The government of Manitoba confirmed a province-wide purchase of Bridges' online career information service in a contract signed February 12, 1998. Richard Coutts, Coordinator of Youth Programs and Services for Manitoba's Human Resources Development Canada, announced the province's "commitment to bring the Career Explorer service to 300 Manitoba secondary schools and 50 youth serving agencies."

Under terms of the agreement - active February 16, 1998 through March 1999 - Bridges will create a Manitoba-specific version of Career Explorer. The purchase increases Bridges' subscriber base to over 1,300 sites.

Tom Glenwright, Director, Youth Programs for the Manitoba Department of Education and Training, added, "The Department of Education and Training is pleased to work with Human Resources Canada to provide the Career Explorer service to Manitoba career planners. We're particularly looking forward to the customized Manitoba Career News service."

Doug Manning, CEO Bridges, said: "This is a significant development for Bridges. It's the first region-wide licence we have signed. We believe this will promote consideration of similar large-scale purchases in Canada and the United States."

Under the Youth Information component of the federal government's Youth Employment Strategy, Manitoba is undertaking a number of initiatives to provide youth with timely and accurate career and labor market information. "The Career Explorer service is an excellent tool to assist young people to support these initiatives," said Coutts.

Glenwright agreed. "Young career planners will find that Career Explorer is an excellent resource to access interesting and easy-to-find career information."