Excerpt from the Executive Director’s Message

Its been a challenging year for the Manitoba Construction Sector Council (MCSC) but the sector council came from a deficit in the fall of 2024 to a surplus at year end. The deficit was largely due to increased responsibility for the council’s operational costs, reduction in provincial, federal and community funding. The surplus was a result of a team effort! The Indigenous Liaison visited communities in search of training opportunities. The Executive Director discovered funding through Northpine Foundation in Scarborough, ON. MCSC secured $1.39M to train 180 EIA recipients in the construction sector over 2 years. New Indigenous projects emerged in January 2025 giving MCSC regained optimism. The financial manager
trudged through a provincial audit, facing every obstacle head on. MCSC was triumphant passing the audit by year end. Throughout the challenges, the MCSC staff team remained united. This is a true testament of the staff’s diligence and commitment to MCSC’s vision.

Excerpt from the Executive Director’s Message

In 2023, Manitoba Construction Sector Council (MCSC) began our first year of a four-year contract with the Province of Manitoba’s Economic Development, Investment, Trade & Natural Resources. The Federal & provincial government committed to workforce development in the construction sector council by awarding MCSC with $701,000 per year for four years. This funding investment covers operational costs including staffing, course development and delivery. Additionally, the four-year funding covers career awareness activities and human resource support for existing employees and job seekers with a focus on the recruitment of underrepresented groups to fill labour shortages.

Excerpt from the Executive Director’s Message

“This past year marks the end of a four-year contract and the beginning of a new contract that includes a 41 % increase in funding from the province! This increase is a testament to the great work of the Manitoba Construction Sector Council staff team and board of directors. The province listened to industry needs by providing additional funding to address the industry’s skill gaps and labour shortages.

In 2022-3 MCSC delivered industry driven training in remote indigenous communities where 92 graduates found emplyement. In addition, MCSC coordinated delivery of the Clan Mothers Healing Village where 8 Indigenous women, impacted by sexual violence, completed their grade 12, MCSC carpentry training and are employed with Clan Mothers social enterprise.

MCSC hosted the Manitoba Women in Trades Conference featuring over 50 presenters and 425 attendees. This led to the development and delivery of an employer workshop to support the recruitment and retention of women and a workforce diversity strategy. In addition, MCSC presented at the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum, Supporting Women in Trades Conference in Halifax, NS with Manitoba Status of Women. The presentation featured the success story of 60 Indigenous women who found employment in remote communities across Manitoba.

As a result of industry partnerships, 15 micro-credentialed courses were delivered over the past year including glazier, drone technology, framer, finisher, water and wastewater installation, design build, safety, concrete forms, mould and asbestos, and blast hole drilling. MCSC completed the development and dissemination of a VR/ AR game on the safe use of chainsaws in collaboration with industry stakeholders with funding through Workers Compensation Board, Research Workplace and Innovation Program.”

Excerpt from the Executive Director’s Message

“Collaboration has been the key to success for MCSC over the past year. The MCSC board of directors worked diligently to update the bylaws and the four-year strategic plan. The board developed a skill gaps analysis process and a new communication plan to prepare for the four-year plan submission to the province (2023-6).

MCSC collaborated with several sector councils including Manitoba Environmental Industries Association to develop and deliver a water and waste installation course piloted in Cross Lake and New Media Manitoba to survey the current state of technology in construction.

Collaboration with the educator working group led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology, delivery of the Introduction to Heavy Construction course with young women in River East Transcona School Division and applied research on sustainability and technology in construction in partnership with Manitoba Industry Academia Partnership (MIAP) and Red River College Polytechnic.

A partnership with Manitoba Status of Women, Province of Manitoba has led to the delivery of job readiness, safety training, blast hole drilling, water and waste installation and the framer course with Indigenous women in four remote communities. Upon completion, the women were employed on local construction projects. Collaboration with the Employment Opportunities Unit, Provincial Services Branch led to a collaboration with Grey & Ivy on an innovative design build course with Indigenous youth in Barren Lands.”

Excerpt from the Executive Director’s Message

“Despite a year-long pandemic, the Manitoba Construction Sector Council (MCSC) has exceeded the Province of Manitoba’s expectations. MCSC faced the Covid-challenge with innovative solutions to achieve their education, engagement and awareness outcomes. New partnerships were invaluable in 2020-21.

Manitoba Environmental Industries Association (MEIA) partnered with MCSC on the development of the Water Distribution/Water and Waste Installer Program. New Media Manitoba (NMM) partnered with MCSC on Try a Trades North to bring career awareness technology to northern Indigenous communities and schools. Film Training Manitoba (FTM) partnered with MCSC to plan a Women in the Film Industry Summit with lessons learned from the 2020 Manitoba Women in Trades Conference. The film industry hires qualified trades people so there is much in common between our sectors!

