that everything I have learned, and continue to learn working with YOU will help me find a job that I can do confidently and comfortably. YOU have helped me so much, and I am so grateful to have these wonderful volunteer experiences. I look forward to the upcoming opportunities to work with YOU, and to continue to volunteer with events.

Youth Opportunities Unlimited has made me more confident in my work and more open to asking for help. The staff has also helped me stop guessing myself so much, so I am able to work quicker and more efficiently. YOU has helped me earn enough money to buy myself a car, developing my independence. I have learned a lot about what it is like to work in a kitchen, cooking, and all the upkeep it requires. The Market Quality Preserves program has shown me that it is not a bad thing to work fulltime and that the more you start to think positively.

The biggest impact that the program has made on my life is learning skills that I’ve never had before like tracking inventory, making jams, salsas and jellies. Also it has helped me improve my customer service skills, housekeeping skills and organizing skills. The workshops that I have done will make a pretty big impact in my life, because It has improved my knowledge about things I didn’t really know much about and it also has helped me figure out what I want to do for a career in the future. The program was very helpful and I am glad I did it. I would recommend it to anyone.

The biggest impact this program has made on my life is I know how to work at a fast pace now, as well as this program has helped me get my job at Rona. I have learned inventory skills as well as customer service skills, therefore I was a great fit for Rona. This job has also taught me that nothing comes to you if you just sit around, you have to work for your money, and that is exactly what I am doing ... this program has helped me get out of my shell, I was scared to work because of my anxiety but now that I have had this program it has helped a lot, I no longer feel scared or shy when it comes to being around people.

The biggest impact that YOU has upon me was the overall experience of working alongside with such amazing people, (Ashley, Jason, Nathan, Sonya). They really helped me realize my potential & pushed me to do my best. Ashley had helped me learn to approach co-workers and managers in a professional manner ... Nathan help me make professional decisions and taught me that making a mistake is more than just a part of life. Last but not least, Jason; he taught me everything I needed to know for the jobs assigned to me here at Next Wave (Youth Opportunities Unlimited).

The training meant way more than just job experience, working here gave me the opportunity to create a positive work space and mindset, not only here but for the future jobs to come. I was able to find out who I really am and accomplished everything I need to be.

This program gave me a sense of purpose again, it made me want to get back out there in the community, and it brought me out of a huge slump. I’ve never felt more comfortable in a workplace. They've become a part of my family.

I felt like I accomplished a lot being here, (there are) great mentors in the building. I'm grateful that I had the chance to be trained here.