Prairie Harvest Employment Program

Program Description

At Prairie Harvest Employment Program, our goal is to help individuals who are facing challenges in their current circumstances that might inhibit them from seeking and retaining employment.  Our staff will encourage, model, and promote strong work ethic, attendance, punctuality, and positive relationships as a basis for change and future employment.

Our program takes a holistic approach to assisting individuals by helping them find stable living situations, recreational activities and educational opportunities.

We target the social and skill development of our participants through practical life skills training, counceling, correction, encouragement and job coaching.

Our goal is to access job placements for each participant with the hope that as they complete the program, they are able to walk into an occupation in the community with the skills and abilities needed to retain employment.

Background History

In June of 2004, Prairie Harvest Employment Program (PHEP) was created and funded through a partnership of Prairie Harvest Christian Life Centre Inc. and Human Resources Skills Development Canada (HRSDC).  The project was initiated to meet the needs of a growing population of ?at risk? youth in our community.  PHEP spent the first year and a half of its operations painting garages, cleaning garbage from Yorkton?s streets, undertaking construction/demolition jobs, and completing other odd jobs in Yorkton.

In December 2005, PHEP initiated Yorkton?s Curbside Recycling Program by receiving funding from the Painted Hand Community Development Corporation to purchase 400 residential blue bins to kick-start a pilot project that has developed into a partnership with the Saskatchewan Abilities Council and the City of Yorkton.

In March 2006, Yorkton City Council approved an increase to the residential recycling levy to support the operational costs of curbside recycling, creating the long-term sustainability of PHEP?s curbside recycling program.  The Curbside Recycling Program delivers approximately 320 tonnes of recyclable material each year to the Kinsmen Recycling Centre!

PHEP has forged many other successful partnerships.  In 2006, PHEP began receiving funding from The Provincial Government to create educational and employment mentorship and guidance for ?at risk? youth.  This partnership remains an important part of our long-term sustainability.

PHEP also partners with the Yorkton Business Improvement District on a flower pot project that beautifies Yorkton downtown area during the summer months.

Although the backbone of PHEP activity is the Curbside Recycling Program, other services offered to our community include an odd job squad and fine option program.  Through these partnerships our services, in particular the curbside recycling program, are delivered to Yorkton?s residents at half the actual cost.  This makes Yorkton?s residents the primary beneficiaries of our services!