Bird Canada launching employment program for at-risk-youths in Toronto

Dec 13 2019, 3:52 pm

In anticipation of the city moving forward with its e-scooter pilot in 2020, Bird Canada will be launching a work program focused on reducing unemployment for at-risk-youth in Toronto.

Partnering with Youth Employment Services (YES), the program will run next summer and will provide local youth with secure employment with the e-scooter company.

In November, the provincial government announced a five-year e-scooter pilot that will begin on January 1, 2020.

In preparation for this pilot and anticipated approval for an e-scooter program in Toronto, Bird Canada has partnered with YES to staff its Toronto operations and at the same time support the local community through seasonal employment opportunities that will help prepare at-risk youth for future roles in the labour market.

“This underserved community supported by YES has an unacceptably high unemployment rate of around 12%,” said Stewart Lyons, CEO of Bird Canada.

We are proud of this partnership and the opportunity for disadvantaged and vulnerable youth within the community to gain invaluable work experience with a brand that is leading the way in micro mobility.”

According to a release from Bird Canada, the community supported by YES includes youth between the ages of 16 and 30, a demographic that currently accounts for a significant percentage of Bird Canada’s ridership base.

“In addition to youth being a big part of the Bird Canada ridership base, it’s also a demographic that has grown up with technology, so intuitively know how e-scooters work and appreciate their utility as a last mile transportation solution,” said Lyons.  

According to Bird Canada, the employment program will include roles like operations specialists, who will locate and charge scooters, and repair and maintenance roles as well.

Bird Canada launched e-scooter programs in a number of Canadian cities in 2019 including Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, and Westmount.

Ainsley SmithAinsley Smith

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