A Surrey Starbucks manager has set an example for youth needing job training.
Fiona Kehler, manager of Starbucks Tribeca Café in South Surrey will take part in a one-of-a-kind job fair in Vancouver Thursday (April 28) at the Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Hotel.
Starbucks Canada is hosting a hiring fair in partnership with the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation and Work BC with the intent of hiring on the spot.
The hiring fair takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1128 West Hastings St.
The event kicks off Starbucks’ commitment to have 10 per cent of new hires be “opportunity youth” – motivated young people who have a strong desire to work, but are facing various systemic barriers to employment and require even more support and paths to opportunity.
In 2004, Kehler was 18, struggled academically, and was unable to graduate from high school.
She was one of the first successful graduates of the Starbucks Canada baristas training program in 2004 and was then hired as a barista and was able to finish high school.
She was recently promoted to store manager.
Created in 2003 with Pacific Community Resources Society, the baristas training program – a nine-week program where youth get in-class life skills and job training with four weeks of in-store Starbucks experience – has successfully graduated 500 vulnerable B.C. youth.