Residents of Russell, Embrun, Casselman, Vars, Limoges, and eastern Ottawa now have access to Employment Ontario services through the Employment Services Centre of Prescott and Russell (CSEPR). The agency has moved its Embrun office to the same location as the Valoris for Children and Adults of Prescott-Russell building in Embrun to better meet the needs of the region’s English- and French-speaking clients. These new spaces enable clients to receive the full range of employment services, including access to a brand-new resource center for their job search. This change of location for the CSEPR also reinforces an important, long-standing partnership with Valoris. The new office officially opened on February 22.
“It’s with great enthusiasm that we announce that we can now offer Employment Ontario services throughout Prescott and Russell, and even east of Ottawa,” said CSEPR Board of Directors Chair Lionel Renaud.
“It also means a better range of services for the region’s English-speaking individuals and employers, who can now receive services in English, or French, upon their preference,” added Renaud.
Services are provided in person or virtually. Employment counselors adapt to the needs of clients.
“Expanding our territory also enables us to offer a range of services better adapted to the entire population west of Prescott and Russell and east of Ottawa,” said CSEPR Executive Director Caroline Arcand.
At the official opening of the new CSEPR office in Embrun, former client Reine Quenneville shared her story of how the agency helped her on a new career path. Originally from Casselman, she spent many years living in Ottawa and originally worked as a hairstylist. As a separated, single parent, she attended Collège La Cité and studied communications and marketing. After moving to Alfred to be closer to her children, she applied to CSEPR during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The centre assisted her with resume development which led to employment.
“They worked as a team to help me,” Quenneville said.
Quenneville appreciates the sense of pride and potential that the centre gave her to help her find work.
“I had a lot of support and help,” she remarked.
Since 2022, Quenneville has worked in marketing and promotions for a local radio station.
The new CSEPR Embrun offices are located at 8 Valoris Street in Embrun, and is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., including lunch hour. This new location allows clients to use the Virtual Career Exploration Laboratory available at the Centre. This virtual reality tool lets clients explore more than 30 different trades, enabling them to make an informed choice about an occupation of interest, even before beginning their studies. To try the Virtual Career Exploration Laboratory, an appointment needs to be made with one of CSEPR’s employment counselors.
