Pre-employment training program seeing success
- EFN Staff | August 06, 2014
Andrea Bluehorn and Dale Caron have both realized their childhood dreams of operating heavy equipment and receiving their license to drive a semi. A training program run by The City of Saskatoon, in partnership with the Gabriel Dumont Institute (GDI), Saskatoon Tribal Council Inc., and Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology (SIIT), just saw Andrea and Dale celebrate their graduation with five other students from the Aboriginal Heavy Equipment Operator and Class 1A License Pre employment Training Program.
Bluehorn was working casual at the Dakota Dunes Casino when she heard about the course. She immediately applied. When she first sat in the cab of a semi to drive it, the reality hit home.
"I was like, what the heck did I get myself into, but I went along with it. I was really nervous, but I knew deep down inside this was something I always wanted. After training, I passed the test on the first try," said Bluehorn before the graduation ceremony at Wanuskewin Heritage Park. "This program gives me the opportunity now to go out and find work with the skills that I have learned in the past three months. I'm kind of sad too because I won't be with my classmates the way I was past three months. I'm happy for all of us."
The Aboriginal Heavy Equipment Operator and 1A License Pre employment Training Program is designed to train men and women to prepare for employment opportunities in the Saskatoon and Saskatchewan labour market. Participants take a variety of classes including: Class 1A (theory and practical); First Aid/CPR; Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS); Ground Disturbance and Transportation of Dangerous Goods; Confined Space Entry; and, Defensive Driving and Heavy Equipment Operator training where participants gain first-hand experience operating a variety of heavy equipment.
"The City is proud to retain and build on the strengths of existing and what we hope will be future partnerships with the Aboriginal community," says Marno McInnes, City of Saskatoon Director of Human Resources. "This program is an important component of building an inclusive workforce and the Aboriginal community is a very essential part of this goal."
Dale Caron was working in construction before he got into the course but he took to driving the rigs and heavy equipment in no time.
"This was a wonderful course and I learned so many new things. Since I was young I wanted to be around heavy equipment. I am so thankful to the City, GDI and SIIT for training me so I can sustain my family's future," said Caron.
"Great things are going to happen. I know it. For my family, I can provide better for them. Long term stability will allow me to give them things they never had in the past. I can be financially stable."
Upon completion from the pre-employment program, 80% of graduates have secured long-term employment in Saskatchewan; 53% of those were hired by the City of Saskatoon. To date, 37 students have graduated from the program since its inception in 2010.