WELLINGTON – July 19, 2023 – Although still in their post-secondary studies, the 35 interns in the 20th edition of the PERCÉ summer employment program are already putting their advanced knowledge into practice and contributing their newly acquired know-how to their places of employment.

Alecia Arsenault, who coordinates PERCÉ for Prince Edward Island, explains that the interns are able to contribute immediately as they have been placed in positions related to their field of study.

The 2023 interns are studying in general fields such as health (human and veterinary), engineering, technology, pure sciences, social sciences, education, early childhood, arts, accounting, administration and finance, sustainable development, law and psychology.

Their employers include a university, nursing homes, an amusement park, a festival, school-community centers, a performance hall, early childhood centers, a school board, an agricultural machinery repairer, a tourism organization, an accounting firm, an optometrist, a golf course, a wine manufacturer, a coffee manufacturer, a IT helpdesk, a pest control company, a charity, a children’s nature discovery organization and a medical and safety equipment distributor.

In addition to taking part in a week of training, personal discovery and exploration of job sites, participants complete a 10-12 week internship. Their employers are encouraged to show them the realities of the work world and introduce them to key people in their industry to help them build a network of contacts.

RDÉE believes that its interns will be at a considerable advantage when it comes to finding permanent employment, as they will already have worked in their field and will already have contacts. « The intention of the program is always to encourage these young people, most of whom are studying outside the province, to eventually return to the Island permanently to build a life and career here, » points out Arsenault.

PERCÉ continues to enjoy a repatriation rate in excess of 80% and continues to reimburse employers for a portion of the wages paid to their trainees.

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PHOTO 1: PERCÉ intern Alizée Cyr-Comeault, left, works with colleague Celeste Guzman Alejandre at the Carrefour de l’Isle-Saint-Jean in Charlottetown this summer.

PHOTO 2: Emma Penton is thrilled to be doing her PERCÉ internship at the Coopérative Le Chez-Nous community care centre in Wellington.

PHOTO 3: Thanks to PERCÉ, Gilbert Arsenault has the opportunity to put his technological knowledge into practice as a sound and lighting technician for summer shows at the Village musical acadien in Abram-Village.

PHOTO 4: Grace Potter and Alex Richard have fun while working during their PERCÉ internship at Rise and Climb amusement park in Cornwall.

PHOTO 5: Luca Bisceglia, as a PERCÉ intern, works with the children’s nature exploration organization, PEI Wild Child, in Charlottetown.

For further information, please contact:
Alecia Arsenault
PERCÉ Program Coordinator
RDÉE Prince Edward Island
902-432-2026
alecia@rdeeipe.org