November 30, 2016
2016 Minister's Workforce Development Excellence Award Recipients Announced
– – –Honouring Organizations Demonstrating Leadership in Training: Wishart
Recipients of the 2016 Minister’s Workforce Development Excellence Award honouring organizations demonstrating leadership in training and development were announced today by Education and Training Minister Ian Wishart.
“The three award recipients – Vale Canada Limited Manitoba Operations, Opportunities for Employment and the Manitoba Metis Federation – have gone above and beyond in their commitment to engaging those who are typically under-represented in the workforce,” said Wishart. “We need to tap into this wealth of potential throughout the province to keep building Manitoba’s diverse, skilled labour force. These three organizations are all leading the way.”
November is Career and Workforce Development Month, which celebrates activities that promote career and workforce development across industry and training institutions in Manitoba. The award honours organizations that help to improve the knowledge, performance and skill of the workforce. It also recognizes the achievements of groups that foster success in workforce development through education, training, personal growth, professional knowledge and career development.
Vale Canada Limited is a mining sector company located in Thompson, employing more than 1,000 people. Its Northern Employment Strategy was developed to create a sustainable workforce model based on attracting and training northern Manitobans. The program has enabled more than 200 employees from 12 northern Manitoba communities to successfully join Vale’s workforce since 2012.
Opportunities for Employment is a non-profit organization that helps provide job opportunities to clients facing multiple barriers to employment. Its Employment Mentorship Program has provided more than 100 clients with the opportunity to take part in paid mentorships, the majority of whom have moved into employment.
The Manitoba Metis Federation’s employment and training department designs employment and skills training programs and services to meet the needs of the Métis community. More than 1,000 unemployed or underemployed clients have found employment and more than 600 clients returned to school to pursue further education and training.
The minister noted an award ceremony will take place in January 2017 to honour the three recipients.
“We are proud of the accomplishments by each of the three recipients in developing a skilled and knowledgeable workforce in Manitoba,” said Wishart.
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