2. Bringing Information
Communications Technology Careers
to a Small Market
STRONG 2013
Vancouver. BC
Jimmy Arnold
Jean-Marie Pelletier
Mark Taylor
May 2013

3. • The New Brunswick Aboriginal Information and Communications
Technology (NBAICT) project is administered by the Aboriginal
Workforce Development Initiative (AWDI).
• AWDI is the workforce development branch of the Joint Economic
Development Initiative.
• NBAICT will work with partners to train 150 Aboriginal people for careers
in ICT by 2014.
• NBAICT is funded by Human Resources and Skills Development
Canada’s Skills Partnership Fund and the New Brunswick Department
of Post-Secondary, Training and Labour.

4. • NBAICT works with Industry partners to design and deliver a series of
ICT programs.
• NBAICT seeks to increase ICT skills for entrepreneurship, community
college and/or university.
• NBAICT seeks to match “job ready” clients with ICT employers
• NBAICT has a steering committee made up of representatives form
industry, various levels of government, education reps as well as First
Nation educators and directors.

5. • New Brunswick only has an Aboriginal population of roughly 20,000
people.
• Not many Aboriginal people in New Brunswick are aware of
opportunities within ICT.
• The New Brunswick economy is small.
• ICT is relatively new industry in New Brunswick, especially in Aboriginal
communities.
• Many mainstream ICT companies are not experienced in working with
Aboriginals.
• Class dynamics and proper selection of Instructors

6. • New Brunswick ICT employers will require at least 500 skilled ICT
professionals to fill positions by 2014.
• New Brunswick’s ICT industry is growing and contributing more to the
provincial GDP.
• ICT growth is offering more opportunities for ICT business startups.
• The Aboriginal population in New Brunswick is younger than the
mainstream population.

7. • Strategy to foster partnerships between our Industry partners and the
students
• How?
• Develop a small prototype or project with Employers
• Some of our stronger students will be encouraged to pitch potential
projects.
• Routine guest speakers

8. • Consult regularly with partners on planning and implementation of
project.
• Partner on curriculum development and delivery with recognized
institution (CCNB).
• Launch recruitment strategy focused on word-of-mouth and social
media promotion.
• Send successful applicants to one of 6 NBAICT Orientation to ICT
courses located close to their home.
• Invite Aboriginal community staff to request a partnership to locate
courses within Aboriginal communities working in partnership with that
local staff.

9. • Focus driven by need in First Nation communities and the ICT
industry in general.
• Partnership with CCNB to do curriculum design and
development.
• Partnership with Canadian Adult Learning Services (CALS) to
provide assessments to our clients on the front end of training.
• Community colleges partnering with UNB Faculty of Computer
Science for Course Credit Articulation Agreement.

10. • Orientations:
• Fill out application and
questionnaire ;
• Meet with local
employment counselor;
• CLAE Testing Results.
• Technical:
• Orientation results (if
applicable);
• One on One interview;
• Prior Learning Assessment
Recognition. (if applicable)

11. • 12 week ICT Orientation
• Workplace Essential Skills (WES): 6 weeks
• ICT Technical Portion: 6 weeks
• Web Essentials, PC Repair
• Job Coach/Counselor to provide support throughout.
• Class size up to 25 (typical range between 15 to 25 students per
course).
• We’ve completed 6 orientations averaging 15 graduates per
course.

12. • 3G Cell Phone repair (1 week)
• Learn the tools required to repair various cell phones, how to
disassemble & assemble different types of mobile phones, and how
to repair basic and advanced camera phones.
• Desktop Support Network Support Technician/Administrator (30
weeks)
• Secure, maintain and administrate community networks
• Computer “super-hero”
• Mobile Application Developer (57 weeks)
• Specialized training in increasingly relevant products and services
(Apple iOS, Android)

13. • Programming Languages:
• Java
• JavaScript
• Objective-C
• SQL
• Mobile Platforms:
• Apple iOS
• Android
• Management
• Entrepreneurship
• Privacy and Security

14. • CCNB Testing:
• Web Essentials;
• A+.
• AWDI Selection:
• Orientation results (if
applicable);
• One on One interview.

15. • 100 people from Aboriginal communities across New Brunswick
have graduated from our Orientation courses as of May 2013.
• Job placements.
• Networking opportunities between NBAICT students and ICT
employers.
• Matching NBAICT students in entrepreneurship with partner
programs such as the New Brunswick Launch36 business
accelerator.
• Raising awareness nationally of the New Brunswick Aboriginal ICT
experience.
• Planning for new opportunities after NBAICT funding concludes in
2014.