Junior Achievement Saskatchewan cancels programs, lays off employees

A Saskatchewan non-profit has cancelled programs and laid off employees.

Junior Achievement (JA) Saskatchewan is the provincial chapter of a national organization that teaches young people about business.

Scott Hillier, the president and CEO of JA Canada, confirmed to 650 CKOM that an important donor pulled out over a year ago.

Since then, they’ve been working to fix their financial situation.

Hillier said it hasn’t worked out yet.

“New funding did not come through despite all efforts and so the JA SK Board had to make the difficult decision of suspending operations including laying off staff,” he said in an email.

In the meantime, JA Canada has taken over fundraising efforts.

Hillier hopes the situation can be solved soon.

“JA programs will be canceled in the near term but we are committed to keep in touch with our valued volunteers and teachers as our progress unfolds,” he said.

“We are cautiously optimistic we can resume programming in the coming weeks.”

Ward 1 Councillor Darren Hill has worked as CEO for JA Saskatchewan, while Ward 10 Councillor Zach Jeffries has worked as their director of community relations.

Hill announced his departure from JA in a Facebook post Wednesday afternoon.

Jefferies’ status with the organization is still unknown. His position was recently listed on his personal website and Saskatoon.ca, but has since been removed.

CKOM reached out to him for comment, but has not yet received a response.