That magical time of the year has arrived again. Spring is in full swing and the summer temperature is right around the corner. The SFU interns have completed their first week and they have begun to do my bidding.

Labour lawyer at Sherrard Kuzz, Sundeep Gokhale confirmed that in B.C. it is illegal for companies to hire unpaid interns who do work that benefits the company, unless it is a requirement for completion of a school program.

Contrary to common belief, the interns that are working for the Newton BIA this summer are getting paid. I do not send them out to get my coffee. My dry cleaning is still waiting for me to drop it off myself. We have no filing in the office. However, the board room does need a quick vacuum.

Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) is an initiative of the Summer Work Experience program. It provides wage subsidies to employers to create employment for secondary and post-secondary students. Again this year, Canada Summer Jobs welcomes applications from small businesses, not-for-profit employers, public sector and faith-based organizations that provide quality summer jobs for students.

CSJ provides funding to not-for-profit organizations, public-sector employers and small businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees to create summer job opportunities for young people aged 15 to 30 years who are full-time students intending to return to their studies in the next school year. The Government of Canada is committed to offering valuable summer work opportunities for students and to support communities in taking action on local priorities. These summer work experiences represent important pathways facilitating future transitions from school to the world of work.

The local MP’s in every riding authorize each allotment of the available resources. This year the Newton BIA applied and received funding for two students. Both are attending Simon Fraser University with majors in Communication and Business.

The young graduates of tomorrow will be our communities next leaders. As a result, I attempt to pass along a fulfilling opportunity. We are building community in Newton and the students are getting first hand experience in how to build relationships. Everyone wants to get out there and change the world but sometimes it takes hard work to achieve anything great.

I hope to inspire and then let them blow my expectations away.

Cheers,