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Click here to view the French version. Cliquez ici pour la version française.
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Issue #6 September 2009 |
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Greetings!
While summer is usually the quieter time of year for most organizations, the ESC has been busy delivering project reports and valuable workforce tools. As some major projects came to a close, many studies were completed and are now available on the Council's website at www.brightfutures.ca.
As Chair of the National Occupational Standards Project, I must say that the committee did an excellent job in delivering National Occupational Standards (NOS) and Essential Skills Profiles (ESP) for nine occupations in the electricity industry. Over the span of 2 years, the ESC held meetings with personnel from various electricity sectors, thus resulting in national standards that will help the electricity industry develop effective human resource strategies and ensure recognition of skills and consistent training program delivery. The standards are now available online through our Communities of Practices (COPs) web portal.
As for the ongoing projects, the Council held its first Bright Futures Youth Camp in August.  The camp, which was held in Thunder Bay, Ontario, was organized for Aboriginal youth and was a great success! The youth who took part in the week-long camp had the opportunity to learn more about how electricity is generated in a fun and interactive way. They gained basic knowledge on the electricity and renewable energy sector and were informed that taking Math and Science courses in high school is imperative if they want a future career in the field. Be sure to keep an eye out for future Bright Futures Camps.
As the season winds down and we all return to the office from our vacations, we hope everyone is rested and ready for the busy months ahead!
Sincerely,
Jerry Wilson Board Member, ESC International Representative, IBEW The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) is an organization made up of nearly 750,000 men and women just like you - engaged in every type of employment. Their needs and goals are the same as yours; however, they have personal strength and human dignity that come from belonging to a world-respected labour organization which helps its members live better, freer and fuller lives.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) has been a proud part of the Canadian labour movement for over 100 years. We have built our union on our commitment to organize and represent workers; our membership and longevity is proof of that commitment.
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Feature Projects
Electricity First Work Wage Subsidy Program is back!
The ESC's Electricity First Work, a Career Focus Initiative, provides eligible employers and participants up to $10,000.00 for technicians, technologist and engineers hired in energy related positions. To find out how employers can receive up to 1/3 of a new hire's salary for 1 year, please click here.
National Occupational Standards Illuminate Our Needs!
Guided by a nationwide committee of industry stakeholders, the Electricity Sector Council has developed a set of national standards for benchmark occupations related to electricity generation, transmission and distributions, as well as renewable energy.
Establishing a nationally standardized skill set for particular  occupations helps industry managers clearly define the criteria they need to develop and maintain a skilled workforce. National standards also help managers and educators design informed instructional training programs, and they support skills upgrading and labour motility.
The standards are now available through the ESC's Communities of Practice (COPS) web portal; if you would like to be part of this online community, please send an email to info@brightfutures.ca with your full contact information and we will provide you with your login details. For more information about National Occupational Standards, click here.
Aboriginal Participation Engagement Project
The "Bright Futures Camp" for Aboriginal youth took place from  August 17 to 21 and was the pilot in a series of four youth camps that will be taking place during 2009/10. The camp took place in Thunder Bay, Ontario and hosted over 15 kids.
The week long camp experience included workshops where the youth learned how to generate electricity by powering up a model hydro-electric turbine with a super soaker water gun; harnessing the sun's energy by building and racing a solar powered car; and having fun with BeetleBot, a little creature created by soldering complex circuits.
The camp was a great success and the Council wishes to thank the fantastic Actua staff for helping it create such an amazing experience for the kids that attended. Also, ESC would like to thank Thunder Bay Aboriginal Head Start Program for hosting the camp and the wonderful sponsors who made this camp possible.
Check out the camp pictures here. Efforts are already underway to expand the camps nationally next year. More details will be posted on the Council's website in the near future.
As the next step, the Council will be holding a National Aboriginal Symposium on November 26 & 27 in Toronto, Ontario. Space is limited to 60 participants and is by invitation only. This event will bring together representatives of the electricity and renewables sector along with Aboriginal, educational and government representatives to network, discuss challenges and share best practices on how to increase Aboriginal peoples' awareness of opportunities within the sector and strengthen industry's current efforts to employ Aboriginal peoples. Symposium objectives include the review and validation of research findings to date, examining existing access barriers, crafting and piloting strategies to address them and identifying potential partnerships and communication pathways between Aboriginal peoples and industry. The symposium will be structured with facilitated sessions to maximize the dialogue and outcomes of the event.
