October Newsletter
Finding Community, Confidence, and a New Career
When Kathy moved back to Thunder Bay in June 2024 to be closer to her sons while they attended post-secondary school, she was excited to be near family again. But after settling in, she faced a challenge familiar to many people starting over in a new place. She needed to start building connections.
In May 2025, Kathy decided to start an active job search. Knowing she needed more than just job postings, she looked online for an employment service organization that could help her connect with opportunities and people in the community. That’s when she found YES Employment Services.
From her very first phone call, Kathy knew she had come to the right place.
“My first recollection was speaking with Jason,” Kathy recalls. “He was warm, welcoming, and I felt at home.”
Kathy met with Employment Coordinator Janet and shared her goal of finding meaningful work while building a professional network in Thunder Bay. Together, they began by updating and refining her resume to highlight her strengths and align it with the type of role she was seeking.
As they worked together, Janet recognized Kathy’s friendly nature, strong communication skills, and genuine ability to connect with people. She saw that Kathy would thrive in a role where she could welcome and support others while making a positive first impression.
Throughout her job search, Janet remained a steady source of encouragement, providing job leads, practical advice, and ongoing guidance. Kathy appreciated knowing she always had someone in her corner.
One opportunity arose after Kathy learned about a position at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre while attending a community fundraiser. Although that particular role was not the right fit, the experience proved valuable. During the application process, another opening became available in Diagnostic Imaging, and Kathy immediately felt excited about the possibility.
Janet once again supported Kathy through every step of the process, helping her tailor her application and prepare for the interview.
“Janet helped me every step of the way and made me confident that I would land the position,” Kathy says.
Her hard work paid off. In November 2025, Kathy was offered the position of part-time Receptionist in the Diagnostic Imaging Department at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.
To help make the transition into employment as smooth as possible, YES Employment was also able to provide Integrated Employment Services supports to assist Kathy with purchasing work essentials, including shoes, dress pants, and sweaters for her new role.
Today, Kathy is enjoying her new position and the opportunity to contribute to the community she now calls home. Her journey is a reminder that finding employment is about more than securing a job, it’s about building confidence, creating connections, and feeling supported along the way.
At YES Employment, we’re proud to walk alongside people like Kathy as they take the next step toward their goals and a brighter future. If you would like personal assistance with your job search, request an appointment here.
Program Overview
The Northern Pathways Initiative (NPI) is for job seekers who have education or work experience in Health Care, the Trades or Hospitality. NPI is designed to increase the employment success of clients pursuing opportunities in these sectors by providing:
- field-specific certification training,
- employment supports like work boots and uniforms,
- a direct connection to employment opportunities and placements in their pathway sector.
Get Started
Interested individuals can access the training and opportunities available through NPI, by visiting YES Employment Services in Thunder Bay or Lake of the Woods Employment Action Project (LEAP) in Kenora. If your business or organization has available positions in these sectors connect with: Program Supervisor Jordan Bilmer : jbilmer@yesjobsnow.com
This strategic and targeted program is designed to fill in-demand positions that are vital to the economic success of our region. The Northern Pathways Initiative is funded by the Skills Development Fund-Training Stream.
This Employment Ontario program is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario
Community Outreach
September is one of our busiest months for community events. To help students start off the school year, YES participated in the DFC Amazing Race with a booth at the marina on September 9th. We also helped welcome students to the community at the NAN Student Orientation at the Superior Inn and Conference Centre on September 29th. Our Employer Relations Team joined forces at the CENCAN Expo to meet Resource Employers in the Energy Sector on September 11th. We delivered a resume and an interview workshop for the students in the “Design Your Future” program for our partners at Lakehead Adult Education Centre on September 18th.YES also participated in the Sickle Cell Awareness event on Saturday September 19th at the DaVinci Centre.
On Wednesday September 23rd, YES hosted a special Celebration of Services following our Annual General Meeting. In our 45th year of service to our community we came together to mark this exciting milestone. A huge thank you to all our guests including staff, leadership, our board of directors and especially the clients, employers and community partners who joined us to share their success stories.
On September 30th, YES staff and leadership was treated to Three Sisters Soup for lunch, thoughtfully prepared by our Wellness Committee (Caterina, Summer and Matt). Three Sisters Soup is inspired by a dish with centuries-old roots among various First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples and was the perfect way to bring us all together on this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. A big YES thank you to our Wellness Committee for this hearty delicious meal!
Testimonial alert. We are so grateful for all of the local businesses who recognize the value of the programs we deliver. Visit the Employer information page of our website to read the full testimonial from Andrew Tempelman at A.T. Lawn Care and Property Services. Take advantage of the Employment Ontario programs that can help you recruit, onboard and retain staff!