Issue #5 June 2009 |
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Greetings!
Since joining the Electricity Sector Council's Board of Directors in October of 2008, I've seen the organization achieve great successes.
Through their various project undertakings, the Council has released an array of reports and tools containing essential industry data which will aid in the resolve of future human resource issues. Many organizations will benefit from these key findings and gain knowledge when it comes to planning for the future of their company.
Most recently, the second Bright Futures in Canada Conference was held in Toronto. The event attracted approximately 150 delegates from industry, government, unions and educational institutions, and was most definitely a success! A complete update can be read below.
At the Conference, we were fortunate to have The Honourable George Smitherman, Deputy  Premier and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure for Ontario, present on the Green Energy Act. The Act, which was passed on May 14 of this year, will drive Ontario to lead the way for a greener and more sustainable future by focusing on renewable energy and reducing pollution and greenhouse has emissions. In addition to creating jobs, the Act will also focus on increasing community economic development for rural, remote and First Nations communities.
As a representative of renewable energy on the Board of Directors for the ESC, I support the Green Energy Act and believe it will benefit all Ontario residents.
Another renewable energy aspect of the ESC can be found within the Bright Futures BC project, where a renewable energy industry job is highlighted: Sustainable Future Facilitator. By incorporating renewable energy in their work plans, organizations can all be a part of creating a sustainable future for Ontario.
We need the Ontario Green Energy Act to propel Ontario into a leadership position in renewable energy, to reduce our pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, to create meaningful jobs for Ontarians and to increase community economic development for rural, remote and First Nations communities
In addition to deliverables and the conference, the Council continues to build partnerships with industry leaders and has big plans for the future.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth McDonald
Board Member, ESC
President, Canadian Solar Industries Association
CanSIA is a federally registered not-for-profit association whose membership is comprised of individuals, companies and governments sharing an interest in solar technology.
www.cansia.ca
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| Feature Projects
Labour Market Information Project Releases Survey Report of the Canadian Solar Industry
In late 2008, the Electricity Sector Council (ESC) in partnership with the Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) commissioned a labour force survey of the Canadian solar industry. The purpose of the survey was to identify the main labour force trends and issues in the solar industry over the next three years. For the full survey report, click here.
The Building Connectivity Project National Human Resources Strategy Validation Survey
The Electricity Sector Council has recently developed a very important National Human Resource Strategy based on regional consultations and interviews held across the country. This plan will  serve to highlight to the community areas of best practices as well as areas in need of improvement and future strategic decisions and actions. As a member of the Electricity and Renewable Energy community, you have an exciting opportunity to voice your opinions and experiences and help shape the future of the industry. Your participation in this essential initiative will help us to further develop the strategy into one which is truly reflective of the industry today. We hope you will take the time to contribute.
Click here to download the draft version of our National Human Resource Strategy. We ask that you review the document prior to completing the survey. Click here to access the brief survey which will help us to validate our research findings. The survey should only take approximately 10 minutes.
We are hoping to have all responses back by 5pm PST on June 22nd, 2009. Please contact Kevin Joseph at joseph@brightfutures.ca if you have any questions about the survey or the research.
Bright Futures BC launched
Bright Futures BC was launched on March 25, 2009 in British Columbia. The career-awareness project was modeled after Ontario's TradeUp for Success and its objectives is to inform  students, parents and educators of electricity and renewable energy career opportunities in British Columbia and to develop a world class electricity and renewable energy workforce for the future of the province. Thanks to partnerships between British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Government of Canada, BC industry organizations and the ESC, Bright Futures BC educational kits are now available for career counselors in high schools throughout the province. More than 170,000 students were reached through this project. For more information, please visit the Bright Futures BC's website at http://www.brightfuturesbc.ca/.
Aboriginal Engagement Initiatives Project
The overarching objective of the Aboriginal Initiatives project is to increase the participation of Aboriginal peoples in the electricity workforce by researching and communicating existing access barriers, crafting and piloting strategies to address them and identifying potential partnerships and communication pathways between Aboriginal peoples and industry.
Last month, the Council held the Aboriginal Symposium where participants had an opportunity to learn about the project and its preliminary findings. Attendees also heard from keynote speaker Gary Lipinski, President of the Métis Nation of Ontario, and had an opportunity to share ideas and knowledge in an interactive group setting.
National Chief Phil Fontaine, Assembly of First Nations recently announced the launch of the ESC's pilot youth camp which will  commence this summer. The camp will be filled with a variety of hands-on activities aimed at instilling a sense of the importance of math's and sciences in school as well as encouraging Aboriginal youth to seek employment within the electricity and renewable energy industry.
For more information about the project and how to become a sponsor of the youth camp, please contact us at info@brightfutures.ca.
Photo: Phil Fontaine, National Chief, Assembly of First Nations
Powerline Technician Project
In 2008, the ESC completed a Situational Analysis of the Powerline Technician Trade in Canada to give industry partners an opportunity to provide input into the development of the Powerline trade. The Powerline Technician Project is now in its final stages and recently delivered a report which features key research findings on emerging practices related to recruitment, retention and training of the PLT profession. The 2008 Situational Analysis of the Powerline Trade in Canada Report will be available on the ESC website shortly.
