Mission Statement

To develop skills and provide an opportunity for First Nation/Aboriginal participants and others to establish careers in construction and other industrial sectors by providing links to employment, access to training and trade certification.

Background
Economic indicators for Saskatchewan’s industrial sector suggest that there will be continued growth, with a strong need for qualified human resources.

• There is a continuing strong demand for skilled construction workers in Saskatchewan and especially in the larger urban areas such as Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert.
  


• The La Ronge, Meadow Lake, Battleford, and Yorkton regions are experiencing strong economic growth with many potential developments planned such as expansion in the oil and gas sector, infrastructure development, canola crushing plant development, potash mine expansion, new amenities, housing, etc.
  


• The industrial sector is a major employer providing excellent career opportunities to skilled individuals.
  


• There is a province-wide shortage of skilled workers in most of the trades.
  


• There continues to be high levels of unemployment and/or under-employment in the First Nation and Aboriginal communities.
  


• Jobs within the industrial sector are a key area where First Nation people can develop skills and find employment.
  


• First Nation workers still face barriers in obtaining sustainable employment in the industrial sector, although the industry is committed to hiring skilled First Nation/Aboriginal workers.
  


• The development of careers in the industrial sector can be facilitated with the provision of specialized support mechanisms.

Goals and Objectives

The Career Centres work with First Nation/Aboriginal and other participants to:

• Coordinate the availability of an unemployed/under-employed labour force with industry’s demand for skilled workers.
  


• Develop mutually beneficial linkages to the industrial sector.
  


• Provide direct involvement and support mechanism to maximize the development of effective employee-employer relationships.
  


• Assist Career Centre participants to overcome employment barriers.
  


• Provide links and direct access to employment, skill development, safety training, driver license training, technical training, and Apprenticeship for participants.
• Provide assessment, coaching, career planning, and mentoring for participants by the Career Centre staff.
  


• Promote interest in careers in the industrial sectors to the youth in the province.
  


• Maximize employment opportunities for participants by working closely with other SIIT Career Centres in the province, and their respective partners.

Target Groups          

• First Nation/Aboriginal individuals.
• Other under-employed groups.
• Social Assistance recipients.
• People eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) or EI Reach-back

Career Centre Services

All Career Centres are based on the same delivery model and provide the following services:

Close co-operation and consultation with industry employers has been established to ensure training and employment opportunities.

Job Coaching

Job coaching is an innovative feature of the Career Centres that was implemented upon recommendation by the construction industry and other partners. The job coach:

• Assists participants with the development of employability skills.
• Provides career counselling and advice.
• Assists Career Centre participants overcome barriers to employment and training.
• Provides liaison between workers and employers.

Apprenticeship

SIIT worked with the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC) to establish the SIIT Joint Training Committee (JTC) in 1999. The JTC is used to indenture First Nation/Aboriginal people in the construction trades in Saskatchewan and assists the apprentices to achieve full journeyperson status in their respective trades.

SIIT continues to work closely with the SATCC to achieve the goals and objectives of the Construction Career Centres as well of those of the SATCC and SIIT.

Partnerships

Founding partners - In the spring of 1998 representatives from the following organizations came together with a common goal: how to get a representative workforce involved in the upcoming construction of the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College (SIFC). As well, this workforce would have to include skilled and certified trades’ people. The concept for the Construction Career Development Project was born. The founding partners are:

Saskatchewan Construction Association
1939 Elphinstone Street
Regina, SK.   S4T 3N3
www.scaonline.ca

PCL Construction Management Inc.
1433-1st Ave
Regina, SK   S4R 8H2

Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies
118 - 335 Packham Ave.
Saskatoon, SK.   S7N 4S1
www.siit.sk.ca

Advanced Education, Employment & Labour
(Then under PSEST)
1911 Broad Street
Regina, SK   S4V 1R9
www.sasknetwork.gov.sk.ca

Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission
2nd Floor - 2140 Hamilton St
Regina, SK   S4P 3V7
http://www.saskapprenticeship.ca/

First Nations Employment Centre
1504-B Albert St.
Regina, SK S4P 2S4
http://www.firstnationsemploymentcentre.com/

Additional partners - A key element in the continuing success of the Career Centres is the support of additional partners from industry and government. These include:

AEEL Can-Sask Career and Employment Services (funding partner in all Career Centres)

www.sasknetwork.gov.sk.ca

Quorex Construction Ltd. (formally Wolfe Group)
142 Cardinal Crescent
Saskatoon, SK S7L 6H6
http://www.quorex.ca/

RNF Ventures Ltd
62-17th Street West
Prince Albert, SK   S6V 3X3
Simpson@rnfventures.com

Saskatoon and Region Home Builders Association
#11-3012 Louise Street
Saskatoon, SK S7J 3L8
www.saskatoonhomebuilders.com

