Calgary — Business and government leaders met recently in Calgary at an unprecedented forum — entitled Taking Pulse - to improve the numbers for employing Aboriginal people into the Canadian workforce.
At the one day forum, organized by John Kim Bell and the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation — 200 corporate CEOs, Aboriginal and government leaders, youth and educators met to develop recommendations that will help Aboriginal people become ready and able — through relevant training - to meet the demands of the Canadian workforce.
"No single effort will solve this issue. However, today, three sets of recommendations were established for the short, medium and long-term," said Mohawk conductor John Kim Bell and president of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, the organizer of Taking Pulse. "The 200 leaders who met today - rolled-up their sleeves, had a frank discussion, and came up with a series of recommendations to turn-around the abysmal representation of Aboriginal people in the private sector. They are to be commended for looking at an issue that has remained unsolvable until today", said Mr. Bell.
"We will be acting on today’s recommendations and will be acting in concert with other groups, organizations, corporations and government partners to develop specific programs that will suit the 21st century, and offer a hand-up and not a hand-out to Aboriginal people across the country", said John Kim Bell
The group agreed that in the short term — a period of 1-3 years — the following should be enacted: more corporations to develop policies to support Aboriginal education and employment; a national career employment service with a job bank function to serve employers and job seekers; and educational support to start earlier, at the elementary level to ensure increased graduation numbers for Aboriginal students.
The group agreed that in the medium term - a period of 3-5 years - that a stay-in-school program incorporating career awareness on prospective employment sectors and the skills required to be successful, coupled with mentorship's, co-op experience, summer student work placements and experiential training programs — will provide the bridge for students to understand how education is linked to employment.
The group agreed that in the long term — a comprehensive approach to education that includes early childhood development, increased parental involvement, higher academic standards, enhanced training for teachers, and a stronger partnership with corporate Canada, will help over the long haul to reducing unemployment.
The day was facilitated by 10 eminent Canadians including three former premiers — the Hon. Gary Filmon, the Hon. Howard Pawley and the Hon. David Peterson. Other facilitators were Hugh Winsor of the Globe and Mail, former CBC broadcaster Whit Fraser, Duff Conacher of Democracy Watch, Dr. Andrea Walsh of the University of Victoria, Marilyn Poitras and Jennifer Lynn.
Attendees included: John Hunkin, Chairman and CEO, CIBC; Paul Tellier, President and CEO, CN; Rick George, President and CEO, Suncor Energy Inc.; Hal Kvisle, President and CEO, TransCanada PipeLines Limited; Paul Tsaparis, President and CEO, Hewlett-Packard Canada Ltd.; the Hon. Jane Stewart, Minister, Human Resources Development Canada; Congress of Aboriginal People’s president Dwight Dorey; Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Jose Kusugak; Amiskwaciy Academy founder Phyllis Cardinal other educators and youth from across the country.
Taking Pulse was organized by the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, a national charity dedicated to providing financial assistance to Aboriginal students. The Foundation awards $2 million annually and since the beginning has awarded over $12 million to deserving students across the country.