ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT 2003-2004 DURHAM REGION LOCAL TRAINING BOARD Message from the Co-Chairs: As evidenced by this Accomplishment Report, 2003-2004 has been an outstanding year of achievement for the Durham Region Local Training Board. Whether taking a lead role on new initiatives such as the "Tradeability" project, supporting the integration of immigrants and internationally educated professionals into the labour force, or providing tools and resources to better prepare youth and others for careers and training opportunities, we will continue to find ways to work with our industry and education partners in efforts to address the training and adjustment needs of the Durham community. On behalf of our Board of Directors, we look forward to facing the many challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Doreen Francis, Co-Chair Business Ben Kelly, Co-Chair Labour April 13, 2004 A Message from our Executive Director: The Durham Region Local Training Board has just completed its seventh year in operation. The five key elements of the Board's mandate remain:
"Our goal is to improve the quality of life for all citizens of the region. We will work collaboratively with our community partners in promoting and facilitating the development of a skilled, relevant, inclusive and adaptive labour force."
The structure of our Board is what makes us unique. The quality of our people and how we conduct business is what makes us special. Our volunteer directors represent labour, business, francophones, public-private educators and trainers, persons with disabilities, racial minorities, youth and women. They bring their collective experience, wisdom and energy to the challenge of identifying the key training and adjustment needs of our Durham community. Partnerships and activities are then undertaken by the Board's staff to address these needs. The following report speaks to the Board's key achievements during the past year. We are proud of our many accomplishments. In particular, we are grateful for the ongoing support and efforts of our dedicated directors and community partners who continue to drive our strategic partnerships and results. Without their contribution and commitment, progress towards addressing the community's training and adjustment needs would not have been possible. We are always looking for new partners and new volunteers, especially representatives from local industry, who share a passion for training, a commitment to the community and feel they have something to contribute. If you or someone you know may be interested in the Board's work, please let us know. Rick Lea, Executive Director THE YEAR IN REVIEW Spring 2003: A team of three Local Training Board employees, working out of Durham College's Whitby Skills Training Centre, began to implement an ambitious project, funded jointly by Human Resources Development Canada and the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, to improve coordination and communication of skilled trades initiatives throughout Durham Region and enhance their effectiveness. One of the largest, most comprehensive initiatives ever led by a local board in the province, and supported by a dedicated group of community partners from industry, education and service providers, the project was given a unique identity with the brand name, "Tradeability", and the slogan, "think outside the cubicle".
An employment needs study for persons with significant barriers to employment, entitled "Confusing, Contrary, Concealed", was released. Produced by the Durham Region Employment Network (DREN), in partnership with the Local Training Board, the report clearly documents information gaps and issues facing job seekers with disabilities in Durham Region, the first hard evidence to inform future planning and develop strategic initiatives to meet these needs. The report's key findings formed the basis of a successful community conference in October where directions and priorities were discussed and presented. These directions have since been incorporated into DREN's business plan. Summer 2003: Work began on the creation of a Business Directory, initially targeted to the three northern municipalities. The Local Board partnered with Durham College's employment resource centres in Beaverton, Port Perry and Uxbridge, to update and expand a database of industries in Brock, Scugog and Uxbridge townships. This initial partnership expanded over the summer to include the Regional Municipality of Durham, who had plans to create a single, first ever, Durham-wide, Internet-based directory for the entire region. The new on-line business directory, containing information on more than 13,000 Durham-based businesses, was publicly launched in January 2004. It will be an extremely valuable resource accessible to all Durham residents, including those looking for training and employment opportunities, and an important source of labour market information. The directory has been linked to the web sites of each municipality, and to the Local Training Board's web site.
Our "Inventory of Programs and Services" (IPS) was updated during the summer months. The on-line inventory provides the public with access to information about local, provincial and federal employment programs and services. A bilingual database contains information on over 250 programs and services that may lead to employment and training. It has proven to be an extremely useful tool to assist job seekers, employment service providers, and community agencies.
In response to the continued demand for information about different careers and training opportunities in the field of health care, the Local Training Board expanded and produced a second edition of the popular catalogue, "Health Care Occupations in Durham Region". The new catalogue, available in print format and on-line through the Board's web site, profiles thirty-three health occupations in demand in Durham's vital health care sector. For career counselors and students considering pathways to careers in the health sciences, the catalogue has proven to be a valuable resource. Fall 2003: The Internet web site, www.tradeability.ca, Durham's first single point of access for information about the skilled trades and referral to programs and services, was launched in a special ceremony at Durham College. The bilingual site includes outstanding features such as a stand-alone searchable guide profiling sixty different skilled trades, a speaker's bureau, a listing of community events, surveys and a multitude of resources for those considering an apprenticeship destination. Since its launch, buoyed by extensive media coverage and local cinema advertising, over 15,000 "unique" visitors have accessed the site. An ongoing series of "Trade Talk" Information Events, including an info night just for women interested in a career in the trades, also took place throughout the year in various Durham locations. These events attracted considerable attendance and interest. Five Local Industry Committees made up of employers representing the Cook-Baker, Early Childhood Educator, Hairstylist, Horticulture and Motive Power Trades were established to enhance awareness and perceptions of apprenticeship and careers in these industries. Several LICs have organized activities to promote the involvement of industry in apprenticeship training, attract public attention to the needs and opportunities in the trade, and bring apprenticeship training into the region.
