A bittersweet celebration for Skills Links grads

Feb 09, 2012

Photo: Skills Links Blossoms grads back row, l-r: Sonni Teal, Jessica Patterson, Josh St. Pierre, Brittany Knapp, front row: Katie Hoadley, Tiffany Ducharme, Nick Tanner and John Sweet

Eight young adults received numerous certificates at a graduation ceremony held at the St. Lawrence Employment Centre in Sharbot Lake on Feb. 2 after completing the Skills Links Blossoms program there. Graduates received one certificate from the Employment Service in recognition of all the workshops they completed in the programs, as well as a certificate from St. Lawrence College for completing the entire Skills Links Blossoms program. Each student also received a letter of appreciation from the Township of Central Frontenac, who benefited from a number of hands-on construction projects the students completed under the tutelage of Bill Young.

It was a bittersweet day for the students, many of whom expressed sadness that their time together was coming to a close. However, they also looked forward to moving ahead in their lives armed with numerous new skills and knowledge.

Ashley Barrie, who coordinated the program, which was offered through the St. Lawrence College Employment Centre, said, “We are definitely hoping to see this program run again within the year but are also looking at some other upcoming programming options as well.”

Some of the graduates will now be entering the workforce, some will be finishing their high school education and some will be returning to other school programs, while others are still in the process of making other career decisions. Both students and staff who sat down to enjoy their final lunch together were impressed by the amount of the work that was accomplished during the 12-week program and all deemed the program an overwhelming success.