Cross-Training and Skills Development Lead to Longer Employment, Increased Income

Cape Breton Island, NS – New resources are being made available to Cape Breton’s tourism-focused businesses, to expand employee cross-training and skills development to assist with meeting the demands of visitors who are coming earlier to Cape Breton Island and staying later. The initiative, supported by the Government of Canada, the Province of Nova Scotia and tourism partners will assist the long-term sustainable health of the tourism economy.

The Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia (TIANS) and the Nova Scotia Tourism Human Resource Council (NSTHRC) are working with regional industry partners and business groups to provide industry operators with toolkits to improve human resources practices, deliver service excellence training and provide access to apply to a wage subsidy, intended to support labour costs related to operating outside the traditional tourism season. Regional partners for the program on Cape Breton Island are the Cape Breton Partnership and Destination Cape Breton.

“The Cape Breton Partnership is proud to be a delivery partner on this program for the benefit of our Island’s tourism operators,” says Carla Arsenault, President & CEO of the Cape Breton Partnership. “The Cape Breton experience is second to none, and that is largely due to the expertise of our businesses and dedicated workforce. Our hope is that this program will grow our tourism operators’ business capacity and enhance employee skillsets.”

Terry Smith, CEO of Destination Cape Breton, says, “This seasonality initiative is in complete alignment with the work Destination Cape Breton and tourism operators have been doing to extend our shoulder seasons and build our winter season. Additionally, it has the potential to help alleviate workforce shortages for participating operators.”

In addition to the resources listed above, businesses will be connected to ongoing labour research activities and data, along with support services, to maximize employee attraction in areas with labour shortages.

Operators interested in participating in the program or those who would like more information should call the Cape Breton Partnership at 902-562-0122 or email info@capebretonpartnership.com.

Media Contact:
Lisa Dahr, Director, Industry Relations & Professional Development
TIANS/NSTHRC
902-422-5249
lisa@tourism.ca