© 2007 Aboriginal Human Resource Council | Contact Us | Connections, Partnerships, Solutions
Day 1 Sessions
Session 1: It’s a Man’s World…or is it? Aboriginal women are changing the face of construction in Alberta
Women Building Futures
Judy Lynn Archer, CEO
With proper workplace preparation in their toolboxes, Aboriginal women are changing the face of construction in Alberta, starting careers as pipefitter, welders, electricians, sheet metal workers and more. Women Building Futures (WBF) has successfully trained hundreds of women across Alberta with a consistent 95% job placement rate. These women can face great challenges matched only by the limitless opportunities in front of them. Find a set of tools to help Aboriginal women assess their fit in trades careers and discover proven strategies for success. Bring your own stories and add to the discussion. Learn how WBF creates a culture of collaboration, respect and accountability to ensure that female apprenticeship workers succeed.
Session 2: Job sites and labour unions: First experience between the Cree of Eeyou Istchee (James Bay) and the labour unions.
Fédération des travailleurs du Québec – section construction
Serge Dupuis
Robert Paul
In 2002, when work on the first phase of the Eastmain hydroelectric power plant began in James Bay, more than 300 Cree workers were on the job. Working as carpenters, truck drivers, electricians and labourers, the Cree workers had little knowledge on labour unions. The Fédération des travailleurs du Québec –section construction (FTQ-C), a Québec labour union, noticed that Cree workers had low participation rates at union activities and seemed to mistrust the labour movement. Find out how FTQ-C bridged the gap with innovative strategies to bring Cree and Quebecois workers together and build an understanding of the power of labour unions.
Session 3: Construction Industry/Aboriginal Outreach
Al Page, Project Manager
A new Construction Sector Council (CSC) project is working to build a stronger connection between the Construction industry and AHRDAs. This project will engage the construction industry to hire, train and retain Aboriginal youth. Building on best practices and successes of existing Aboriginal / industry initiatives, the project will develop a business case and an outreach strategy for the construction industry to facilitate Aboriginal employment, skills development and apprenticeship leading to careers in the construction industry. This session will also review "Construction Looking Forward," the CSC labour market information resource, to show the demand that exists across Canada and the potential for increased Aboriginal representation in the Canadian construction industry.
Session 4: Trading Up – Improving Success in High School and Beyond
SAEE - Society for the Advancement of Excellence in Education
Dr. Susan Phillips, Researcher
Mame McCrea Silva, General Manager
What makes or breaks trades training for Aboriginal students? Why is it that some programs burn brightly, while others fizzle out? This session brings together the promising practices of five secondary school training programs in three provinces. Discover the common elements and learn about strategies that can motivate students, educators and policy-makers to get the most out of vocational trades programs. The outcomes of this discussion will be of great value to school–based practitioners and administrators, Aboriginal leaders, policy-makers, employers, Aboriginal career practitioners, educational researchers, and faculties of education.