About Us

Mission

To empower people to find and keep the jobs they want, and employers to find the labour they need – to build better lives, better communities and a better world.

Vision

Creating prosperity and transforming communities through sustainable employment.

Values

Responsiveness, collaboration, inclusiveness, innovation, accountability.

What We Do

As the Service System Manager (SSM) for employment services, Muskoka-Kawarthas Employment Services oversees the planning, funding, administration, and operation of all employment service providers in Haliburton County, City of Kawartha Lakes, District of Muskoka, Northumberland County, and City and County of Peterborough.

Serving both job seekers and employers, Muskoka-Kawarthas Employment Services assists its communities with locally responsive employment programs and services, with a goal to remove systemic barriers for clients and improve overall job retention.

By creating more opportunities for sustainable employment, Muskoka-Kawarthas Employment Services aims to build prosperity within our communities and contribute to a strong regional economy that benefits everyone.

Muskoka-Kawarthas Employment Services is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.

Meet Our Team

Shanthi Rajaratnam

Director, Workforce Development

Leads the SSM team/ Employment Service transformation at Fleming College. Over 10 years in Employment Services in Peterborough and Haliburton. Previous business owner in Haliburton County. MA in Leadership (UGuelph), B.Comm. (Ryerson)

Sarah Haase

Quality Assurance Specialist

Responsible for contract management, data and analysis, evaluation, performance management, systems (CaMS and Common Assessment)

Tammy Jinkerson

Career Content Curator

Provides best-in-class resources, enabling Service Providers in the SSM network to have the career and employment content needed to fully support their clients in gaining employment, and their employers in retaining workers.

Rebecca Wasson

Employment and Retention Specialist

Responsible for program and service development, implementation, and ongoing frontline support specifically for persons with disabilities and individuals with higher support needs.

Kanda Rodgers

Indigenous Career Consultant

Ensures cultural inclusion and appropriate content in SSM services and activities. Develops connections between Indigenous service providers and the SSM to improve employment services for Indigenous job-seekers.

Paula Walton

Public Relations Officer

Marketing and communications, employer/stakeholder relations and outreach, and event planning.

Joy Cyr

Administrative Assistant

Point of contact for employment service providers, responsible for frontline service for public inquiries and SSM team logistics.

Amritpal Singh

IT Analyst

Develops and implements technical solutions based on SSM business requirements and projects. Amrit has experience in IT infrastructure technologies and information security implementation and operations across private and public clouds.

Our Virtual Employment Advisors

Our Virtual Employment Advisors provide on-demand support to job seekers, employers, and community members via live chat and video conferencing. Advisors are available days, evenings and weekends to provide you with information about such topics as job search, resume and cover letter advice, job posting process, interview techniques, and many other career and employment related topics. Not sure if they can help? Just ask!

Serena Bevilacqua

Michelle Hennessey

Laura Hewitt

Lisah Palmateer

News

Fleming College shines a light on disability employment in October

Peterborough ON – (October 14, 2021) – Fleming College, in partnership with its Service System Manager (SSM), will Light it Up! For National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) on October 21 at 7 p.m. Campus buildings and employment service offices will be lit bright in purple and blue to celebrate contributions that people who have a disability make to their workplaces. Read more