Manitoba Status of Women
The Manitoba Status of Women & Manitoba Economic Development and Jobs funded MCSC to deliver construction skills training that leads to employment in four remote Indigenous communities. In addition, MCSC will bring career awareness to youth in 30 remote Indigenous communities using the latest virtual reality technology. This project will disseminate the results at the MCSC Manitoba Women in Trades Conference on November 16, 2022, at Victoria Inn, Winnipeg.
William Kirkness, Project Coordinator
William works with Indigenous communities to address skill gaps on local construction projects. He coordinates the delivery of training for employment. William bridges the gap between employers and Indigenous workers to improve recruitment and retention practices in remote Manitoba communities.
Jennifer Daniels, Job Readiness Facilitator/ Career Awareness Coordinator
Jennifer uses her experience in construction to bring career awareness and digital technology to remote Indigenous communities across Manitoba. Students, teachers, counselors, parents, and administrators are virtually placed on the construction site to learn more about opportunities in the construction industry. The virtual and augmented reality resources are downloaded on the equipment in schools for future access.
Cohort I
Cross Lake
Job Readiness Program
Blast Hole Drilling Program
Cohort II
Job Readiness Program
Instructor:
Annette Head, First Indigenous woman Journeyperson Carpenter, Vocational Education Instructor
10 Indigenous women completed the Job Readiness in Cross Lake on March 4, 2022, and completed the Safety training on March 11.
The 10 women will be taking the Water & Wastewater Line Installation program pilot on March 14, 2022.
Water & Wastewater Line Installer Program
Instructor:
Ken Mills, Energy Consultant/ Instructor
In March 14, 2022, 10 Indigenous women registered for the Water & Wastewater Line Installation course in Cross Lake. The Water & Wastewater Line Installation Pilot Project wrapped up in Cross Lake on Friday, April 1 with 10 Women successfully completing the 3 week course.
The 2 Council Members attended the Grad on Friday as well as the community Project Manager and the Manager of Mid North Construction (Band owned Construction Company)
The Council Members congratulated the Women and the Project Manager informed the Women that they would all begin work with Mid North Construction on Monday, April 11.
Some of the Women will begin work on the water & wastewater line installation project while some of the Women will work alongside the Local plumber.
They will also have the opportunity to advance to various other roles with Mid North Construction.
Cross Lake is planning to build a 60 room hotel. There should be more work for the Drill Training and Water & Wastewater Line Installation women ahead according to Tom Scott, the Economic Development Manager.
Cohort I
York Landing
Job Readiness Program
Instructor:
Gilbert Manitopyes, Job Readiness Instructor
12 students attended job readiness in York Landing. 4 did not complete the course due to Covid protocol.
The 7 graduates continued on to blast hole drilling training and all 7 graduated. The women have applied to work at Cam Arrow, in BC and at Agassiz Drilling. The community plans to hire the women for a blast hole drilling construction project this fall.
Blast Hole Drilling in Training Program
Instructor:
Don Ayres, Certified Blaster and Driller / Safety Instructor
Brent Good, Instructor
10 women registered for the Blast Hole Drilling training program. 7 women graduated from the Blast Hole Drilling course in York Landing on March 18, 2022, 2 women had to withdraw from the blast hole drilling due to a death in their family.
The women have applied to work at Cam Arrow, with companies in northern BC, and at Agassiz Drilling. The community plans to hire the women for a blast hole drilling construction project this fall.
Cohort I
Pinaymootang
Job Readiness Program
Framer Certificate Program
Instructor:
Annette Head, First Indigenous woman Journeyperson Carpenter, Vocational Education Instructor
11 Indigenous women registered for the framer course in Pinaymootang. 9 women completed the program on October 29, 2021 and will be employed on local construction projects in the community. 4 students employed in Pinaymootang with the rest expected to be employed in the new year 2022.
Pinaymootang will be building 28 homes in the coming months and will require all 9 of the women to be employed on this project.
Cohort II
Job Readiness Program
Blast Hole Drilling Program
Awareness
Manitoba Construction Sector Council, Jennifer Daniels, Program Coordinator, is visiting 30 Indigenous communities to bring career awareness to youth using virtual reality 360-degree videos featuring 14 construction trades.
- South East Collegiate
- Long Plain High School
- Broken Head First Nation High School
- Pinaymootang First Nation
- Peguis First Nation High School
- Waywayseecappo High School
- Sioux Valley High School
- Ebb and Flo First Nation
- Cross Lake First Nation
- Fisher River First Nation
- Norway House 3
- Rolling River High School
- Birdtail Sioux First Nation
- Minegoziibe Anishinabe School
- Canupawakpa First Nation
- Eagles Nest – Assembly Manitoba Chiefs
- Lake St.Martin
- Opaskwayak Cree Nation
- Wanipigow High School
- Cranberry Portage – Egg Lake
- Sagkeeng First Nation School
- Roseau River First Nation – Ginew School
- Keeseekoowenin School
- Dakota Plains School – Mahipya Hdega
- Swan Lake First Nation High School
- Black River First Nation
- Little Saskatchewan
- Shoal Lake 39
- Skowan First Nation
- Sandy Bay School
