Skills program is a career builder: Craft worker instruction has Indigenous trainees on the path to success.

• Author: Ross, Ian
• Position: Aboriginal Business

Construction activity along Lake Superior's North Shore is poised to accelerate over the next few years with major energy projects like the East-West transmission tie and Energy East pipeline in the queue.

A First Nation training organization in Thunder Bay has been getting a head start in filling the ranks of regional labour pool by cultivating some homegrown talent.

"This year's going to be quiet," predicts Angie Lynch, project coordinator with Anishinabek Employment and Training Services (AETS). "Next year's going to be booming."

Lynch steers and handles the recruiting for the provincially funded construction craft worker training program, an introductory course to the world of skilled trades, that's available to First Nation members in the AETS coverage area.

When the next round of training begins on March 20, Lynch expects to have no problem filling the program's 20 seats.

In mid-January, she was in the midst of pulling together her third cohort since the program began in the spring of 2015 with just 14 seats.

"They start their training roughly around mid-March and that way they're ready for work during the construction season - which is sometimes limited - and we have them on their (work) placements by June," she said.

AETS serves the nine communities of: Animbiigoo Zaagi'igan Anishinaabek (Lake Nipigon First Nation), Biigtigong Nishnaabeg (Ojibways of the Pic River), Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek (Rocky Bay First Nation), Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek (Sandpoint First Nation), Kiashke Zaaging Anishinabek (Gull Bay First Nation), Michipicoten First Nation, Pays Plat First Nation, Pic Mobert First Nation and Red Rock Indian Band.

The program is eligible to onand off-reserve members in the communities who are unemployed or underemployed.

There's nothing paid of pocket for enrollees. AETS equips them and handles all their accommodations, meals and transportation. Applicants have to be physically fit and come with a ready-to-work attitude.

For those who struggle with critical skills needed for construction, like math, AETS provides additional pre-employment training.

Though classified as a pre-apprenticeship program, enrollees are exposed to a full array of hands-on activity, tools and equipment during the intensive eight-week cycle.

The Labourers International Union of North America (LiUNA), Local 607 delivers the training at its union hall in Thunder Bay.

Instructors serve up the field fundamentals on using hand and electrical...