About AERC
History of the Aboriginal Employment Resource Committee:
Established from its initial meeting with many Aboriginal Employment Agencies on July 4th, 2002
Reason for establishment: To bring unity amongst the Aboriginal Employment Agencies; To share resources and information; To address issues and concerns
Purpose: To enhance services in Employment & Training for Aboriginal clients
Mission
To work collectively to ensure Aboriginal people gain meaningful employment opportunities and to enhance and promote an Aboriginal workforce through a unified and collaborative effort utilizing community resources.
Goals
- To promote and establish unity among the Aboriginal employment agencies in Thunder Bay.
- To assist member’s organizations with the improvement and promotion of programs and services.
- To identify and close those gaps in services which hinder aboriginal people from seeking employment, training and/or education.
- To maximize our resources to meet Aboriginal employment training needs.
- To identify new employment opportunities and improve employment prospects for Aboriginal people.
- To encourage employers in recruiting Aboriginals.
- To develop AERC’s financial resources.
AERC Members
- YES Employment Services
- Thunder Bay Indian Friendship Centre
- Anishinabek Employment & Training
- Matawa First Nation Employment Programs
- Fort William First Nation
- Aboriginal Recruitment Coordination Office
- Ontario Native Women’s Association
- Metis Nation of Ontario
- Ontario Metis Aboriginal Association
- Negahneewin College of Aboriginal Studies
Background
- AERC conducts monthly meetings as a means to share information and bring forth issues and concerns
- Purpose: To assist each agency in achieving its goals
- AERC uses a team approach e.g. participate in events collectively; develop a strategic plan; strengthen each agency’s services; organize group training; conduct workshops
Services Provided
Each agency provides similar Employment and Training interventions such as:
- Employment soft services
- Training purchases
- Targeted wage subsidies through On-The-Job Training, Youth Internships, Skills Enhancement etc.
- Entrepreneurship program
- Employment support
- Economic Development eg. Job Creation
- Although each agency provides similar services, the mandates for each agency is different e.g. client serviced
- AERC makes client referrals to the appropriate employment and training agency
Future Vision
AERC wishes to continue collaborating and working together in achieving our goals by sharing each other’s strengths and experiences, providing a supportive environment and through enhanced and/or developed partnerships with First Nation Organizations, public and private sectors companies.
Contact Us
Vernon Ogima, AERC Coordinator
Telephone: (807)622-4998 or 624-1965
Email: vogima@yes-thunderbay.org
Cora Lee McGuire, Ontario Metis Aboriginal Association
700 Victoria Ave. E, Unit E
Victoriaville Mall
Thunder Bay, ON P7C 5P7
Ph: 888-935-1460
Ph: 807-623-1930
Fax: 807-623-1931
