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Annual Report 2005/2006
Coordinators: Lorraine Denommee and Marilyn
Evans
Phone: (250) 558-3345
Fax: (250) 558-5321
fnesvernon@shawbiz.ca
2902-29 Ave
Vernon, BC V1T 1Y7
Download PDF:
Annual Report 2005/06
The First Nations Employment Services (FNES) is committed to
provide, through OTDC funding, opportunities to assist Aboriginal
people gain meaningful and sustainable employment. In 2005 –
2006, Vernon experienced growth in every sector such as retail,
service, technology, construction, health (care homes) manufacturing,
and significant growth in both medium and small businesses.
Although many of our clients secured employment in these industries,
many are still earning minimum wages, and are not working full
time. We continue to scan these developments with the purpose
to respond to employer skill requirements and select interventions
appropriate to upgrade client skills, and employability. In
doing so, we have recognized gaps in three particular areas.
These include:
- Educational upgrading/literacy: We collaborated
with Okanagan College for funding to deliver an upgrading
program to address the literacy issue facing our clients.
The community members, from various organizations, recognized
the need to address literacy issues. Since we did not get
the funding, Marilyn Evans actively pursued this initiative,
and became a member of the initiating committee who participated
in launching the “Literacy Now Initiative (2010 Legacies).
The committee is now ready to submit proposals to fund programs
to be delivered in Vernon B.C.
- Opportunities in the trades for aboriginal people: Lorraine Denommee completed the Apprenticeship and Trades
Coordinator Training Certificate. The FNES is licensed to
administer and deliver the Transferable Skills Program.
In March 2006, both Employment Counsellors attended the
Annual Aboriginal Conference on Employment Strategies in
Kamloops that focused on trades. The information was useful
as were the contacts and the networking. We are developing
a trade resource library, and an employer database.
- Starting Businesses: Our clients have found
that the self-employment program offered in Vernon is not
meeting their needs. Although several clients participated
in Aboriginal Best in February 2006, none has yet started
their business. This situation requires careful reflection,
if we are to ensure equitable representation of Aboriginal
persons in the business community. The FNES will approach
Service Canada to respond to these gaps, and work closely
with Laara Mixon, ONA Business Development Program.
Resiliency Training: Donna Dunstan attended the
Resiliency Training, which focused on the needs of high
risk clients. This training was beneficial for her because
she is more conscious of how she interacts with the clients
we serve and how to use communication skills to diffuse
situations before they escalate.
Life Skills: We offered two Life Skills training
workshops funded by the Aboriginal Healing Foundation program
of the FNFC. The first six-week session ran in April and
the second in December 2005. They were well attended, and
participants acknowledged many benefits from the programs.
Advocacy: We were active advocating for our clients,
again, this year. We advocated for those who were denied
wages, holiday pay and out of pocket money. We have worked
with the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance to
help our clients qualify for disability and short-term income
support. We have 2 pending cases with WCB and one with BC
Human Rights Tribunal. FNES Year-end Stats April 1, 2005
– March 31, 2006
- Total Active Clients-Aboriginal (117)
- Total Active Clients-Non-aboriginal
(4)
- New Clients (85)
- Employed Clients (106)
- Clients returning
to school F/T (10)
- Short Training (54)
- Referrals to Other Agencies
(38)
- Resume writing/drop ins (1,968)
- JCP Agreements (6)
- Post Edu./Training Placements (12)
- Comm. Networking Contacts (1,037)
Thank you!
Karen Abramsen,
OTDC & FNES
Thank you for all your
support and efforts. I wouldn’t have been able to have
found F/T employment without you. The teamwork your staff
puts forth is excellent. The only reason I accessed other
Employment Services is because your technology did not
equal theirs. Thanks for being available and flexible.
I wouldn’t have been this successful in Vernon w/o you.
Emma Louie
When I moved to Vernon
I had no contacts. I put my name to volunteer at
the with FNES. Here I learned about community resources,
met new people, updated my first aid and found employment.
Volunteering builds self-esteem, adds to your resume,
and may lead to a paying position.
Linda Lee
The personnel at FNES
are caring, great listeners, and a great source of resources.
With their expertise, I was able to harness my skills and
experiences and attain a position with the First Nations
Friendship Centre.
Lana Louis
Thanks to the FNES staff
for help and support in obtaining employment that I am
enjoying. They are also helping me look at my goal of
starting my own business. (We are very pleased that
the manager of London Drugs, Paul Matheson, has contacted
us as a follow up to the December OTDC meeting.)
Cathleen Broman & Paul Matheson
I wish to convey my most
sincere thanks to FNES for all the hard work in capturing
my job. I am so happy working where I am working
as a First Cook, earning a very good salary for the first
time in my life. I am respected and have recognition
for my skills and capabilities. I look forward to
working with them towards getting my apprenticeship.
Russell Davis
A Big Thank You to the
women at the FNES for all the encouragement, the support,
resume writing, cover letters, the practice interviews
and challenging employers who owed me wages and vacation
pay. With their help, I secured a position with
Interior Health. I thank you for all the help.
Yvonne Lebedoff
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