CHARLOTTETOWN – June 26, 2014 – Fisheries and Oceans Minister Gail Shea, on behalf of the Honourable Rob Moore, Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency), and PEI Innovation and Advanced Learning Minister Allen Roach are pleased to announce a combined government investment of $92,500 to the PERCÉ program.

PERCÉ gives up to 20 post-secondary students from across Prince Edward Island the opportunity to enhance their business skills, make important network connections, and increase their awareness of potential career paths that could allow them to live and work in their home province after graduation.

The Government of Canada, through ACOA’s Business Development Program, is investing $50,000 to support the PERCÉ program. The Government of Prince Edward Island, through the Department of Innovation and Advanced Learning, is investing an additional $42,500.

INTERNSHIPS

PERCÉ, a youth internship-based program, was developed to provide Prince Edward Island youth who are entering their third or fourth year of university or college with work opportunities with Island businesses and organizations, relevant to their field of study.

“Our Government recognizes that the future prosperity of our region depends on developing young leaders and providing them with the essential tools, information and networking opportunities they need to contribute, innovate and succeed,” said Shea. “Programs like PERCÉ give our youth the opportunity to gain valuable business experience and to foster their skills at home in Atlantic Canada.”

“Not only does the PERCÉ program provide valuable job experience but it makes it easier for our Island’s Francophone youth to launch careers here in their home province. This is a great way to encourage talented Island youth to build their futures right here on PEI,” noted Roach.

PERCÉ is administered by RDÉE Prince Edward Island Inc., the provincial francophone economic development council of Prince Edward Island. Their mission is to actively contribute to entrepreneurial and community economic development and job creation within the Acadian and francophone community of Prince Edward Island.

The organization’s president, Martin Marcoux, noted that “RDÉE Prince Edward Island is extremely pleased to be able to coordinate this popular, bilingual internship program, which is already in its 11th annual edition. On the occasion of its 10th anniversary, we surveyed former participants. We were pleasantly surprised to learn that 82 per cent of them, after completing their postsecondary studies, had returned to PEI or have the intention of returning in the very near future to make a life and a career here. We are therefore proud to collaborate actively in the retention of our young Islanders.”

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Contacts:

Kelsie Corey
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Rob Moore
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
613-941-7241

Katie MacNevin
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
902-626-2878

Ron Ryder
Innovation PEI
902-368-6859