Residents in rural and remote communities will soon have more opportunities to enhance their skills through new education and unique hands-on training programs offered through Apitisawin Employment and Training in collaboration with Cambrian College.
The College and the Agency have struck a partnership that will provide Aboriginal students with new options to pursue certificate postsecondary programs that support their needs and the needs of employers, industry, and entrepreneurs. The four-year agreement was signed at a ceremony in Cochrane on April 23.
Apitisawin President Mary Jane Archibald said the partnership with Cambrian will serve learners from Taykwa Tagamou Nation and the surrounding region who want to take advantage of the increasing numbers of job and career opportunities. “Across northern Ontario, employers are recruiting trained workers to support mining, construction, and hydro generation projects,” Archibald explained. “Cambrian has a strong reputation for quality programming and for effectively supporting Aboriginal learners. Under the terms of our agreement, we’ll be developing and delivering tailored programs that meet the needs of learners and employers.” The first program that will be offered is Cambrian’s Mining Foundations certificate, followed by a Carpentry Fundamentals certificate program, to train workers that will be needed for construction projects in Taykwa Tagamou and surrounding areas.
Cambrian President Sylvia Barnard said that the partnership will provide significant benefits to both signatories, northern communities, and to the northern economy. “Cambrian is pleased to enter into an agreement that will give Aboriginal learners access to hands-on postsecondary training through a number of college certificate programs,” Barnard explained. “We are looking forward to working with Apitisawin Employment and Training to serve learners where they live, offering specialized programs with a student-centered approach. Students will be able to gain hands-on experience in our unique mobile Trades Training Trailer, from qualified instructors. It’s a model that Cambrian’s already road-tested, with excellent results.”
For information about programs, start dates, and how to apply, contact: Apitisawin Employment and Training at (705) 272-6065, or visit www.apitisawin.com.
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Media Contact:
Mary Jane Archibald
President
Apitisawin Employment and Training
(705) 272-2051, extension 27
maryjanearchibald@apitisawin.com
Sylvia Barnard
President
Cambrian College
(705) 566-8101, extension 7622
sylvia.barnard@cambrianinternational.ca
Reference:
Lynn Bulloch
Communications Officer
Cambrian College
(705) 566-8101, extension 6375