Leveraging Partnerships for Maximum Results June 2014 The Aboriginal Apprenticeship Board of Ontario

The purpose of this presentation is to: 1.Provide an overview of the Aboriginal Apprenticeship Board of Ontario (AABO) 2.Identify the basic foundation of successful partnerships 3.Discuss AABO successes as a result of our partnerships Purpose

-The Aboriginal Apprenticeship Board of Ontario (AABO) is a not-for- profit organization dedicated to increasing the number of Aboriginal people in the trades in Ontario. -VISION: to improve the socio-economic well-being of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit people of Ontario through successful inclusion in the skilled trades. -AABO is composed of Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy (ASETS) holders, industry, and other community organizations. -Completely non-funded organization. What is AABO?

-First Nation, Métis and Inuit peoples find self-fulfilment through work, become self-sufficient as a result of finding a job leading to a career and becoming a role model within their communities -Social and economic conditions of First Nation, Métis and Inuit individuals / communities change for the good -The First Nation, Métis and Inuit peoples are one solution to meeting the skills gap in construction and the trades in Ontario / Canada -Employers continue to engage in developing strategies to recruit, retain and advance First Nations, Metis and Inuit within their organizations Put the End in Site

AABO Board Secretariat Sara Monture, Executive Director Employer Partnership Developer, Marketing/ Communications Officer, Apprenticeship Program Coordinator, Information Systems Coordinator LINK Steering Committees (local members; ASETAs, employment & training agencies/ institutes, contractors, businesses, unions, MTCU reps, etc) South West GTANorth Central North East EastNorth West Aboriginal Apprenticeship Board of Ontario (AABO)

STRATEGY: 1.OUTREACH - to increase awareness and promotion of the trades 2.MARKETING & PROMOTION – to increase knowledge of available programs and services in the trades 3.EDUCATION – to increase (a) awareness and understanding of skilled labour requirements, and (b) recognition of the needs and reality of Aboriginal people as it relates to experience and formal education 4.PARTNERSHIP – facilitate collaboration of all stakeholders to develop solutions to increase Aboriginal participation in apprenticeships and skilled trades 5.RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT – (a) a program of ongoing research to ensure Ontario apprenticeship initiatives are appropriate, inclusive, comprehensive and (b) an evaluation plan that will measure the effectiveness of the program 6.POLICY & GOVERNMENT – facilitate collaboration between federal and provincial governments (MTCU, ESDC, AANDC, Labour Departments, etc) and ASETAs to assist Aboriginal participation in apprenticeship and skilled trades 7.FINANCE – pursue funding through various sources for implementation of Strategy

-The Aboriginal Apprenticeship Board of Ontario (AABO) is a not-for- profit organization dedicated to increasing the number of Aboriginal people in the trades in Ontario -AABO is composed of Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy (ASETS) holders, industry, and other community organizations. -Acts as a central point of contact between industry and the ASETS holders. What does AABO do?

The Foundation of Effective Partnerships

Peace Friendship Mutual respect Foundation of a successful partnership

1. Know your environment 2. Know your strengths 3. Keep the end in sight 4. Stay open minded Your role as a partner

AABO was created from the ground up by First Nation, Inuit and Metis ASETAs in partnership with the Ontario apprenticeship stakeholder community; ASETAs have partnered through AABO to support their clients with increased access to jobs in construction leading to careers in the industry; AABO has connected ASETA holders with the Ontario apprenticeship stakeholder community i.e., employers, construction associations, unions, non-unions, governments, training institutions and others; The fundamental principles of AABO’s way forward is founded on Trust, Transparency, Commitment and Collaboration Aboriginal Apprenticeship Board of Ontario

Identify mutual goals of recruiting, retaining and advancing skilled workers for an employer (ASETA/Industry Engagement Sessions) Share and understand each other’s processes to achieve mutual goals. ASETA holders have the budgets, the authority to spend the budgets and authority to develop and design labour market programs to meet community and individual needs Work is underway to make it easier for employers to hire, Aboriginal people to be hired and to manage the process Partnerships – Ontario Apprenticeship Stakeholder Community

Not all things are created equal for ASETAs given employment opportunities in service delivery area range from good to bad; The economies of scale for ASETAs are challenged to take advantage of employment opportunities and grow given limited human and financial resources (small, medium and large); Some ASETAs have adapted to change over the years while others maintain the status quo e.g., politics versus bureaucracies; and GREAT is a leader and can demonstrate how to adapt to change while not forgetting who they work for… “community / individual” Capacity / Governance

Knowledge of where the employment opportunities can be found and the process to access them; Possession of the academic and skill levels to compete for the employment opportunity; Ability to succeed in the interview process; Aboriginal Skills Employment and Training Agreement holders, such as GREAT house the inventory of skilled Aboriginal workers; and GREAT supports clients acquire academic/training credentials, prepares them for the interview; and follows up with client/employer LINK Aboriginal Supply with Employer Demand

AABO continues to engage the Ontario apprenticeship stakeholder community through the LINK Steering Committees; the following partnerships have resulted in Aboriginal people finding a job leading to a career with GREAT setting examples and building on their successes: -Hammer Head to WRAP (Work Ready Aboriginal People) -International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) -Aecon -Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario (OETIO) – Thunder Bay Local 793 bringing graduates into union and Aecon hiring them -Ontario Power Generations (OPG) -Canadian Union of Skilled Workers (CUSW) -Building Trades Councils Some Successes

-Carpenters’ Union -The Twinning Concept GREAT / KKETS -Lower Mattagami Project – trade entrance exam example (OETIO) -Skills Canada -LINK Steering Committees -Sheet Metal and Pipe Fitters -Aboriginal Employment Skills Employment and Training Agreement (ASETAs) -Construction Associations in parts of Ontario -Sector Councils (CAF, CSC, ESC, MIHR) -Provincial / Federal Government Officials -GREAT’s Governance Model Some Successes ….. continued

Partnerships between the Aboriginal community, construction industry and private sector are critical to achieve success; and they continue to grow with the support from AABO / GREAT. Successful partnerships are created based on a common goal and are mutually beneficial to all parties. Be creative when thinking about potential partners! Take Away

Aboriginal Apprenticeship Board of Ontario (AABO) Website Sara Monture, Executive Director – Take Away cont….