Roulo-Boulo returns for a second season - The job assistance mobile unit will double its time on the road, spreading beyond Montreal's downtown area and even reaching smartphones...

MONTREAL, May 30, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Youth, from 16 to 35 years of age, who would like to rejoin the workforce are invited to visit the orange Roulo-Boulo bus, starting today. Custom-designed to support young people who are furthest from the labour market, the mobile service will be on the road until mid-October, twice as long as last year, and will have a mobile application for smartphones, an indispensable addition to help youth in their search for a job.

Roulo-Boulo, the bus unlike others, is an initiative of the Carrefour jeunesse-emploi Montréal Centre-Ville (CJE). The project is supported by Enkidoo Technologies, Destination centre-ville, the Borough of Ville-Marie, AtmanCo, Vif Télé and the Société de transport de Montréal (STM).

Splendid new additions!

Swept away with a contagious enthusiasm, the entire team of Roulo-Boulo were on hand to inaugurate this second year of activities during an event attended by youth, employers and partners.

"With a 13.5% rate of unemployment among young people in our downtown area, our presence is still just as relevant," said Martin Choquette, Executive Director of the CJE Montréal Centre-Ville. For the new season, the Job Bus has therefore decided to intensify its efforts in order to help even more youth between the ages of 16 and 35 years who would like to find a job. The mobile unit will continue its mission to offer personalized advice as well as posting a selection of positions to be filled.

A longer season
In 2016, the Roulo-Boulo activity period will be increased from 35 to 75 days. "We are doubling the service period with a goal of assisting 4,000 young people, rather than the 2,230 met last year," added Mr. Choquette. This increased presence will allow Roulo-Boulo to carry out 500 individual consultations and to integrate 250 employers, twice as many as last year.

Among the companies which will be posting jobs via this service are Piknic Électronik, Quebec Blue Cross, CAA-Québec and Dépanneur du coin-Ultramar. "We are very pleased to be participating in the Roulo-Boulo project since its recruitment platform allows us to reach candidates in a less traditional manner and the social mission fits in perfectly in our vision of sustainable development," declared Nicolas Cournoyer, Executive Producer in Montreal and Co-founder of Piknic Électronik.

An extended territory
This year, Roulo-Boulo will wind its way through the city streets four days a week. Three days will be devoted to eight sites in the downtown area: the Urban Forest at the McCord Museum, the Beaudry, Guy and Saint-Laurent metro stations, Place Pasteur and the intersection of Ste-Catherine and McGill College.

On the fourth day, together with some ten other CJEs on the Island of Montreal, the mobile unit will go beyond the downtown area to meet youth in a number of Montreal neighbourhoods. The bus will be made available to these youth in order to offer jobs in their respective sectors. The bus will also participate in the grand happening, Nuit Blanche sur Tableau Noir, on Avenue du Mont-Royal, the Fête des Familles de Mercier-Est, as well as the family village fair, Chameran en fête in Saint-Laurent.

A new mobile application and a Facebook page
Roulo-Boulo will have its own mobile application for iPhone and Android. An indispensable addition for youth seeking a job, this tool will allow them to create a personalized profile, receive alerts and consult the schedule, job offers and Roulo-Boulo's activities. The application has been developed by the young Montreal company, Enkindoo Technologies. In addition, the new Roulo-Boulo Facebook page will feature the latest news and the bus itinerary.

"We are proud to offer our technological expertise to contribute to the success of projects such as Roulo-Boulo, thereby encouraging the employability of young Montrealers among the most vulnerable," stated Pholysa Mantryvong, President and Founder of Enkidoo Technologies.

The bus that finds jobs for youth!
Two counsellors will be on-board to receive the youth and offer advice, evaluate their qualifications, give them tools in their job search and put them in touch with employers. Those who need more complex services will be referred to the CJE Montréal Centre-Ville for more adapted support. Some 2,500 youth will be able to receive additional assistance in this way and thereby improve their employability.

The jobs available will be posted on a screen installed on one of the side of the bus, as well as on electronic tablets which can be consulted in the vehicle and, of course, on the new mobile application.

For their part, employers can promote their available positions and hold employment days in the bus with the Roulo-Boulo staff. "The organization of theme days with the employers is one of the components that worked best last year," explained Mr. Choquette. "We are counting on developing this aspect further this year with a dozen employer days."

About Carrefour jeunesse-emploi Montréal Centre-Ville
Carrefour jeunesse-emploi Montréal Centre-Ville (CJE) will celebrate its 15th anniversary this year. Together with the community, the non-profit organization accompanies youth from downtown Montreal between the ages of 16 and 35 years by motivating them and providing a framework for their job search and by encouraging them to continue their educational, creative or entrepreneurial projects in order to find their place in the job market.

For more information on Roulo-Boulo, the Job Bus, go to www.cjemontreal.org/rouloboulo.

SOURCE Carrefour jeunesse-emploi Montréal Centre-Ville

Ann-Julie Dion, Kilicom Relations publiques, 514 845-8222, extension 224, [email protected]; Stéphanie Quirion, Kilicom Relations publiques, 514 845-8222, extension 223, [email protected]