John Lalonde did not want his hearing loss to keep him from pursuing his dream job as a bike mechanic in Revelstoke, so this spring he reached out to his local WorkBC Employment Services Centre for help.

Local recreational trails in the Kamloops-North Thompson area are being cleared and cattle range fencing will be repaired by two local Aboriginal people who are getting work experience in forestry and agriculture.

Local back alleys are getting another splash of colour as two people get work experience painting three murals in downtown Kamloops, thanks to more than $19,000 in government funding.

As students throughout B.C. get ready to head back to school on Tuesday, government is providing a number of supports to families, including low-income families, to help them with everything from school supplies to funding for food programs.

The Roe Lake and District Recreation Commission is getting its filing system updated, developing a marketing plan for weddings, conferences and events, and giving one person work experience in office administration, thanks to more than more than $10,000 in provincial Community and Employer Partnership funding.

The Single Parent Employment Initiative will remove barriers to employment for single parents on income and disability assistance by providing them with the supports they need to secure long-term and sustainable employment.

At least four people will get work experience helping the Vernon area improve its food security, thanks to more than $50,000 in provincial Job Creation Partnership funding that is benefitting two separate community organizations.