TRAINING PROGRAM HELPS ABORIGINAL GRADS ENTER WORKFORCE
Today, ten students are celebrating their graduation from the Aboriginal Heavy Equipment Operator and Class 1A License Pre‑employment Training Program at a ceremony at Wanuskewin Heritage Park.
“The City of Saskatoon is extremely proud to be a part of this program and help guide people along the path to a career in the skilled trades,” says Chelsey Mack, Acting Director of Human Resources. “This training offers life-changing opportunities for these Aboriginal students, who graduate with skills they can immediately put to use in a number of industries in a Heavy Equipment Operator position.”
The program is the result of a unique partnership initiated by the City of Saskatoon with Gabriel Dumont Institute (GDI), Saskatoon Tribal Council Inc. (STC), and Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology (SIIT).
This introductory program provides training in:
- The operation of heavy equipment, routine maintenance of machinery and practical field operations of excavating, land clearing, grading and road building as well as safe operating techniques specific to each machine
- Class 1A
- First Aid/CPR
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
- Ground Disturbance
- Transportation of Dangerous Goods
- Confined Space Entry
- Defensive Driving
Since 2010, 48 students have graduated from the program with 100 percent of last year’s graduates employed immediately following the program with various companies. The ten students graduating today are now trained and ready to seek employment as heavy equipment operators. To date, the City of Saskatoon has hired 52 percent of past students.
Ensuring the City’s workforce represents the diversity of Saskatoon's population supports the City’s Strategic Goal of Continuous Improvement and being the best-managed city in Canada.
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