Urban Services

Preparation meets opportunity

The Prince Albert Grand Council Urban Services Centre Inc. is an incorporated entity as are the community based organizations in the city of Prince Albert. Since the relocation of the department to 3601 – 5th Avenue East, we have realized the major transportation barrier in the city, with support from our partners we intend to do more community outreach and set up a sub office in the former location.

PAGC Urban Services has expanded on its overall direction by establishing effective working relationships with: other internal PAGC Departments; creating more linkages between On and Off-Reserve programs and services; and by establishing effective partnerships with community based organizations and agencies within the City of Prince Albert, SK. This has provided the opportunity to offer a greater array of services to clients in areas that pertain to youth, adults and families deemed at risk.

Urban Aboriginal Strategy

Is a 4 year initiative with a committee of Community members at large there will be the opportunity to access funds to enhance our programming at the Centre and offer supports to our clientele in need. Priorities for funding will be fleshed out at the community consultation being planned for September 2008.

Construction Careers

CCPA continues to make impressive progress in connecting clients interested in pursuing careers in the construction area. This partnership between SIIT/PAGC/CAN SK provides individuals with necessary supports to access entry level positions related to the construction/trades careers. The supports include but are not limited by; Construction Safety Training System, driver training programs, and Construction Worker Preparation Pre-Employment Programs.

Adult 10 and 12 Basic Academic Preparation

The Prince Albert Grand Council Urban Services Centre Incorporated recognizes the fact that many of our First Nations clientele require upgrading to successfully attain their long term goals of employment. The Adult Basic Education 10 Program had an intake of 20 young adults, who required the academic upgrading to pursue further education, training or career orientated goals. Twelve of these clients have attained their ten. The ABE 12 program is delivered by SIAST Woodland, PAGC Urban Services had an intake of 13 clients there were 5 who attained their Grade 12 diplomas.

 Individual Client Sponsorship

There were a total of 210 clients sponsored financially for a variety of technical/vocational/adult upgrading and employment programs for the period of April 1/07 to March 31, 2008. Of these 117 were new students while the rest are were continuing from the previous fiscal year.

Labour Force Development Supports

The Prince Albert Grand Council – Urban Services Centre Inc. offers other community/employment supports such as volunteer tax preparation, resume writing, faxing/photocopying/inter-net research, disability funding/referrals, as well as long distance calls regarding employment and/or emergency situations.

Success Stories

Mr. Cody Bear from the Lac La Ronge Indian Band has successfully made it through Aboriginal Police Preparation Program that was offered at SIAST Woodland Campus. Mr. Bear has utilized many supports from PAGC – Urban Services that has to offer to first nations people. Mr. Bear first started to get help from the Youth Employment Support Program out of Carlton Comprehensive High School, where he got some counseling and work experience in high school, also gained employment as a summer student at PAGC. He recently got accepted to a two week recruiting program offered by Regina City Police. Upon Completion he will then go to Police College in Regina for 4 months.

Labour Force Development

(Aboriginal Human Resources Development Canada)

The LFD program continues to offer ongoing support for those First Nations who reside in Prince Albert and area by providing a variety of employment/training initiatives, which ensure that clients are accessing relevant ABE/Technical & Vocational training, based on viable career goals. This urban contribution agreement is administered by the Prince Albert Grand Council Urban Services Centre Inc.

Funding for this program flows from Services Canada via SITAG to the Local Labour Force Development Offices throughout the province of Saskatchewan. PAGC Urban Services Centre Inc. Board consists of the 12 chiefs of PAGC membership along with the Executive Chiefs of the Prince Albert Grand Council. This entity approves budget forecasts and block-funding, as well as changes to policy regarding students and staff.

Accessibility is based on client identification of career-oriented goals, client follow through, proper registration, and provision of all relevant documentation. Other selection criteria considered are previous track records, total number of requests, and availability of funding resources. These decisions of support come directly from the Labour Force Development Coordinator and support staff of the program. This LIMB maintains a continuous waitlist which gives us the proper time to ensure clients are eligible for support, as well as the onus is on the client to provide all documentation required for decisions.

The LFD program has a proven track record of being proactive in seeking viable partnerships and sustainable supports for Urban First Nations.

