Last night, senior business leaders, human resources professionals and former interns of Career Edge Organization (CEO)’s paid internship programs gathered at the TIFF Bell Lightbox to celebrate the annual CEO Achievement Awards. This year, the awards centered on the partnerships with employers and community organizations that have supported and advanced the impact of CEO’s paid internship programs.
“Career Edge Organization is more relevant today than it has ever been,” said Matt Holland, Chairman of the Board for CEO. “The growing number of underemployed and unemployed youth is approaching historical highs, reminiscent of “jobless recovery” of the early 1990s when Career Edge Organization was founded, and requires the same level of response by our society.”
Similarly, the challenges of recruiting internationally qualified professionals to Canada and the critical need to succeed in this recruitment effort is increasingly recognized by policy makers, corporations, and others. However, there remain far too many internationally qualified professionals already residing in Canada and seeking opportunities. “We need to continue strengthening our efforts to recruit and leverage talent with global work experience through innovative hiring solutions including Career Edge Organization’s Career Bridge paid internship program,” said Holland.
With the collective dedication and leadership of participating employer and community partners, interns, and alumni, Career Edge Organization and its programs will remain a sustainable and optimum path to full-time employment through meaningful internship experiences that the Achievement Awards celebrated last night.
The 2011/12 Achievement Award winners
Anne Lamont Leadership Award
Gina Melvin – Director, Operations at Curriculum Services Canada
Career Edge Organization Program Awards
Career Edge Program:
- Large Enterprise: Bell
- Medium Enterprise: First National Financial
- Small Enterprise: Curriculum Services Canada and AMR Process Inc.
Ability Edge Program:
- RBC
Career Bridge Program:
- Private Sector: RBC
- Public Sector – National/Provincial: OPS Internship Program for Internationally Trained Individuals (ITIs)
- Public Sector – Local/Civic: City of Toronto
Most Valued Internship Experience (MoVIE) Awards
- Career Edge Program: RBC
- Ability Edge Program: HROntario, Ontario Public Service
- Career Bridge Program: St. Michael’s Hospital
Intern and Mentor of the Year Awards
- Mentor of the Year Award: Heldelita Espinoza, Ministry of Health & Long-Term Care
- Intern of the Year Award – Career Edge Program: Vadym Kononenko, GE Capital – Working Capital Solutions
- Intern of the Year Award – Ability Edge Program: Nicola Chivers, TD Bank Group
- Intern of the Year Award – Career Bridge Program: Jeremy Pompey, City of Toronto
For a complete list of finalists, photos, videos and additional information about the Career Edge Organization Achievement Awards, visit www.achievementawards.ca.