Ontario Local Partners With Area First Nations on Pre-Apprenticeship Program

EIN IBEW Logo

August 19, 2022

In an effort to increase Indigenous youth membership, London, Ontario, Local 120 recently launched a pre-apprenticeship program in partnership with area First Nations groups.

The program, which began in April, is headed by Chippewas of the Thames First Nation and works in partnership with Local 120 to help Indigenous young people gain technical skills and certifications, as well as find employment in the skilled trades.

“This program offers an opportunity that the young people in Indigenous communities rarely have,” said Jason Martincich, the lead instructor for the program. “By completing the trainings and certificates awarded, not only does it build skills, it also builds confidence that supports mental well-being with a sense of accomplishment.”

Local 120 Training Coordinator Brad Gard says that local leaders were looking to get more involved in the community and, based on their first meetings with Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, they agreed on a partnership.

“Our hope is that this will provide interest in the trades, especially electrical, and provide better Indigenous representation in the IBEW,” Gard said. “We want these young people to become mentors to the upcoming youth and future generations.”

Funded through the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development, the program is open to Indigenous people in London and surrounding First Nations — Munsee-Delaware, Oneida Nation of the Thames and Chippewas of the Thames — who are between the ages of 18 and 30.

About 150 students participate in the first of the program’s three stages, where 12 students each week learn skills like first aid, résumé writing, interview preparation and diversity training. The second stage is limited to 100 of those participants and offers training on a construction site. The final stage is reserved for 50 students who will gain transferable skills to work in any trade. From there, up to five participants are selected to complete paid apprenticeships.

“This program is important on so many levels. Already we have seen many youths — 73 to date — complete Stage 1, and the feedback coming in is that they have increased confidence. They want to attend every day and are enjoying themselves,” said Meaghan MacLeod, the program’s project manager.

Participants also have access to support, including free transportation and lunch and a wage subsidy of $120 a day.

“The supports are of the utmost importance because many of these youths would not be able to participate otherwise,” Gard said. “The burdens faced by many of these students are invisible to most people, from violence and abuse in the home to lack of transportation and food security.”

While the skills learned are common to most apprenticeships, one part that’s different is the cultural component. Every Monday of every new class they start with a smudge, or cleansing ritual, the language and a hand drum song provided by one of the student advisors from Chippewas of the Thames First Nation.

“Rebuilding the bridges between education and culture is imperative as we provide a culturally sensitive environment for the youth at our union hall,” Martincich said. “It’s important that we recognize that many of these youths have been forced away from their cultural heritage. By learning about their culture and developing this program to enhance it, we feel we can bridge the gap between our communities for everyone’s benefit.”

Gard and Martincich noted that, as far as they know, the program is the first of its kind in the province, but hopefully not the last.

“For any other locals that may be interested, I recommend reaching out to local Indigenous communities to see what interest level there is,” Gard said. “Then develop a partnership with them and seek government funding to get the program up and running. We’d be happy to be a resource.”

Source

Related Articles


Latest Articles


Changing Scene

  • Skills Ontario Supports Ontario’s Investments in Skilled Trades in Budget Announcement

    Skills Ontario Supports Ontario’s Investments in Skilled Trades in Budget Announcement

    March 28. 2024 As demand for skilled trades professionals rises, Skills Ontario is commending the government for continued investments in skilled trades and technology programing, working to address the shortfall and need to build the workforce of the future in Ontario.  The skilled trades shortage is costing Ontario approximately $25 billion in foregone GDP. A… Read More…

  • IVRY Launches 7 New VR Lessons

    IVRY Launches 7 New VR Lessons

     IVRY Technologies, a division of IDEAL Electrical, is launching seven new virtual reality (VR) lessons in Canada as part of its Virtual Electrical Training (VET) Series 2 training module. The cutting-edge training will serve as a learning resource for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) training centers across Canada. Read More…

  • PEI Budget 2024 Signals Continued Focus on Healthcare, Housing and Affordability for all Islanders 

    PEI Budget 2024 Signals Continued Focus on Healthcare, Housing and Affordability for all Islanders 

    March 28, 2024 Hon. Jill Burridge, Minister of Finance, presented government’s 2024-25 operating budget to the legislative assembly, outlining $3.2 billion in investments for Prince Edward Island with a continued focus on healthcare, housing and affordability measures. “This budget signals where we’re headed as a province and shows Islanders where we will be making key… Read More…

  • BC’s Budget 2024 Prioritizes Actions for Low-Carbon Economy

    BC’s Budget 2024 Prioritizes Actions for Low-Carbon Economy

    March 28, 2024 Josie Osborne, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, and Brittny Anderson, MLA for Nelson-Creston, met with community climate leaders in Nelson to discuss how Budget 2024 can help support people in the region to transition to a low-carbon economy and meet shared CleanBC goals. “Our government’s budget this year reflects the… Read More…