Powerline Technician Project Provides Emerging Practices Insights
The Powerline Technician (PLT) Project is now completed and resulted with two major reports: the 2008 Situational Analysis of the Powerline Trade in Canada Report and The Powerline Technician Trade in Canada: Emerging Practices and Training Delivery Matrix. These reports have provided ESC and its industry partners with perceptive highlights of the future of the Powerline Trade in Canada. With a collection of emerging practices for recruitment, retention and training, the Canadian electricity sector will be able to act upon, and further address specific workforce situations in each province while working towards a national strategy.
The Training Delivery Matrix provides a module by module description of apprenticeship comparison training for all Canadian provinces.
The ESC would like to thank the PLT committee members and everyone else who was a part of this successful project.
Communities of Practices (COPS)
Do you have your access to the ESC's Community of Practices website yet? This website is a tool that allows our users to become interactive and engaged with our Council and industry members in your area of interest across Canada. The site features a library of useful references, project reports, discussion forums, a calendar of events in addition to other useful tools and information. Once you are a member, and begin using the web portal, you will understand why COPS is such a valuable resource to your organization.
Our feature communities for this issue are Succession Planning and Occupational Standards. Managers or HR practitioners interested in succession planning are encouraged to login and connect with fellow users as well as download the 10 tools available free to you including a guide for journeyman mentors and, a workforce planning tool. Educators and those who train or assess occupations such as systems operator, wind turbine technician or operations manager will find our occupational standards community of interest.
If you do not have access to COPS, please send an email to info@brightfutures.ca and provide us with your name, employer, address and phone number and we will set up an account for you. It's easy as that!
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| Industry News
Canada Business Beta
Industry Canada has launched a new Canada Business website which is now only a beta demonstration version. The objective of the site is to respond more effectively to the needs of the small business community and those who are interested in starting small businesses. Industry Canada would appreciate any and all feedback regarding the new website; please take the time to visit the site and send them your comments. Click here for more information, to view the website and to send your suggestions.HRSDC Apprenticeship Completion Grant
On July 2, 2009, HRSDC announced the implementation of the Apprenticeship Completion Grant (ACG). The ACG is a $2,000 taxable cash grant available to those registered apprentices who successfully complete their apprenticeship training and obtain journeyperson certification in a designated Red Seal trade. Apprentices who completed their apprenticeship program and received their journeyman certification in a designated Red Seal trade on or after January 1, 2009 are eligible for the grant and can send in their application. For more information on this program, please 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.
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Volunteer Profile
Lee Anne Cameron
Chair, Aboriginal Participation Engagement Steering Committee
Director of Aboriginal Affairs, Hydro One Inc.
Motivation for Volunteering - Lee Anne's life has revolved, both personally and professionally, around First Nations issues; volunteering was another way to make what she hopes are positive contributions.
Background - Lee Anne, a member of the Okanagan First Nation, was appointed Director, First Nations & Métis Relations, Hydro One Network Inc., on January 14, 2008.
Lee Anne has vast experience in the First Nations & Métis arena  having worked for Phil Fontaine, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations as a Senior Advisor. In this role, she worked closely with First Nations leaders and Federal/Provincial/Territorial leaders on issues of importance across the country. She also previously worked for the Federal Ministers of Indian and Northern Affairs and Human Resources. In addition, she served as an elected Councillor for the Okanagan First Nation and a member of the Okanagan Nation Tribal Council.
Personal life - Lee Anne is keenly interested in First Nation culture and traditions. The diversity and the ability of First Nation people to maintain culture and languages in the face of colonialism and assimilation policies is a testament to their strength and has always held a fascination for her. In addition, she loves to read a good book and see movies. Spending time with her family in the Okanagan is also very important to her.
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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 June through August:
August 14, 2009 - Natural Resources Canada Electricity and Renewable Energy Human Resources Awareness Session, Ottawa, Ontario
June 18 & 19, 2009 - Canadian Electricity Association HR Committee, Whitehorse
June 1, 2009 - Electrical & Utilities Safety Association (EUSA) Annual General Meeting, Windsor, Ontario
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| Resources
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers - www.ibew.org
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| Contact Us
Address: 130 Slater Street, Suite 600
Ottawa, ON K1P 6E2
Phone: (613) 235-5540
Fax: (613) 235-6922
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Upcoming Events
National Aboriginal Symposium
November 26 and 27 in Toronto, Ontario.
By invitation only
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In Our Next Issue
NEWS...
Results of the National HR Strategy
PLUS... Update on the new Knowledge Management and Transfer Project
AND... New Feature volunteer | |
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