Employment centre move sparks demand for services

Page 8

The Aboriginal Career and Development Centre in this southern Alberta city has the potential to service one-quarter of the city's population as a result of its relocation.

It offers employment and training services to approximately 17,500 urban Aboriginal people in the Lethbridge area. The number is so high, said executive director Gerald Crick, because in addition to the Métis and Cree populations, Lethbridge borders both the Blood and Peigan reserves.

In January, the centre moved from a under-used site in Lethbridge to a visible downtown location. The change has been remarkable. In the first two months of 2001, the centre attracted 150 new clients. It already had a client base of 250.

The centre is the result of a partnership between Treaty 7 Economic Development and the labor market development program of Zone 3 of the Métis Nation of Alberta.

"It's in our mandate to seek out partners," said Randall Brown, labor market development manager for MNA. "It's only logical that with the high number of Aboriginals, Métis and First Nations, that we work in co-operation."

The centre started in 1997 when Treaty 7 and MNA decided to pool funding they received from the Human Resources Development Canada.

"It's a strong partnership," added Brown, pointing to the longevity of this project and its counterpart in Medicine Hat.

An intake counsellor works with clients, assessing their needs and helping them with résumés and interview skills, while an employment counsellor assists them in their job searches.

"The biggest (barrier) with Aboriginal participation in the work force is the lack of skills, lack of education," said Crick.

MNA and Treaty 7 provide funding for up to two years of schooling (covering registration, book costs and living expenses) at a post-secondary institution in the city so long as the client's career choice is on the funders' list of high employment possibilities. For applicants to qualify for funding they must have resided in Lethbridge a minimum of three years.

Applicants may otherwise get funding if they can prove, through a letter from a potential employer, that their training will lead to a job.

The centre's job developer works with Lethbridge businesses to make them aware of funding available to help offset their initial costs of hiring.

"There is a wage subsidy program," said Crick. "It's a marketing tool we utilize to gain access for clients into job positions. We ask for a commitment from the employers that (our clients) are hired on after the funding ends."

The relocation of the centre has not only caught the attention of the city's Aboriginal population but also that of employers. "Since we've been in the new centre, we've had employers approaching us," said Crick. "We've managed to line up a number of apprenticeship programs."

But barriers go beyond training and education. There is a "red neck" component to the city, said Crick.

"There is prejudice and stereotypes," he said. "They only way we can break down some of these barriers is through Aboriginal participation in the work force."

Other services offered include a job referral board, a casual labor pool, a job-finding club, and a youths 15-and-under odd-job squad.

"Our ultimate success is our number of job placements," said Crick, "placing clients into full time jobs."

Although the Canada Employment Centre located in Lethbridge offers similar job placement services, Crick knows why his centre has been so busy since becoming more visible.

"I think our clientele feel more comfortable with us," said Crick.