Laura Diaz: Program Facilitator Adam Krygier: Employment Facilitator

Newcomers in Trades: Opportunities, Challenges, and Successes.

Let’s take a Journey!

Imagine... every person in Calgary can have a sustainable livelihood and contribute to their community…..

“Momentum uses a Community Economic Development (CED) approach that offers hope and opportunity to people living in poverty. An economic approach is at the core of CED, but only works if we look at the whole picture—money, self and others. We work with all Calgarians who are ready to move out of poverty, for good.”

Trades Program Overview25 Weeks

Academic Upgrading Technical Training Work Experience

Challenges

Solutions

Curriculum Challenges

• Low number of passing marks • Labour market challenges • Less employment

opportunities

Communication Math Science Life Skills Employability

Curriculum Solutions

1. Real trades focused learning2. Increased alignment with the labour market

needs 3. Don’t say English …. Say Communication

skills

Evaluation Outcomes

Technical Training & Work Experience

• 6 weeks of technical training at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)

• Curriculum designed to offer basic skills and theory in the trade - Benefits

• 6 weeks of Work Experience with employer partner

• Provides real world, hands-on exposure to work in the field

Employer Engagement

• Recruitment• Low cost training• Diverse workforce• Corporate Social Responsibility

Development of long term employer partnerships

Program informed by industry needs

Benefits for the Employer

Challenges and Successes

• Managing Participant expectations

• Managing Employer expectations: Skill level and Communication

• Overcoming bias and pre-conceived notions

• Labour Market barriers

Post-Program Support and Journeys Program

14 day, 90 day, 180 day Follow-up

On-going coaching and support• Job search strategies• Networking opportunities

Journeys Program• Employment supports• System Navigation• Academic Supports• Mentorship• Essential Skills

Lets meet Jag!

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Newcomers in Trades:

Opportunities,

Challenges and

Successes Kendra Duval

YMCA-YWCA of the National

Capital Region

Background – The Y’s Trades Programs

YMCA-YWCA of the National Capital Region

Child Care & Camping

Housing, Employment & Newcomer

Services

Housing programs (various)

Language Assessment & Referral Centre

Employment Ontario

Employment Service

Power of Trades / Puissance des métiers

(2011)

Pre-apprenticeship for Home

Renovations (2016)

Build ON Bâtit Pre-Arrival Service

(2015)

Immigrants in Trades Awareness

Program (2017)

Newcomer Information

Centre

Health, Fitness and

Aquatics

Curriculum Overview

Power of Trades Pre-Apprenticeship

6 weeks of training 6 months of training

Health and safety training (WHMIS, Working at Heights, First Aid + CPR)

Health and safety training (WHMIS, Working at Heights, First Aid + CPR)

Pre-employment training + individual support

Pre-employment training + individual support

1 co-op credit + prior learning assessment and recognition

3 co-op credits + prior learning assessment and recognition

Open to all trades – help with trade equivalency assessment

240 hours ESL for Trades + academic upgrading in numeracy and literacy

Access to financial support for tools, skills training, trade equivalency process, etc.

300 hours training in carpentry, drywall, tile setting, painting, floor covering installation + free tools

3-6 week co-op placement 8 week paid co-op placement

Power of Trades Data (2011-2018) 18 Groups Completed 13 English; 5 French

245 Participants 203 men; 42 women

Average age: 37 Average length of time in Canada before

participating in Power of Trades: approx. 3 years

Funded by:

One-on-one meetings with Job

Developer throughout program

Experience in the field through co-op

work placement

Financial help with tools, transportation

and equipment needed to start work

Continuing Education teacher supports academic credits toward high

school diploma

Certification in First Aid, WHMIS,

Working at Heights, Worker Health and Safety and Service

Excellence

Application form, language assessment

and interview

Orientation/welcome session

Begin training

(6 weeks, PT)

(6 months, Pre-app)

Academic and pre-employment training

+

Technical training (Pre-app only)

Client Pathway

33%

31%

36%

Participants by Experience Category (2011-2018)

Experienced (5+ yrs)

Some Experience (2-4 yrs)

Inexperienced (< 2yrs)

Demographics (Groups 1-18)

10%10%

5%7%

68%

Positive Outcomes Summary

TEA

Apprentice

Training

Placement

Job

Participant Outcomes – Groups 1 to 15

74%

26%

Participant Outcomes

Positive

Negative

*Results at 1 year post-program

• Discovered interests were not in skilled trades

• Very new to Canada

• Left Canada

• Reason for immigration

• Status uncertainty

• Family-related issues

• Health problems

• Age

Participant Outcomes – Why “negative?”

ymcaywca.ca

Dejene left Ethiopia in search of a more stable life. He lived as a refugee in Yemen for 18 years before immigrating to Canada with his wife and two young children.

Despite many years of experience as a carpenter and cabinetmaker, Dejene’s lack of education and English language skills made it difficult for him to find a job. He worked nights as a dishwasher and took English language courses during the day. After connecting with an employment consultant, Dejene found the YMCA-YWCA Power of Trades program.

After six weeks, Dejene secured a work placement through the program. Thanks to that placement, he now has a full-time job and hope for the future. He has worked at Visser Manufacturing for nearly 4 years.

