Finding a purpose: First Nation consultancy seeks to eliminate barriers to employment.

• Author: Ross, Ian
• Position: THUNDER BAY

Finding diamonds in the rough and eliminating obstacles to employment are what drives Paul Giles of Hardy Giles Consulting.

The co-owner of the five-employee Fort William First Nation-based company, who portray themselves as a group of "outside-the-box thinkers," is expanding their expertise into pre-employment screening for forestry firms in northwestern Ontario.

He views the consultancy as a matchmaker to open doors for First Nation people, by identifying their untapped talents and connecting them with employers looking for competent and reliable workers.

"We try to match people to opportunities and break down barriers," said Giles. "And build their confidence," adds Melissa Hardy-Giles, his wife and business partner.

The company offers a wide range of work-readiness and certificate training programs. Performing heavy equipment operator assessments are the newest extension of that agenda.

A year ago, the company purchased Caterpillar-made heavy equipment simulators, with assistance from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, and have been hauling them by trailer to reserves across northwestern Ontario.

"We're solution providers mainly for First Nation people," said Paul. "That's our passion. Overcome the oppressive barriers and knock down some of the disadvantages."

Growing in the tiny northwestern Ontario town of Rainy River, Giles was an angry, troubled and frustrated kid, who found some kindred spirits in his disadvantaged First Nation and Metis friends.

It spurred his desire to pursue a degree in social work before entering the economic development field and eventually entrepreneurship in 2010.

The company's modus operandi is to provide an avenue for Aboriginal people to chase their individual dreams, whatever that might be.

"We want to lead people toward finding their purpose in life," said Paul, "and in finding their financial independence."

In the beginning, they assisted Aboriginal communities and organizations with project management, strategic planning and human resources. They handled the holistic side too, with life skills training, self-esteem, goal-setting and...