Program trains women for construction careers

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Aboriginal women in northeastern Ontario now have more education and employment opportunities, thanks to the creation of the Native Residential Construction Program at Northern College of Applied Arts and Technology in Moosonee.

The program was made possible through funding from the province of Ontario as part of its Women in Skilled Trades Program (WIST). Through WIST, the province assists unemployed and low-income women by providing pre-apprenticeship training in a variety of trades, with the government providing funding to cover tuition fees and other costs related to the program.

The Native Residential Construction Program, which will provide students with the skills and knowledge they will require before seeking an apprenticeship in one of the construction trades, is being offered in partnership with the Aboriginal Peoples' Alliance of Northern Ontario (APANO) and Mushkegowuk First Nation Employment and Training Services.

"Our government is committed to helping women learn the skills they need to secure good jobs and become economically independent. Through this unique course at Northern College, we are supporting specialized training for Aboriginal women who face significant challenges in finding well-paying jobs in their communities," Sandra Pupatello, minister responsible for Women's Issues, said of the program.

The program is designed to provide training to First Nation women in all aspects of residential construction.

The program will give the women participating an opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge needed to assist skilled trade persons in carpentry, electrical, and trades, preparing them to work as labourers.

Through the program they will learn basic welding, framing and interior and exterior finishing, how to build forms and foundations and how to read and interpret blueprints and plans. Graduates from the program wil also be knowledgeable about safety and building codes and how to operate power tools.

The program also features a component on construction management in order to prepare students for future opportunities in supervisory or entrepreneurial roles.

The pre-apprenticeship program is comprised of two main parts-theory and in-school training, and on the job training.

There are two levels of in-school training in the program, with students spending 240 hours in the classroom for each.

For the on-the-job portion of their training, students are assessed based on competency through demonstrated skill rather than on a fixed number of hours, although the students are expected to log at least 4,000 hours on the job before completing their pre-apprenticeship, which should last for two to three years.

The pre-apprenticeship becomes complete when the student has achieved competency in all of the on-the-job performance objectives, and when all levels of in-school training have been successfully completed.

Northern College will receive $114,580 from the Ontario Women's Directorate to provide the pre-apprenticeship program for up to 12 local Aboriginal women. The first class started on Feb. 28.

"This program will have a positive impact on our community development by ensuring a skilled workforce that includes women, traditionally an untapped human resource full of talent and potential," said APANO president Dorothy Wynne.

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact their local apprenticeship consultant at the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities or to call Northern College at 705-336-2913 or visit the college's Web site at www.northernc.on.ca