Angela’s Place in Mississauga is a 20-unit housing structure developed for families who are overcoming obstacles in their life. It is a place where families in need have access to subsidized housing and support services to assist them to get back on their feet. The facility offers support services to residents, while providing them with the necessary skills to regain stability and move towards long-term permanent housing.  

As part of this skill development, a team from the Algonquin Careers Academy Mississauga campus volunteered their services to help out a group of the residents with career counselling. Rebecca DaRosa (Campus Director), Sierra Hudson (Assistant Manager and Admissions Representative), Victoria Jones (Career Counsellor and Student Placement) and Mary Soye (Career Counsellor) put together an 8 hour careers program that consisted of resume and cover letter development, job search skills, and interviewing skills culminating in a mock interview on the final day.

It was a pleasure to work with these women (and their beautiful children and babies!). There was a wonderful team atmosphere where they all worked together and helped each other out – it was a real community. The two leaders of Angela’s Place, Colleen and Michelle, were both highly dedicated to improving the chances of success of their residents.

The careers program was well received by the residents of Angela’s Place. What an amazing group of women! They took on the learning, the resume development, the cover letter design, the job search and the interviewing skills with enthusiasm. We started with a group of 13 in the resume development and by the final day of the 4-day program, there were 7 women who had come through the entire program with flying colours. There is little doubt that these women who are very employable will be successful in attaining jobs and progressing throughout their careers. Their increased confidence by the end of the program and their effective participation in the mock interview showed how much effort these women had put into the program. This type of effort and attitude combined with the right education is what makes employees successful on the job.  
 

Angela’s Place residents – you are hired!