Bell Island Youth Employment Pathways

Northpine Foundation has invested in the Town of Wabana’s Bell Island Youth Pathways to Employment Initiative to create more paid work opportunities for local youth. The program responds to a clear gap on this island in Newfoundland and Labrador: there is strong employer interest and student demand, but not enough funded placements to meet it.

This initiative will connect Bell Island students ages 15–18 to summer jobs, industry-relevant micro-credentials, and mentorship, with participants finding work placements with local employers and community organizations in areas like tourism, heritage, recreation, customer service, environmental stewardship, and skilled trades.

The program ties employment to school attendance, volunteerism, and ongoing skills development, creating a longer-term pathway from education to work. Northpine’s investment will help turn Bell Island’s existing local capacity into a more structured youth employment pipeline.