Additional partners continued

Regina and Region Home Builders Association
100-1801 McKay Street
Regina, SK S4N 6E7
www.reginahomebuilders.com

Thorpe Brothers Ltd.
Hwy# 2 South
Prince Albert, SK   S6V 5R3

River Bank Development Corp.
1350 – 15 Avenue West
Prince Albert, SK S6V 5P2

G&C Asphalt Services
10015 Thatcher Ave
North Battleford, SK

Empire Welding & Machining Ltd
10022 Thatcher Ave
North Battleford, SK

Kitsaki Management Limited Partnership
P.O. Box 527
La Ronge, SK S0J 1L0
http://www.kitsaki.com/index.html

Regina Treaty/Status Indian Services Inc.
4001 – 3rd Avenue
Regina, SK   S4R 0W8

Saskatoon Tribal Council First Nation Urban Services Inc
248 - 3rd Ave South
Saskatoon, SK   S7K 1L9
http://www.sktc.sk.ca/

Prince Albert Grand Council, Urban Services Inc.
206-1301 Central Avenue
Prince Albert, SK    S6V 4W1
www.pagc.sk.ca/

Lac La Ronge Indian Band
Box 480
La Ronge, SK               S0J 1L0
http://www.llrib.ca/

Additional partners continued

Woodland Cree Enterprises Inc.
Box 480
La Ronge, SK               S0J 1L0

Yorkton Tribal Council Labour Force Development
220 Smith Street East
Yorkton, SK    S3N 3S6
www.yorktontribalcouncil.com/

Meadow Lake Tribal Council
8003 Flying Dust First Nation
Meadow Lake, SK   S9X 1T8
http://mltc.sasktelwebhosting.com/

Meadow Lake Tribal Council Oil & Gas Secretariat
http://mltc.sasktelwebhosting.com/MLTC%20OIL%20&%20GAS/index.html

Battlefords Urban Training & Employment
#100-1291 102nd Street
North Battleford, SK    S9A 1G2

Gabriel Dumont Institute Training & Employment Services
917—22nd Street West
Saskatoon, SK    S7M 0R9
http://www.gdins.org/gdites.shtml

Northlands College
Box 1000
Air Ronge, SK.   S0J 3G0
http://www.northlandscollege.sk.ca/

Parkland College
200 Prystai Way
Yorkton, SK     S3N 4G4
http://www.parklandcollege.sk.ca/

North West Regional College
720 5th Street W
Meadow Lake, SK    S9X 1T9
&
10702 Diefenbaker Drive
North Battleford, SK     S9A 4A8
http://www.nwrc.sk.ca/website/index.html

Training

The Career Centres sponsor certified training for participants in conjunction with:

• Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC).
• Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST).
• Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT).

All training through the Career Centres is directly linked to employment. Training programs provided to participants to date include:

Achievements
Construction Careers Regina was the June 2000 winner for “Promotion of Aboriginal Participation in the Workplace” from the Saskatchewan Labour Force Development Training for Excellence Awards.

The Construction Career Centres (Construction Careers Regina and Construction Careers Saskatoon) were named the National award winner for the Broad Community Collaboration Category of The Conference Board of Canada’s 2001-2002 National Partners in Education Awards.

Jointly, the Career Centres have been highly successful as indicated by the following select statistics, shown since the beginning of the Career Centres to March 31, 2008:

• Over 8700 individuals have been interviewed, assisted and career counselled.
• Nearly 7100 jobs have been secured for Career Centre participants.
• Approximately 77% of Career Centre participants are of First Nation origin.
• Approximately 50% of new applicants are under the age of 30.
• Almost 1750 participants are in, or have completed skills training.
• Nearly 2500 participants completed the Construction Safety Training System (CSTS).
• Over 350 participants are in, or have completed driver training (5th class).
• Over 465 new apprentices with 409 indentured to the SIIT JTC and the remainder indentured to contractors and industry organizations.
  
• Many Career Centre participants have reached Journeyperson status in trades such as carpentry, plumbing, etc.

Career Centre Management

Career Centre Steering Committees - Each Career Centre is guided by a Steering Committee. The Career Centre Steering Committee consists of partner representatives and other key stakeholders in the region who are interested in First Nation and Aboriginal labour force development initiatives.
The role of the Steering Committee is to:

• Establish the goals and objectives of the Career Centre.
• Provide overall direction to the operation of the Career Centre.
• Provide direction on actions to achieve sustainable growth and development.
• Provide direction for project administration and management.
• Provide guidelines and strategies for assessment and evaluation of the Career Centre.

Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) - SIIT is a certified First Nations governed training institution with a mandate to provide training and other labour force development services for the First Nations people of Saskatchewan.
The role of SIIT in the Career Centres is to:

• Employ and provide direct supervision of all Career Centre staff.
• Provide overall day-to-day administrative and managerial support for the Career Centres.
• Develop, implement, monitor, and evaluate operational plans and budgets for the annual operation of the Career Centre.
• Develop and implement training and other participant development initiatives.
• Source funding and other related supports for the Career Centre as directed by the Steering Committee.
• Provide reports and information as required to all stakeholders.

For information contact:
Dean, Trades & Industrial Department, SIIT
229-4th Avenue South
Saskatoon, SK   S7K 4K3
Office: 306-477-9215, Cell: 306-222-7402, Fax: 306-244-0087
Email: ponceletg@siit.sk.ca

Construction Careers Regina (CCR)

The Regina career centre started as the Construction Career Development Project (CCDP) in the spring of 1998. The name was changed to CCR in 2001. The activities of CCR are guided by a Steering Committee made up of representatives of many of the partnering organizations. The Steering Committee meets regularly once every month.

Office and staff information
The office is located at:
2415-7th Avenue
Regina, SK   S4R 5E3
Office phone: 306-721-4473
Office fax: 306-721-4478
Staff include the following:

Liana Wolf Ear, Office Support
wolfearl@siit.sk.ca
Office phone: 306-721-4473

Nat Dunbar, Job Coach
dundbarn@siit.sk.ca
Cell phone: 306-540-6189

Leonard Rosebluff, Job Coach
rosebluffl@siit.sk.ca
Cell phone: 306-535-0385

Mark Gettle, Project Manager
gettlem@siit.sk.ca
Cell phone: 306-535-8601

Steering Committee

Saskatchewan Construction Association

• Regina and Region Home Builders Association
• Regina Construction Association
• PCL Construction Management Inc
• Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission
• Can-Sask Career and Employment Services
• Regina Treaty/Status Indian Services Inc.
• SIIT

Construction Careers Saskatoon (CCS)

The Construction Careers Saskatoon (CCS) office was opened in the spring of 2000, a sister project modeled on CCR in Regina. The activities of CCS are guided by a Steering Committee made up of representatives of many of the partnering organizations. The Steering Committee meets regularly once every month.

Office and staff information
The office is located at:
229A-4th Avenue South
Saskatoon, SK   S7K 4K3
Office phone: 306-373-4695
Office fax: 306-244-5717
Staff include the following:

Ashley Murfin, Office Support
murfina@siit.sk.ca
Office phone: 306-373-4695

Brad Berard, Job Coach
berardb@siit.sk.ca
Cell phone:  306-291-7575

Shelley Macnab, Job Coach
macnabs@siit.sk.ca
Cell phone: 306-229-0534

Frank Masuskapoe, Job Coach
masakapoe@siit.sk.ca
Cell phone: 306-260-1772

Leonard Manitoken, Project Manager
manitokenl@siit.sk.ca
Cell phone: 306-229-0708

Steering Committee

• Saskatchewan Construction Association
• Saskatoon and Region Home Builders Association
• Saskatoon Construction Association
• PCL Construction Management Inc
• Quorox Construction
• Graham Construction
• Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission
• Can-Sask Career and Employment Services
• Saskatoon Tribal Council, First Nation Urban Services Inc.
• SIIT

Construction Careers Prince Albert (CCPA)

The CCPA office was opened on October 14, 2003. The Career Centre is also modeled on CCR and CCS, but has expanded its mandate to deal somewhat with the forestry and mineral sector as well. The activities of CCPA are guided by a Steering Committee made up of representatives of many of the partnering organizations. The Steering Committee meets regularly once every month.

Office and staff information
The office is located at:
101-1008 1st Avenue West
Prince Albert, SK   S6V 4Y4
Office phone: 306-953-7228
Office fax: 306-953-7231
Staff include the following:

Debbie Whitehead, Office Support
whiteheadd@siit.sk.ca
Office phone: 306-953-7228

Isaac Venne, Job Coach
vennei@siit.sk.ca
Cell phone: 306-960-4584

Larry Burgess, Job Coach
burgess@siit.sk.ca
Cell phone: 306-960-8016

Stew Mayotte, Project Manager
mayottes@siit.sk.ca
Cell phone: 306-960-3198

Steering Committee

• Saskatchewan Construction Association
• Prince Albert Construction Association
• RNF Ventures Ltd.
• Coram Construction Ltd.
• Thorpe Brothers Ltd.
• Riverbank Development Corp.
• Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission
• Can-Sask Career and Employment Services
• Prince Albert Grand Council, First Nation Urban Services Inc.
• SIIT

Northern Industrial Career Centre (NICC)

The NICC office opened on April 1, 2007. The Centre started out as the FCC (Forestry Career Centre) with operation beginning in October of 2004 and remaining open until October of 2006. It was then closed for less than a year due to a downward swing in the forestry industry, before opening in its current form as the Northern Industrial Career Centre, now with services expanded to include all industrial sectors. The activities of NICC are guided by a Steering Committee made up of representatives of many of the partnering organizations. The Steering Committee meets regularly once every month.

