A new training partnership between Manitoba Construction Sector Council (MCSC) and Assiniboine College has shown what can happen when industry expertise, community connections, and customized education come together in northern communities.

The first-ever Manitoba Green Building Program was delivered to 10 First Nations communities in northern Manitoba, supporting more than 100 students who live in the communities.  With a strong focus on addressing the unique challenges and opportunities faced by remote and Indigenous communities, the training provides foundational training in green building practices. Participants were given access to specialized, hands-on training designed specifically for delivery in a remote and rural setting, bringing training to students rather than requiring them to leave their communities to access it.

“For our first cohort of Green Building training with Assiniboine College, we are thrilled with the outcomes,” says Carol Paul, MCSC’s Executive Director. “MCSC has served northern First Nations for over 14 years with an array of essential construction trades training, and the Green Building training has complemented our resources and investment in the north, strengthened further with our partnership with Assiniboine College.”

Six Green Building students travel to Brandon for a special ceremony

The partnership brought together complementary strengths. MCSC provided experienced First Nations’ instructors, community coordination, and local access, while Assiniboine developed curriculum, quality assurance, and credentialing. Together, the organizations were able to adapt the program for northern delivery while maintaining the standards and structure of a recognized training program.

“I’m incredibly proud of this program and the work our team did to customize it for delivery in northern Manitoba,” says Michelle Budiwski, Program Coordinator at Assiniboine College. “Knowing that through our partnership with MCSC, over 100 students had access to this training in just a few months excites me for future possibilities and opportunities for collaboration.” As a bonus, six Green Building Program students travelled to Assiniboine College’s annual convocation ceremonies in Brandon to receive their certificates of completion.

The impact of the program extended beyond the formal skills and credentials gained through training.

Research conducted by Probe Research identified three interconnected insights among participants. The first was an unexpected but practical benefit that students were applying what they learned to everyday home maintenance.

“Many community members just don’t know how to set their thermostats and systems to get the most out of them, and these students are already becoming the go-to experts,” reveals Mary Agnes Welch, lead researcher and Partner at Probe Research. “Participants described becoming a resource for family members, friends and neighbours, helping with basic maintenance and household systems.”

In some cases, skills learned through the program meant community members could solve problems themselves rather than relying on an outside contractor or waiting for assistance.

That emerging knowledge-sharing is contributing to a broader sense of community self-reliance and sustainability, pointing toward another opportunity that includes more training.

Green Building participants, particularly those already working in construction-related fields, expressed strong interest in continuing their education and developing more advanced skills they can put to work locally. This sentiment bodes well for creating long-term sustainability for northern communities and a strong foundation to support new cohorts of Green Building training.

The third insight was closely connected to a desire to keep jobs local.

Participants with construction experience both on and off the First Nation described training as one piece of a larger effort to build local capacity. Developing a stronger pool of skilled workers can create more opportunities for community members while reducing the need to bring in outside contractors and companies for work that can increasingly be done locally.

“For remote and rural communities to access this type of customized industry training is the purpose of quality continuing education programming,” says Budiwski, affirming the output to the outcome of bringing training to the north. “Skills-based training delivered where students are allows communities to increase their own skilled personnel, increasing opportunities for economic development and community employment.”

With the first cohort complete, MCSC and Assiniboine College will now review participant feedback, the program experience, and research findings. The organizations intend to explore the possibility of a second cohort next year.

If the first cohort is any indication, the benefits of bringing Green Building training to northern First Nations in Manitoba can reach well beyond the classroom, developing practical skills, strengthening local capacity and sustainability, and creating a foundation for communities to take on more of their own opportunities.

In support of higher energy efficiency tiers, the Manitoba Green Building Program is delivered in partnership with the Manitoba Government through funding from the Government of Canada’s Codes Acceleration Fund. For more information, please visit: www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/climate-change/canadian-centre-climate-services.html