Fleming College

Peterborough ON – (February 14, 2020) – Fleming College has strengthened its commitment to creating prosperity and transforming communities through a new Employment Services Contract recently awarded by the provincial government.

The college will operate one of three Employment Services prototype regions, transforming the province’s programs and services. Fleming College will act as Service System Manager for the region of Muskoka-Kawarthas, responsible for a vast eastern and central Ontario area reaching from Lake Ontario in the south, through Peterborough and the Kawarthas, across to the Muskoka region.

The provincial government’s prototype project includes three test regions: Muskoka-Kawarthas, Peel and Hamilton-Niagara. Fleming College is proud to be selected to participate in this prototype. The program will find innovative and efficient approaches to Employment Services, connecting job seekers with sustainable employment.

The government’s goal is to find innovative and efficient approaches to Employment Services to better connect all job seekers, including those receiving social assistance, people with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, Francophones and those with unique needs, with sustainable employment opportunities. The province wants locally responsive, community-based, outcomes-focused, and client-centred services for individuals and businesses.

“Fleming College is a trusted public asset delivering education, skills training and employment service programs that respond to the needs of students, job seekers and employers,” said Fleming College President Maureen Adamson. “We are very eager to work alongside our partners in the region and the provincial government to meet its goals and connect more adults with good quality jobs.”

This project directly aligns with the College’s new strategic plan that is focused on providing learners with skills aligned with labour market needs to ensure broader and sustainable employment in our communities.

Through its two current employment services locations, Fleming College has served over 23,000 job seekers since 2010, achieving extensive community and employer engagement within the catchment areas. The College contributes $500M annually to the communities it serves, supporting economic and social innovation in the region.

Fleming is uniquely positioned to serve this large and primarily rural region with campuses in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton and a 50-year history of serving these communities.

About Fleming College
Fleming College respectfully acknowledges that we are situated on Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg lands and territory. Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 100 full-time programs in Arts and Heritage, Business, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, General Arts and Sciences, Health and Wellness, Justice and Community Development, Skilled Trades and Technology, and Continuing Education. Fleming College has more than 6,800 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and 75,000 alumni.

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Media, for more information please contact:

Sara O’Halloran
Communications Officer
sara.ohalloran@flemingcollege.ca
705.749.5530 x 1366

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the Employment Ontario, Service System Manager prototype?

The Service System Manager prototype is a transformation of employment services intended to help employers find the right workers with the right skills, help clients find and sustain good jobs, and help clients get the services they need when need them. Three regions in the province have been chosen as prototype areas.

Fleming College, a publically funded institution, has been chosen as the Service System Manager to work with service delivery partners including Employment Ontario, Ontario Works, and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) Service Providers.

What is the immediate impact of this announcement?

It is business as usual for job seekers and service providers. Over the next six months, Fleming College and partners will be in the first phase of the prototype which includes planning, stakeholder meetings and collaboration.

What geographic area is impacted?

Fleming College’s region encompasses the Muskoka-Kawarthas as detailed in the map below.

What does this mean for Fleming College?

As an Employment Ontario Service System Manager, Fleming College will expand its employment service operations, creating more than 10 new jobs.

Why did Fleming College win the contract to deliver this prototype for the provincial government?

Fleming is a trusted public asset delivering education, skills training and employment services programs to respond to the needs of many tens of thousands of students. In any given year, about 3,000 job seekers came to Fleming from places other than high school, bridging the skills gap and connecting more adults with good quality jobs. Since the launch of Employment Ontario in 2010, Fleming has provided service to more than 23,000 job seekers, 5,000 of whom received individualized support. 

Fleming College has demonstrated our understanding of local labour market needs and our ability to mobilize local communities to serve those needs. We have demonstrated our capacity to manage public funds in a way that addresses the priorities of the government, in this case, a focus on individuals finding and retaining jobs.

Fleming College is the only college to be included in this prototype.