Northern Manitoba Sector Council (NMSC) partnered with MCSC on training delivery in northern Manitoba. Yellowquill College partnered with MCSC to grant high school credits for students completing the MCSC framer course. Office to Advance Women Apprentices (OAWA) registered and supported our young women throughout program delivery. In addition, the Educator and Immersive Working Groups have led to important partnerships with MCSC and between working group members. It is the partnership with Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology (MITT), Business Development and Strategic Initiatives Program, that is to be recognized for accrediting MCSC’s industry led training courses as micro- credentials in the post secondary education system. MCSC actively serves on the MITT Industry Stakeholder Committee.”

Excerpt from the Executive Director’s Message

“When I look back over 2019, it gives reason to celebrate the accomplishments of a team driven to make a difference. Normally I don’t report statistics but the results of 2019 are staggering in terms of participants attending awareness, engagement and education events, those finding employment, returning to school, moving forward in their career or simply experiencing success.

Let’s take a look at James, our Community and Youth Liaison’s role in bringing career awareness to youth in and around the City of Winnipeg. James delivered 66 presentations and 19 career fairs in 2019 influencing 3,955 students and 99 teachers/counsellors. When James asked students before a presentation, how many would consider a career in construction, 660 raised their hands. Upon completion of his engaging presentation that includes virtual reality and game-based learning tools, 941 said they would consider construction as a career. That is a 30% increase!

Jennifer, our Virtual Trades Coordinator who brings career awareness to remote northern Indigenous communities shared our newest technology, 360-degree virtual reality videos of 14 trades. Youth could virtually see and hear tradespeople while they explored the worksite. Jennifer visited over 40 Indigenous communities, spoke to 2,043 students and 134 teachers/principals. In 2019, MCSC contributed $185,000 to bring career awareness to our Indigenous youth living in remote regions of our province. MCSC’s innovative approach to bringing journey people to the community was greatly appreciated by these community schools.”

Excerpt from the Executive Director’s Message

“MCSC has taken education and training to the next level. There is no longer need to market our products; there is a huge demand to deliver MCSC resources in partnership with industry, colleges, Indigenous communities, schools, community centres and immigrant agencies.

In 2018, the Community and Youth Liaison presented career awareness to 3,339 grade 5-12 students and attended 20 career fairs. The Indigenous Liaison delivered job readiness, framer and flatwork technician training in 12 communities. The Director of Education and Training mentored 64 immigrants and helped support their transition to work.

Two new staff members were added to the MCSC staff complement. Ramir Diaz, electrical journeyperson/vocational education instructor is the new Education and Training Coordinator and Jennifer Daniels, who has a background in construction and facilitation of career awareness in the inner city, is the new Virtual Trades Coordinator.

These additions have brought energy and fresh ideas to the team.”

Excerpt from the Executive Director’s Message

“Four years ago, the Manitoba Construction Sector Council “(MCSC) set out on a journey to become sustainable as an organization. We reached out to partners who would support our plans for the future and form strong partnerships. When challenged, we created at new ways to work around the obstacles we encountered. MCSC works towards goals for all the right reasons. Our focus is our audience including Indigenous people, women, youth at risk, immigrants, and refugees. Their stories of success give us the strength to continue when we become discouraged, tired or disheartened.
This past year took us to new heights but also new challenges. We developed a flatwork technician course so our Indigenous adults could learn how to pour driveways and sidewalks for home builders, a trade high in demand. We found partners who specialized in the field to develop the curriculum and industry who supported the delivery of training on the job site. Without the determination of La Donna Ogungbemi-Jackson this couldn’t have become a reality.”

Excerpt from the Executive Director’s Message

“This year marks the third anniversary of my position as Executive Director. When I started in this role, we discussed as a staff developing the MCSC as a sustainable organization with externally funded projects. We expected at that time there would be a change in government and decided it would be in our best interests to pursue sources outside of the government’s contribution to compliment our core provincial budget. We all agreed this would allow us the flexibility to work on some incredibly exciting projects that matched our skill sets and interests. The leadership style would shift to allow each staff member to manage their own projects. This required a very motivated and committed staff team. MCSC has the right team and has grown leaps and bounds towards sustainability.”

Excerpt from the Executive Director’s Message

“As I reflect over the past year, I need to first acknowledge the contributions made by the MCSC staff. The team has really taken our organization to a next level. Ron Castel and James Murphy are the frontline of the sector council. Their active contributions in communities and schools across the province have given MCSC a reputation of excellence. They have built partnerships, advised on committees, developed awareness, informed leaders and facilitated change. La Donna Ogungbemi-Jackson has brought professionalism and expertise to the team. Her ability to develop a program from a concept through to delivery and evaluation is marveled by all who work alongside her. Her attention to detail and passion for innovation and quality has led to the development of a blog, newsletter, engaging websites and Facebook. She is a leader and mentor. Rick Wang and Alex DiGirolamo are the administration team of the organization. They work diligently to improve processes, develop quality databases, reports, manuals and records. They are the problem solvers who jump in to support the needs of the team without hesitation. As well, they present a superior level of professionalism in the administration and documentation processes of MCSC.”