This community will continue to have an office for the province's employment program, after all.
A spokesman for Back in Motion Rehab Inc. says that they will continue to offer services to Aldergrove residents in the same Community Employment Resource Centre storefront that has been occupied by Myert Corp. Inc. on Fraser Highway.
Brent Mulhall, Back in Motion's vice-president of Business Development and Strategy, says that the March 8 news story in The Aldergrove Star ("Job centre moves out of Aldergrove") was incorrect.
"We are taking over the lease on that space and our doors will officially open on April 2," said Mulhall.
It will be one of three locations in Langley, which will be known as Employment Service Centres.
"We have partnered with a wide variety of groups and agencies," said Mulhall.
"The model is new to B.C. but has been used in different jurisdictions around the world. What is unique about this service delivery in B.C. is that it is a consortium approach (in which) different service providers with different specialities come together under one roof. Therefore in Langley we have Back in Motion, Triangle, Pacific Community Resources Society (PCRS), MOSAIC, and WCG International, collaborating to provide a wide range of employment services and programming to a broad group of clients, e.g. immigrants, persons with disabilities, general job-seekers and so on."
While the main storefront will be in downtown Langley, there will be satellite offices in Aldergrove and at the Langley City Triangle offices for women.
"Aldergrove is an important part of the plan and it is our intention to run the program in the same facility. It will primarily service candidates in the remote rural community," said Mulhall. "The ministry is aware and delighted that we are staying here.
"We've ordered new signs and, in fact, we will co-habit the office with Myert for one month, and we are also hiring one of their staff. It should be a seamless transition.
"Unlike the last article you wrote which talked about a ‘slippery slope of declining social services’ I would offer this is an opportunity to bring together great organizations, working together to come up with a outcome and solution that fit both the job seeker and the employer community. We will have the expertise under one roof to deliver what is needed and necessary.
"Funded under the Ministry of Social Services, the WorkBC Employment Centres will be the brand that people will come to know, but Avia Employment Services is Back in Motion’s brand for our five catchment areas which include Langley, Newton, Richmond, Port Coquitlam, and Coquitlam. Our website is www.letsgetbctowork.ca," said Mulhall.
The address of the main storefront is #101 and #102-20316 56 Ave., Langley, B.C. V3A 3Y7. The Triangle satellite office is at #1-19951 Fraser Hwy., Langley, B.C. V3A 4E2, and the Aldergrove satellite office is at #104-26956 Fraser Hwy., Langley, B.C. V4W 3L6.