“., North Shore business groups and

Youth Employment Program targets twenty-somethings

By lan Noble
News Reporter

’ AS the Canadiaz: economy
improves and the youth
unemployment rate remains
stubbornly high, the new
credo is self-reliance.

When it comes to work, self-
reliance means self-employ-
ment. But for many, that’s a
daunting route to take.

A program called the
Youth Employmer: Program
(YEP) in Burnaby is helping 2
number of Lower Main!sad
twenty-somethings, including
many from the North Shore,
negotiate that tricky path.

The federally-funded, 16-
week program teaches basics
like accounting, marketing, and
management. Special speakers pro-
vide informative talks and iinks to the
business community.

The objective is thar young peo-
ple’ will come out of the program
with a well-written business plan to
take. to.-financial institutions or
investors. The plan will also functien

. ‘asa road map for their business, pro-

gram coordinator Ken Monroe said.
One of those businesses is owned
by Lions Bay’s Carl Whitehead.
Whitehead said he now knows
© more about approaching investors,
~ marketing, writing a business plan

business briefs...

ing a job.

Career Directions is a nine-
week -
February 17 at the YW
Career Services Centre in
North Vancouver.

TOYOTA FLEET
RETURN CLEARANCE |

Save the

BUSINESS BRIEFS
‘Compiled by lan Noble

individuals wishing to submit items

to Business Briefs can fax chem to
- the’ attention of Tan Noble at 985-

2104," or via modem at 980-8027

ve TD: mailbox. Password: let-
” gers)... .

| Finders keepers

Vancouver’s

industries

announced its Cuban treasure

recovery consortium — has

recovered more than 260 sil-
- ver coins from a Cuban wreck. -

Restoration of the coins is

under..way in Havana and

* gnce completed a thorough

-appraisal will be conducted.

Guess no more

Looking for a job? asks ths
YWCA. -

The .YWCA = Career
Directions is a multifaceted
program guided by trained
facilitators who can assist you

-in choosing, finding and keep-

and research.

“Fd been running a company for
just under a year in the computer
business and I definitely had not
been running it to my best advan-
tage,” he said.

The November graduate now has
an ecological tour and fishing expe-
dition company he operates out of a
Granville Island shop.

“ I didn’t envision myself
working for anyone else,

if i had my choice.”

~~ Lions Bay's Cari Whitehead

Originally, the 28-year-old
Whitehead thought about running
the company, now called Ecotrek
Expeditions, out of Belize. But
through the entrepreneur program,
he begun to realize that the Central
American country was a great idea
two years ago, but trying to crack
today’s highly competitive market
would have been more difficult.

YEP was an eye-opener for
Whitehead. He added he’s always
been a person with a lot of ideas. The
program helps him realize what ideas

re feasible and recognize his
strengths and weaknesses.

program startin

He said he’s working 12 hours a
day, six days a week, but still enjoys
the entrepreneurial lifestyle.

“] didn’t envision myself working
for anyone else, if 1 had my choice,”
he said.

Robert Bustos, who splits his
time making acoustic guitars as an
employee and electric guitars for his
clients, said the program helped him
with what he called the
“mechanics” —_ handling
employees, taxes, and dealing
with the Workers
Compensation Board.

Bustos, 26, said he worked 10
years as a musician and seven
years as a cabinet maker.

“It was a logical extension to
combine the nwo,” said the
owner of North Vancouver's
RBC Electric Guitar Design.
“I realized I wasn’t going to be a
rock star so 1 decided to do some-
thing more suitable to me.”

For more information on the YEP
program, call’ Heather Workman or
Monroe at 435-2799,

ECOTREK Expeditions’ Carl
Whitehead is paddling into
the West Coast outdoor
adventure market. A youth
entrepreneur program helped
provide a better base for the
nascent business.

NEWS photo Pau! McGrath

s amatehoshelaatenentnemeabod

The program is open to
people 19 years and older who
have been on social assistance
for at least 10 months.

Call 984-7630.

“Where nature is your piaying partner”

OPEN FOR PLAY

Sunday, February 16, 1997 — North Shore News — 31

THURSDAY FEBUARY 20 - FRONT 9

TEE TIME BOOKINGS CALL 280-1 ill

3 Days in advance for 18-holes
2 Days in advance for 9-holes

Tee Time bookings begin each day at 9:00am

depreciation|

on ikese

” Toyotas at

Senior
Junior

§ Green Fees: Regular 18 holes $40 9 holes $20

18 holes $30 9 holes $15
18 holes $20 9 holes $10

Discount rate for seniors & juniors

§ Mon - Thurs inclusive.

thousands
less than

=== Jim Pattison Toyota

1765 Marine Drive, Horth Yaneou wer 985-0591

Junior rate is for 18 years and under

© Power Carts * Pull Carts
¢ Rental Clubs Available
© Temporary Snack Facility

_.w.| Northlands Administration 924-2550

~~" Northlands Information 990-3828

Nine Holes
and
Clubhouse
Opens
May

1997

NEWS

CKNW 96 '

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