To help alleviate some of the financial burden that comes with moving to a new city, Southeast Newcomer Services is offering applications for newcomers to apply for a grant to receive funding toward Saskatchewan’s driver education program.
The program is in its second year of operation, and is hoping to once again provide assistance for newcomers eligible for the driver’s education program, after helping 16 people graduate in 2014.
“Getting your license can be a hefty expense,” said Melissa Marcucci Grant, settlement advisor for Newcomers. “Ultimately, this helps make room for employment and other settlement issues.”
Through an annual grant made by the provincial government, SNS offers program applicants six hours of in-class and in-car education components.
The driver’s ed program is organized by SNS, but ultimately run by instructor Suzanne Mayer, who is licensed by SGI.
In order to be accepted, applicants must meet with Marcucci for a needs assessment and to develop a settlement plan.
Other requirements and details about the project include:
· Applicants must be at least 18 years old
· Applicants must hold a valid Class 7 learner’s license (cannot be suspended, expired or owe SGI money)
· Applicants must be a first-time driver (cannot hold a driver’s license in any other province/country)
· Applicants must be a Saskatchewan resident residing in the area serviced by SNS
· Applicants must be a Permanent Resident who have resided in Canada for no more than two years or must be a temporary foreign worker on a valid permit who have been nominated under SINP programs, or who are Live-In-Caregivers on a valid work permit. A copy of the applicable immigrant document must be provided as proof
· Applicants must be able to communicate in English
· Priority is given to applicants with low income
· Applicants are only eligible once for this grant
Marcucci said classes are available in Estevan only, but noted anyone within SNS’ coverage area, which includes Radville, Kipling and communities on the Manitoba border, can apply.
“In the future, that may be something we’d like to look into and have the fall sessions in a rural area,” she said.