Also as part of project deliverables, the ESC recently hosted a PLT Symposium where in-depth panel discussion related to the research and recommendations contained in the report took place. The attendees also had a chance to hear presentations highlighting regional practices, including Cambrian College's PowerTech Model, NB Power's innovative Mobile learning program, Bright Futures BC and Hydro Ottawa's experience in restraint and Apprentice Program.
Thank you to our PLT Symposium sponsors who made this event possible.
Bright Futures in Canada Conference is a Success!The Electricity Sector Council (ESC) is pleased to announce that its 2009 Bright Futures in Canada Conference was a definite success. With more than 150 delegates from industry, government, unions, and educational institutions, the ESC is proud of the fact that this one-of-a-kind electricity and renewable energy industry event has brought everyone together to devise new ways to plan our workforce and recruit, train and retrain talented employees.
This years' conference entitled "Building Talent for a Powerful Tomorrow" focused on key human resource strategies to develop a  skilled, safe and sustainable electricity and renewable energy workforce now and in the future and also covered topics on ESC research and program initiatives. Never has such a discussion been more important.
For full conference report and to hear speakers' presentations, please visit our conference website by clicking here.
Photo: The Honourable George Smitherman, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Government of Ontario
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| Industry News
Hireimmigrants.ca Roadmap Launched
On March 31, 2009, the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) launched an interactive, web-based tool for human resources professionals. The hireimmigrants.ca Roadmap is a free, online resource tool that helps employers recruit and retain skilled immigrants. The tool will benefit competitive companies by providing access to new pools of talent, help integrate and retain skilled immigrant employees and understand and reach rapidly diversifying local markets. Companies can use the tool to gain a competitive advantage in innovation, as well as access to international and local markets.
To view the press release click here.
New Website on Child Safety Launched This past April, Electro-Federation Canada launched a customer-focused, interactive Website in response to the industry's concern over electrical receptacle-related injury.
The Child Safety Outlet Website is sponsored by Cooper Wiring Devices, Hubbell Wiring Devices, Pass & Seymour - Legrand and Leviton Canada. Joseph Neu, Vice President, Engineering, Codes and Standards, Electro-Federation Canada, says: "Manufacturers have always taken customer safety very seriously. Over the last year, we have worked closely with CSA to introduce the requirements for Tamper- Resistant Receptacles in residential construction into the Canadian Electric Code and the results have influenced the new Website design and content."
To view the press release, click here.
To visit the website, click here.
If you have any industry news you'd like to see here, please contact us at (613) 235-5540, or email us at info@brightfutures.ca. |
| Volunteer Profile
Suzanne Desrosiers
Chair, Powerline Technician Steering Committee
Chief Human Resources Officer, NB Power Transmission, Distribution and Customer Service
Motivation for Volunteering - Suzanne volunteers because she believes it's important to give back to her profession and to help employees and the industry.
Background - Suzanne acquired a BBA from the Université de Moncton and subsequently graduated with a Masters in Education (Counselling and Human Development) from the University of New Brunswick. In her role as Chief HR Officer at NB Power, she reports directly to the Vice President, Human Resources and functionally to the Vice President, Transmission, Distribution and Customer Service. She is responsible for the successful execution of the human resources strategy in the operating company.
With 20 years of experience in areas such as recruitment, labour relations, human resource planning, career counselling and coaching, Suzanne uses her knowledge by teaching at the University of New Brunswick and New Brunswick Community College.
In addition to her role as Chair of the Powerline Technician Project with the ESC, she is also the Vice-Chair of Human Resources Committee with the Canadian Electricity Association.
Personal life - A very active and healthy individual, Suzanne enjoys helping out at clinics at the Running Room, attending her children's sporting events and taking care of her family's overall wellbeing. She also enjoys reading in her spare time.
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Outreach and Partnerships
The ESC is responsible for promoting awareness of current and future career and employment opportunities in the electricity industry; and forming partnerships that will better enable the sector to meet its human resource needs. This includes participating in industry events.
The Council's Executive Director made the following presentations at industry events over the months of March through June, 2009:
June 1, 2009 - Electrical & Utilities Safety Association (EUSA) Annual General Meeting, Windsor, Ontario
May 19-21, 2009 - Electricity Sector Council's Bright Futures in Canada Conference, Toronto, Ontario
May 19, 2009 - Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) Affinity Group, Toronto, Ontario
May 11, 2009 - Canadian Association of Members of Public Utility Tribunals (CAMPUT), in Saint John, New Brunswick
Mar 30, 2009 - Walpole Island First Nations "Yes We Can" Conference (AHRDA) in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
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| Contact Us
Address: 130 Slater Street, Suite 600
Ottawa, ON K1P 6E2
Phone: (613) 235-5540
Fax: (613) 235-6922
Email: info@brightfutures.ca
Website: www.brightfutures.ca | |
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What's New
Succession Planning Coaching/Mentoring Toolkits are now available on Communities of Practice.
Career Focus Initiative Project Success Stories Videos are now available on ESC website!
LMI Regional Reports now available on LMI website.
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Upcoming Events
Aboriginal Youth Camps - exact dates and location to be determined.
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In Our Next Issue
NEWS... Info on the ESC National Occupational Standards Project
PLUS... Details on the new ESC Knowledge Transfer Project
AND... New feature volunteer
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