Apprenticeship Forum targets Aboriginal skill

The significance Aboriginals can play when it comes to filling various apprenticeship positions prompted the Wood Buffalo Apprenticeship Forum to add a fifth sub-committee to the organization.

“First Nations have always been a significant and valuable part of this community,” said Glenn van’t Wout, dean of trades and heavy industrial division at Keyano College, located in Fort McMurray. “We’ve had a lot of really neat, success stories from here.”

An Aboriginal sub-committee was added this past winter to the forum, which was organized September 2011.

It only made sense that when dealing with local apprenticeships to include key members of the community, says van’t Wout.
“There’s always a great representation from the Aboriginal community,” he said.

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo encompasses the First Nations of Athabasca Chipeywan, Mikisew Cree, Fort Mckay, Fort McMurray, and Smith’s Landing.

The other four committees that make-up the Wood Buffalo Apprenticeship Forum focus on demand, marketing, essential skills and opportunities and were seen as essential in filling apprenticeship gaps.

The forum has been gaining popularity since its inception. The first meeting was held in May of 2011 and attracted about 15 people. And that was even before the group had an official name, says van’t Wout.

The group was formed after some individuals in Wood Buffalo thought it would be productive to discuss the strengths and challenges they were facing in terms of apprenticeships.
“There were a lot of pockets of misinformation out there,” said van’t Wout.

Ensuing meetings attracted more and more interested people.
As a result, the forum began to take shape. Its goal is to create a community of stakeholders who are focussed on enhancing the success of various trade-related career opportunities in the Wood Buffalo area.

Part of the group’s mandate is to increase the opportunities of trades, companies and skilled apprentices to connect.  That will be done through the forum, titled The Future Works Here, which will be held from Oct. 15-17.

“It’s a conference for anybody in Alberta with an interest in apprenticeship,” said van’t Wout.

Officials representing various levels of government as well as representatives from business groups, industry groups and labour groups are expected to attend.

Besides discussing the state of apprenticeship in the area and province, it is expected that forum participants will make several recommendations on how to improve an increasing need.

With a booming economy which is expected to last for the next couple of decades in Alberta, it is vital to have enough skilled workers in the province to push the numerous and various projects forward, says van’t Wout.

The upcoming forum is expected to attract more than 200 delegates.