COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

The centre’s services will cater to families residing in Brant, Brantford, and Six Nations, addressing the high demand for quality childcare in the region. By offering programs for children aged 18 months to 6 years old, (alongside the existing St George Children’s Center for children 18 months to 12 years of age), the facilitators and childcare providers aim to meet the specific needs of this age group while providing a nurturing and enriching environment for their development. Operating under the governance of a board of directors, the Little Learners of St. George is also committed to adhering to the regulations set forth by the Ministry of Education. This ensures that the center maintains high standards of care and education, providing families with peace of mind regarding the quality and safety of the services offered.

For those interested in learning more about the programs, detailed information can be found on their website at www.stgeorgechildrenscenter.com.

As construction progresses and plans come to fruition, anticipation continues to build for the opening of Little Learners of St. George Children’s Center. With its commitment to providing accessible, high-quality early learning and care, the center is poised to become an invaluable resource for families in the St. George community and beyond.

We are 100 People Who Care Brant, a giving circle dedicated to serving Brant County, Brantford, and Six Nations of the Grand River communities. We unite local individuals to enact social change by pooling our donations, and collectively selecting charities to support. Members contribute three times annually, for as little as $25 per cycle, for a total of $75 a year. Join us to witness the powerful outcome when 100 or more people join forces in a collective act of generosity, effecting change locally. Discover how you can amplify your individual contribution through #powerof100. Connect with us to learn more!

Local jobless rate holds steady below provincial average

BRANTFORD (May 10, 2024) –

The Brantford-Brant jobless rate barely budged last month.

After sitting at 4.9% for three straight months, April’s local unemployment rate was 5%, according to seasonally adjusted figures from Statistics Canada, the federal government agency that monitors the labour market. Even though the Canadian economy added 90,000 jobs in April – far more than forecasted –the unemployment rate was unchanged at 6 1% Ontario added 25,000 of those jobs, but the provincial jobless rate still nudged up 0 1 percentage points to 6 8% In labour markets nearest to Brantford, only KitchenerCambridge-Waterloo saw their unemployment rate fall last month. Brantford maintained its second- place spot after Guelph, whose is the lowest at 4 4%

“The Brantford area labour market continues to be healthy and stable, and the status quo is a good position to be in,” said Danette Dalton, executive director of the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie. “But alongside that story, there are other interesting trends that have become more noticeable.”

One of those trends relates to shifts in work type

There has been little change in total local employment in the last 12 months, but the number of residents working full time has increased by about 3,300, while part-time work has fallen by an equivalent number.

“It’s considered a positive barometer for the economy when full-time jobs increase,” Dalton said. “It points to employers doing well financially and having greater business confidence, and they show it by hiring or moving parttimers to full time.”

Of the jobs posted in April on the Grand Erie Jobs online job board, operated by the planning board, four in five were full-time positions. Almost 90% were permanent positions, either full time or part time

There were more than 1,900 new postings last month Combined with the postings carried over from March, the total of postings appearing in April was 3,500. The number of employers posting jobs was up 5% to 1,400.