Dejene Power of Trades Participant

YMCA-YWCA of the National Capital Region

ymcaywca.ca

Bart

Power of Trades Participant

YMCA-YWCA of the

National Capital Region

Bart De Cock immigrated to Canada from Belgium with his wife. With a guaranteed job offer as a full-time Elevator Technician, his journey to Canada seemed ideal. However, during his employment, his local union went on strike and without knowing the regulations, Bart continued to work. This misinformed action ultimately led to his outcast from the industry. Despite Bart’s extremely high level of technical skills, he was no longer able to attain employment in his trade. A simple mistake cost him the ability to work in the industry. Bart persevered and applied for the Power of Trades program at the YMCA-YWCA. Following the 6 week program, Bart secured a full-time position as a Technician for a multinational corporation, Beumer Group. Bart performs troubleshooting and works with cutting edge technology every day. He still loves his job 3 years later.

Pre-Apprenticeship Data (2016-2018) 2 Groups Completed

English only 40 Participants

37 men; 3 women Average age: 35

98% Program Completion Rate 83% Placement Rate

Funded by:

ymcaywca.ca

Diyako is originally from Iran and Mohamad is his Kurdish name. Due to the situation in his home country at the time, Diyako had to leave Iran and enter Turkey as a refugee. When Diyako came across the six-month Pre-Apprenticeship Home Renovation Training Program provided by the YMCA-YWCA, he knew this was his calling. He successfully completed the program in November 2016 and secured employment prior to graduation. Diyako has now been working for over two years in his field and he is extremely happy seeing his work at the end of each day. “When I arrived in Canada I made a promise to myself – Canada saved my life, and now I have to do something for Canada, even if it is a small thing, I should do something back for the Canadian people” – Diyako

Mohamad (Diyako)

Pre-Apprenticeship Home

Renovation Program

Participant

YMCA-YWCA of the National Capital Region

External Partnerships:

• Local school boards at the secondary school level

• English as a Second Language/Language Instruction for Newcomers

• Accredited health and safety training institutions

• Private sector companies

Internal Synergies:

• Newcomers in Trades Programs

• Employment Ontario Employment Services

• Newcomer Information Centre

• Language Assessment and Referral Centre

Successes - Key Partnerships

Language assessment

Credits toward high school diploma

Health and safety training

Pre-employment and technical training

Tools and equipment

Transportation to work/training

Networking opportunities

Help with trade equivalency process

Support for Participants

• Address employer needs/concerns • Options for engagement

• Offer support/incentives

• Focus on small/medium companies

• Pre-screening and match

• Health and safety training

• Workplace insurance

• Identify workplace mentor

• Provide job retention support

Employer Engagement

Immigrants in Trades Awareness Program:

Employer Engagement Survey

Preliminary Findings

• 32 employers

• 85% of companies had < 75 employees

• 77% were non-union

• Sector representation: 45% construction, 28% motive power, 22% service, 5% industrial

• Desired skills: • Trade licenses, health and safety training/certifications

• Physical abilities, strong work ethic, self-motivation

• Communication skills (85% need basic/intermediate English)

• Loyalty/dedication, teamwork

• Creativity, Attention to detail

• Experience

Employer Engagement Survey

Attitudes towards hiring:

Most companies find it hard to fill trades positions

80% of respondents have taken or are willing to take apprentices

65% of respondents hired Immigrants over time in their respective trades

Those employers who had not hired an immigrant said:

They never had the opportunity to hire an immigrant

They would hire an immigrants “only if they are licensed”

“Experienced immigrants do things differently and it’s very hard to change that”

Employer Engagement Results

Future engagement

40% of respondents currently access recruitment services

Over 67% of employers are not aware of the existence of dedicated service providers willing to

support them in hiring trades persons

90% of respondents would appreciate recruitment support if offered

70% of respondents are interested in attending employer events about apprenticeship, regulations

and labour sources

60% of respondents are interested in receiving an electronic newsletter featuring labour market

information, industry updates and current affairs

• Participant diversity

• Managing expectations

• Employer engagement

• Participant recruitment

• Education about trades

• Bilingualism

• Inflexibility of funding

• Settlement/personal issues

Challenges

• Low staff to participant ratios

• Screening/interview processes for training

• Alternative service – individual consultation

• Remaining flexible to changing career goals

• Redefining “positive outcomes”

• Engaging employers on an individual basis

• Multiple funders/leveraging key partnerships

• Ongoing client support

• Alumni engagement

Best Practices & Lessons Learned

YMCA-YWCA of the National Capital Region

180 Argyle Ave., Ottawa, ON

www.ymcaywca.ca

Kendra Duval Senior Director,

Employment and Immigrant Services

kendra.duval@ymcaywca.ca

613-788-5001 ext. 5035

http://www.ymcaywca.ca/mailto:kendra.duval@ymcaywca.ca

A5_MomentumCommunityEconomicDevelopment Slide Number 1Let’s take a Journey! Slide Number 3Trades Program Overview�25 Weeks ChallengesCurriculum Challenges Curriculum Solutions Evaluation Outcomes Technical Training & Work Experience Employer Engagement Challenges and SuccessesPost-Program Support and Journeys ProgramSlide Number 13

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