Charlene Blais has worked in a variety of industries, but the one that grabbed her early 香蕉视频直播� and the one she ultimately returned to 香蕉视频直播� stemmed from a passion for helping young people.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 not one of those people who always had a plan,香蕉视频直播� Blais says. 香蕉视频直播淚 participated in a youth cultural exchange program when I was 17. I lived in Colombia, and for me, it underscored the opportunities that exist for young people in Canada. Little did I know what impact that would have on the rest of my life.香蕉视频直播�

Today, Blais serves as a workforce developer with the YMCA Okanagan Youth Works program, where she acts as a liaison between employers seeking fresh hires and young adults looking for meaningful employment.

Blais香蕉视频直播� role involves a unique combination of classroom facilitation 香蕉视频直播� helping youth to find jobs, skills training and education opportunities 香蕉视频直播� and gauging the needs of local industry. She often finds herself matching individual values, interests and skills to local labour market data to identify opportunities for young people.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 employment counseling, but there香蕉视频直播檚 so much more involved in it. I work for the YMCA, which is a non-profit, but I work in business 香蕉视频直播� I help market young people to businesses. It香蕉视频直播檚 an interesting blend of values.香蕉视频直播�

Blais notes that young people almost always underestimate their value in the labour market, and often need encouragement and education around marketing their skills. And thanks to her unique background, Blais is well positioned to empathize with Youth Works clients and find the unconventional opportunities that are often hiding in plain sight.

香蕉视频直播淥ur family was a foster family, and I think that experience broadened my perspective of people香蕉视频直播檚 experiences. Living in Colombia helped with respect to diversity 香蕉视频直播� there香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of value in diversity. Being a curious person and having a genuine interest in people tends to make work more interesting.香蕉视频直播�

Blais香蕉视频直播� interest in people extends beyond her work with the YMCA. The employment counselor avidly supports local community initiatives around wellness and art, citing their importance to a fulfilled life.

香蕉视频直播淣o matter what we do, it connects to our wellness and our mental health. (That香蕉视频直播檚 why) I volunteer at CMHA special events. I香蕉视频直播檓 big on volunteerism in general 香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 such a huge part of feeling connected to the community.香蕉视频直播�

Though youth career counseling may seem like a challenging field, Blais says that she doesn香蕉视频直播檛 view her work as a challenge. Rather, she views her work as building relationships with youth 香蕉视频直播� relationships that allow her to identify the most appropriate career and education opportunities. And when she香蕉视频直播檚 able to move youth forward in well-suited education and career paths, that香蕉视频直播檚 when Blais feels most fulfilled.

香蕉视频直播淲hat I love most about my job is the creative process of generating ideas of what opportunities to connect young adults to. I meet such a range of people with unique skill sets and career journeys. I love making a match that works for the employer and the worker, and that creates a ripple effect on those who benefit from both.香蕉视频直播�

She notes that matching young people with their ideal careers gives her an opportunity to help young adults see their worth 香蕉视频直播� and that they have a place in the community.

Blais has worked in front-line employment counseling services since 2000, and she loves encountering former clients years later and hearing their success stories.

香蕉视频直播淚 love helping people move forward in their lives. (My job) involves community, being social, and a dynamic combination of non-profit and business. Plus, it香蕉视频直播檚 always very heart-warming to bump into adults who were once my young client sand see them thriving in the careers they worked toward. I get to see them come full circle!香蕉视频直播�

And while social services are her passion, the 16-year industry veteran maintains a healthy work-life balance that inspires her to keep going.

Blais is a health and nature enthusiast, and when she香蕉视频直播檚 not guiding young adults toward fulfilling career paths, she often jogs and hikes. A proud supporter of the arts, she can often be found attending visual art and dance events. Blais香蕉视频直播� interest in culture also extends to languages 香蕉视频直播� she香蕉视频直播檚 fluent in French and Spanish, and teaches both languages to groups of keen learners.

But it香蕉视频直播檚 her passion for community improvement that keeps her involved in local initiatives, and her experience in the front-line social services has given her insights into the key factors that make communities work.

香蕉视频直播淗aving community partners on board is vital, as is knowing when to refer and who to refer to. In the future I香蕉视频直播檇 like to have some kind of involvement in social policy development. I香蕉视频直播檓 interested in continuing studies and public administration as it relates to large-scale community involvement. I don香蕉视频直播檛 know exactly how that will play out, but it香蕉视频直播檚 something I香蕉视频直播檝e started to explore.香蕉视频直播�

Crowe MacKay香蕉视频直播檚 Women to Watch program is a weekly feature that profiles remarkable women in our community, concluding October 16. After terrific response, the nomination period for 2015 is now closed. Watch this space each week to see our remaining Women to Watch.