The provincial francophone economic development council, which is known as the Réseau de Développement Économique et d'Employabilité (RDÉE) P.E.I., said it has received 600 resumés from a recent Destination Canada job fair held in France and Belgium.
There is a pressing need on P.E.I. for access to French early childhood centres, and local recruitment efforts have not proven fruitful, said Robert Maddix, economic development officer with RDÉE.
“The efforts to recruit educators on the Island, as well as in the Atlantic region and Quebec, haven’t generated many satisfying results for various reasons,” says Maddix. “We have, therefore, started to look at France and Belgium as potential sources of human resources.”
Of the resumés received, a substantial number came from people wishing to work in early childhood education, noted Maddix, adding that the RDÉE will continue to work with local individuals who wish to pursue a career in this field.
“In collaboration with our Wellington Rural Action Centre, we are also ready to support any person wishing to explore the possibility of establishing his or her own private daycare service, whether that person is already a citizen or resident of P.E.I. or if that person is thinking of moving here,” said Maddix.
“Our client information officer, Velma Robichaud, would be more than happy to guide any person wishing to explore this avenue through all the steps.”
