2nd Chance Employment Centre

 

In 1982, in conjunction with the Ontario Youth Secretariat, the Rotary Club of Guelph established the 2^nd Chance Employment Centre in Guelph. Five of the original directors were Rotarians – Alan Whitworth, Bill Forsyth, Bill Stevens, Randy Wilson and Peter Kohl. Rotarian Reny Pietroban soon joined the board, too. The objective of the Centre was to provide employment services for disadvantaged youth aged 15 – 24.  The services provided were counselling, career goal setting, training, job solicitation and placement.  The main target group consisted of struggling youth who were recovering alcoholics, drug users and on probation or parole. Direct Rotary involvement in this program ended in the late 1980’s although Rotarians Reny Pietrobon and Randy Wilson continued to serve on the Board for some 40 years!  (Reference: Rotary Guelph’s 100^th Anniversary Book)