Office and staff information
The office is located at:
108-708 La Ronge Ave.
La Ronge, SK S0J 1L0
Office phone: 306-425-5758
Office fax: 306-425-5792
Staff include the following:

Lynn McKenzie, Office Support
mckenziel@siit.sk.ca
Office phone: 306-425-5758

Leonard Roberts, Job Coach
robertl@siit.sk.ca
Cell phone: 306-425-7099

James Bird, Job Coach
birdj@siit.sk.ca
Cell phone: 306-425-7447

Tom Charles, Project Manager
charlest@siit.sk.ca
Cell phone: 306-425-7200

Steering Committee

• Kitsaki Management Limited Partnership
• Lac La Ronge Indian Band
• Northlands College
• Woodland Cree Enterprises Inc.
• Gabriel Dumont Institute
• Can-Sask Career and Employment Services
• Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission
• SIIT

Yorkton Industrial Career Centre (YICC)

The YICC office opened on May 15, 2008. The YICC is modeled after the Career Centres already established in Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, and La Ronge (CCR, CCS, CCPA, NICC), but has an expanded mandate to include activities in construction, agriculture based resource development and processing, transportation and highways, mining, oil and gas and related trades The activities of YICC are guided by a Steering Committee made up of representatives of many of the partnering organizations. The Steering Committee meets regularly once every month.

Office and staff information
The office is located at:
220 Smith Street East
Yorkton, SK S3N 3S6
Office phone: 306-783-2224
Office fax: 306-783-2248
Staff include the following:

Jody Badger, Office Support
badgerj@siit.sk.ca
Office phone: 306-783-2224

Victor Bigstone, Job Coach
bigtonv@siit.sk.ca
Cell phone: 306-641-9093

Shawn Ayers, Project Manager
ayerss@sitt.sk.ca
Cell phone: 306-641-9092

Steering Committee

• Saskatchewan Construction Association
• Canadian Home Builders’ Association
• Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission
• Gabriel Dumont Institute Training and Employment Services
• Parkland College
• Yorkton Tribal Council Labour Force Development
• Can-Sask Career and Employment Services
• SIIT

Meadow Lake Industrial Career Centre (MLICC)

The MLICC office opened on July 1, 2008 being modeled closely to NICC by primarily focusing on employment and training in the industrial sector in the northwestern region of Saskatchewan, which includes activities in mining, oil and gas, resource processing, forestry, construction, transport, etc. The activities of MLICC are guided by a Steering Committee made up of representatives of many of the partnering organizations. The Steering Committee meets regularly once every month.

Office and staff information
The office is located at:
905 – 1st Avenue West
PO Box 2030
Meadow Lake, SK. S9X-1Z4
Office phone: 306-234-2375
Office fax: 306-234-2378
Staff include the following:

Linda Spence, Office Support
spencel@siit.sk.ca
Office phone: 306-234-2375

Judy Fiddler, Job Coach
fiddlerj@siit.sk.ca
Cell phone: 306-240-4666

James Ouellette, Project Manager
ouellettej@siit.sk.ca
Cell phone: 306-240-4478

Steering Committee

• Saskatchewan Construction Association
• Meadow Lake Tribal Council Oil & Gas Secretariat
• Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission
• Meadow Lake Tribal Council
• Gabriel Dumont Institute Training and Employment
• Can-Sask Career and Employment Services
• North West Regional College
• SIIT

Battlfords Industrial Career Centre (BICC)

The BICC office opened August 18, 2008. The BICC will emulate the other Career Centres in La Ronge and Meadow Lake by primarily focusing on employment and training in the industrial sector in the northwestern region of Saskatchewan, which includes activities in mining, oil and gas, resource processing, forestry, construction, transport, etc.. The activities of BICC will guided by a Steering Committee made up of representatives of many of the partnering organizations. The Steering Committee will meet regularly every month.

Office and staff information
The office is located at:
#100-1291 102nd Street
North Battleford, SK S9A 1G2
Office Phone: 306-445-4890
Office Fax: 306-445-4925
Staff include the following:

Office Support (Vacant)
Office Phone: 306-445-4890

Bill Ironstand, Job Coach
ironstandb@siit.sk.ca
Cell Phone: 306-480-8100

Laurel Sapp, Project Manager
sappl@siit.sk.ca
Cell Phone: 306-481-6677

Steering Committee

• Saskatchewan Construction Association
• Empire Welding
• G & C Asphalt Services
• Battlefords Urban Training and Employment
• Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission
• Can-Sask Career and Employment Services
• North West Regional College
• SIIT