A Fresh New Face At St. Lawrence

Jun 13, 2013

There is a new face at St. Lawrence Employment Services in Sharbot Lake. Debbie Laprade, who resides in Kingston, became the new employment consultant at the centre in April of this year, replacing former staff member Arlene Uens, who retired recently from the post.

Laprade is hoping to assist clients in finding new work in the area, and having worked in the employment services field for 15 years, most recently in Kingston at Kingston Employment and Youth Services (KEYS) in their Community Employment Centre, she knows her stuff. When I spoke to her at the centre following a meet and greet on June 5 she told me that she is looking forward to assisting people in the entire catchment area, which includes the communities in Frontenac County north of Verona and up to Plevna and Cloyne.

She will help her new clients find employers and access training and will also be working with employers who are in the process of hiring. Regarding the challenges of taking the new job she said, “Getting to know this new community is one of them but I have been making the rounds, getting to know people here and so far the community has been very welcoming to me.”

What excites her about working here in a community that she describes as small and visually stunning, is that “It offers a very personalized approach compared to larger city centers. Because your reach is not as broad, the work tends to be very hands on and you are able to see the outcomes, which is very rewarding.”

What makes her good at what she does? “I'm really passionate about employment services and helping people finding meaningful work and finding the right fit with an employer and being able to upgrade their skills.”

Laprade, who is also a wife and mother, has one added bonus in her roster of experience. As a singer and recording artist herself, she has personal experience in working in the Kingston arts community and believes that it will help her to assist those looking for work in the more non-traditional, arts-related fields. Anyone with any questions about employment and training can contact her at 613-545-3949 ext. 1892 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

St. Lawrence Employment Services is located at 1099 Garrett Street in Sharbot Lake.