In partnership with the Durham District School Board, 180 secondary students attended a Health Careers Awareness Day in Whitby in November to hear health professionals present information about fourteen different career occupations and learn firsthand about the challenges facing an aging but growing Durham community from two outstanding speakers, Dr. Carolyn Byrne, Dean of the new University's School of Health Sciences, and Janet Harris, CEO of Durham Access To Care.
In November, the Board hosted its Sixth Annual General Meeting at the Durham District School Board's Education Centre in Whitby. Keynote speaker, Mike Shields, President of the Canadian Auto Workers Local 222, presented his insights as to the health and future prospects of Durham's vital auto industry in light of continued market globalization, competitive pressures, and a stronger Canadian dollar. The AGM also featured an on-line demonstration and explanation of the new www.tradeability.ca web site. As usual, we were pleased to see so many new "faces" in attendance at the annual meeting and many partners with whom we have worked in the past. Winter 2003: After months of planning, negotiations were successful with both MTCU and HRDC to co-fund the "Tradeability" initiative for a second year. The strong support demonstrated by all of our community partners including our government sponsors to the ongoing goals of the project, together with clear evidence of results achieved in year one, were instrumental in influencing the decision to invest in Durham's future skilled labour force.
In response to the need to address a lack of retail sales training in the region, the Local Board entered into a partnership with the John Howard Society of Durham and retail leader Wal-mart to pilot a "Service Excellence" program for students hoping to gain their first work experience in the service sector. Twelve grade 10 and 11 students from two Oshawa high schools were chosen to participate in this unique program, that was offered in January through a series of after-school sessions which emphasized important elements of communications, customer service and sales. Positive reaction from students, industry participants and educators alike has suggested the program be expanded in 2004 to other parts of the region.
The challenges facing new immigrants and highly skilled professionals in terms of utilizing their education and experience, securing good jobs and achieving a meaningful place in the labour market have been well documented. As our population grows older and members of our labour force retire in ever increasing numbers, we realize that a greater percentage of our future labour force will have received training from other countries and that we will depend on these skills for future growth. Like many areas, Durham has a wide range of community supports and services to assist immigrants, in particular those who want to participate in the labour force. Unfortunately, not all of these services and supports are fully utilized or even known to newcomers to our region. In February, the Local Board produced a guide to employment and settlement in Durham Region called "Beyond Education and Experience", information, resources and advice for immigrants. This guide pulls together information that will help newcomers understand the wealth of resources that exist right here in Durham, including opportunities and contacts for adult education, language instruction, credential assessment and settlement services, internet links to ethnocultural groups, and suggestions to make the transition to a new community easier. The guide was broadly distributed, and we have added the content to our web site in English and French. We believe "Beyond Education and Experience" represents an ideal point of reference to all immigrants and a basis to plan future events for newcomers.
The Local Training Board again partnered with the Durham District School Board to offer a "Getting To Work" series of events in Durham. A high percentage of students today have plans to move directly from high school to the workplace. Multiple audiences - parents, youth, educators and youth counselors - need access to current information about resources that better prepare young people to make this successful transition. The goal of the "Getting To Work" series was to provide this opportunity. Two hundred or more educators and community agency representatives attended a February symposium at G.L. Roberts C.V.I. in Oshawa, which featured nineteen workshops and an exhibitor's marketplace. Three evening information sessions for parents took place in March in Cannington, Whitby and Oshawa. Over 180 students and out-of-school youth registered to attend a youth symposium and job fair in April in Whitby, which offered fourteen different workshops related to employment, an opportunity to hear messages from a panel of those who have made a successful transition to the workplace, and an exhibitor's showcase of employers and service networks. Collective efforts like this improve the school-to-work transition process. They provide a means for youth service providers to share employment and career information and resources amongst themselves and with youth, engage parents of youth in meaningful dialogue about work destinations for their children, and bring an awareness of services to rural areas. The Durham Region Local Training Board wishes to acknowledge the financial assistance and ongoing support of its sponsors, the Government of Canada and the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.
The views expressed in this document do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Canada or the Government of Ontario. |
