Business Ventures provides a career support service in the area of employment brokerage and linkage support for people who are self employed. Each involved person has access to a physical work area, services from a Job Counsellor and opportunities for involvement in self selected work tasks. Over the years those involved have developed three small businesses, including:

• Ventures Cafe and Catering Service

• Business Ventures Car Wash

• Business Ventures Janitorial Service

Each of these businesses uses a profit sharing model. For people not interested in these business operations the fourth business opportunity is Business Support Services. This store is located in a strip mall in the downtown core. Numerous services are provided for the local business community. The most common services include: packaging and assembly of various hotel novelties, photocopying, laminating, fax services, book binding, shrink wrapping, festive occasion items - particularly, a full line of wedding novelties. As service requests are received they are routed to the appropriate department (packaging, assembly or customer service). Routine orders are completed off a standardized price list developed by those directly involved. Non routine requests are reviewed by the most appropriate department. The task specifications and pricing are determined with the assistance of a support staff and service manager. When the contractual terms are agreed to by the business contact and those agreeing to do the work, the work begins. Upon completion of the work, invoices are issued with the payment received split between those involved based on individual contributions to the completion of the specific task. A Contractor's Council exists and serves as the operational umbrella for this store.

Several people choose to be involved with this career support service on a part time basis and some choose to take part in other agency-provided services. This multi spectrum involvement is encouraged to assist people in pursuing their career related goals. Contractor meetings are held regularly for general information sharing, to elect representatives for the Contractor's Council, to encourage feedback on existing activities and to promote ideas for change which reflect current interests and goals. Job coaches provide ongoing support reflective of the individual career interests and goals expressed by each person.

For more information on support offered by Business Ventures please contact:

For more information on the services provided by the businesses under the Business Ventures umbrella, please contact: