The role of Local Boards is to engage their communities and community partners in a local labour market research and planning process that leads to cooperative efforts among partners to find local solutions to local issues.
To achieve this objective, Local Boards undertake the following activities:
- Development and implementation of a Trends, Opportunities and Priorities (TOP) process: a series of activities led by each Local Board in their area that includes:
- the production of Census profiles;
- research of local labour market information;
- consultation with community partners & stakeholders to discuss and prioritize issues, trends, opportunities and priorities;
- development of a community partners' action plan to foster the development and implementation of local solutions to local issues;
- the production of a TOP report to capture the results of the process.
- Fostering of local partnerships activities that address specific issues, trends, opportunities and priorities identified during the TOP process.
Local Boards have proven themselves as "catalysts for positive change" to labour market conditions at the community level. Through their work in developing and fostering relationships with key partners and stakeholders, they continue to support and strengthen local labour market planning.
1000 Islands Region Workforce Development Board
The 1000 Islands Region Workforce Development Board has been operating since December 1996. Over the 15 years, the Board has partnered in over 120 projects addressing labour market issues in the local area. The 1000 Islands Region Workforce Development Board has two office locations located in Gananoque and Pembroke.
The 1000 Islands Region – Gananoque Head Office
The head office manages all the financial and administrative tasks of the Board as well as facilitating partnerships and local area planning. Its area of responsibility includes the counties of Leeds and Grenville, Frontenac and the Township of Loyalist covering communities such as Kingston, Brockville, Gananoque, Prescott, Kemptville, Bath, Cardinal and Sharbot Lake.
The Labour Market Group of Renfrew & Lanark – Pembroke Branch Office
In 2006, the 1000 Islands Region Workforce Development Board opened a branch office in Pembroke to facilitate partnerships and local area planning in the counties of Renfrew and Lanark. This area includes such communities as Perth, Smiths Falls, Carleton Place, Mississippi Mills, Arnprior, Renfrew, Pikwakanagan, Pembroke, Petawawa and Deep River.
