In April 1998, The Pontiac Job Search Club created the job integration enterprise Woodland Advantage. This project was made possible thanks to the "Fight against poverty through job reinsertion Fund" Program of the department responsible for employment and solidarity.

The objectives of this enterprise is to enable the youth from the Pontiac to gain work experience in the forestry sector, to develop good working habits and positive attitudes in the labour force, to acquire transferable skills and to take part in a positive and efficient professional and social integration process. Contrary to a normal business, Woodland Advantage trains employees to be able to integrate into jobs elsewhere. Counsellors offer individual and personalized help and support in regards to professional and academic orientation. These interventions are part of a philosophy that strives for the regions social and community well being.

Woodland Advantage is a bridge between potential manpower and the ever growing needs of the forestry sector in the Outaouais.

Woodland Advantage consists of 3 parts:

• Production (forestry and woodworking training is offered)
• Exploration of job opportunities in the forestry industry
• Improvement in employability

Activities:

We offer services related to forestry. These activities enable participants to explore a variety of manual jobs in this field. They develop technical knowledge and skills related to the equipment (small and large) and acquire positive attitudes that are sought by employers. The following is a list of our main activities:

We also offer a variety of manual jobs in woodworking. The fabrication of home and garden furniture made of pine. We also have technical aspects:

All interested individuals must be declared admissible by the Local Employment Center. The candidates partake in an exploration day in the forestry sector and then in half a day in the wood working shop. The dates of these days are scheduled by the employment counsellor. Following these days, the employment counsellor and the participant decide if it is possible to continue into job integration process. If they proceed, formalities will be agreed on. A contract signed by both parties will confirm the term of employment.

The normal length of participation is 24 weeks. Then a participant should be able to integrate into the job market and/or return to school.