Traffic Safety & Licensing

The Safety Coordinator promotes safety awareness for traffic, ATV, UTV, boat motor and booster seats to all 12 First Nations Bands of the  Prince Albert Grand Council (25 communities). The Safety Coordinator also to reports to PAGC and SGI quarterly.

The SGI Program is to inform and promote traffic Safety.

■ Traffic Safety
■ All Terrain Vehicle (ATV)
■ Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV)
■ Pleasure Craft
■ Ski-doo
■ Child Seat Safety (Booster seats)
■ Attends community events such as Cultural, Career Fairs, Festivals etc. to promote Safety Awareness
■ Proposing to hire another worker through SGI for a Drivers Ed program in PAGC communities
■ Learner licences
■ Will be able to host 6 and 6 Drivers
■ Working with Grandmothers Bay traffic safety grant applications
■ Sucker River water safety planning for 2021
■ Delivery of Indigenous Wingman Signs , waiting on installments (La Ronge , Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Pelican Narrows, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, Grandmothers Bay, Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Sturgeon Landing, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, Montreal Lake Lake , Montreal Lake Cree Nation)
■ Assisting Pelican Narrows community grant application
■ Athabasca Denesuline Nations (Fond Du Lac, Hatchet Lake, Black Lake)
■ Continue planning with Athabasca Education Authority regarding with brain safety
■ Delivery of Informational sessions and SGI helmets Pending training for ATV instructors course ( waiting )

Contact Information:

Alphie Dorian
Traffic Safety Liason
306.765.5300 (Option # 2  (SGI))
adorion@pagc.net
1211 1st Ave W
Prince Albert, SK
S6V 4Y8

 

Urban Programs

Youth Employment Support

There are now two Employment Support Persons (Job Coaches) hired to assist and support Youth at Risk gain job placements through the Work Experience Program at Carlton Comprehensive High School and Wesmor Community School. This was made possible through a partnership between Prince Albert Grand Council Urban Services and Saskatchewan Rivers School Division #119 funded by the Corrections and Public Safety. Support offered to youth in these three schools included:

Employment support & Referrals

Training support

Issuing & providing transportation

Career pathing

Personal & Professional knowledge, skills

Developing Resumes

Completing job applications

Obtaining job leads

Assist in some safety points

Filling out S.I.N & Birth Certificate forms

The Work Experience program is operated through the school year that prepares First Nations youth to enter careers mainly in the Retail and Service Industry and trades Sector. This program prepares youth for this challenge by engaging in numerous learning and development activities to acquire personal and professional employment readiness knowledge, skills and attitudes, with some knowledge of certain skills.

The long-term objective is for the “youth at risk” is to gain knowledge or obtain employment within the community of Prince Albert.

Another objective of the program is to prevent the youth from becoming involved or re-offending within the Youth Justice System. The program is set up to increase the awareness of the youth in the importance of creating and maintaining positive lifestyles that will assist them in both their personal and career related decision-making skills.

 

Student Housing Initiative

The PAGC Urban Services Centre Inc. recognized the need for affordable student housing and has taken over management of the two properties on 432 & 428 – 28th Street East to support those students who require housing. This program is funded by the collection of rent/damage deposits. Applications may be accessed through the department.

 

Urban Referral & Parenting Support Services

The PAGC Urban Referral & Parent Support Program provides services to families with children 0-6 years of age, living in at risk conditions. The mandate of thisprogram is to provide assistance to families through community-based programs that are holistic andaccessible. The program also advocates and works with families to strengthen social, economic and educational linkages within the city.
The Urban Referral and parent support assists in the delivery of special occasions such as:

Urban Christmas Dinner

Urban Treaty Day

Summer Outing Program

Developing partnerships within the city of Prince Albert assists in the program delivery and as high participant involvement as a result. Partnering with other organizations is a strength that encourages families towards empowerment and with a result of making positive changes in their lives.

 

Family Violence Program

This program is funded through Saskatchewan Justice, contribution from fiscal year to fiscal year. Offers programming to members who are affected by family violence in all areas, liaisons with the Prince Albert Womens Shelter/PACADA and other community based organizations.

 

Mental Health & Addictions

This program is in partnership with the Kids First Initiative, a worker is placed at Urban Services liaison with the schools offering support to families in the Kids First Program as well as with our Urban Clients who wish to access treatment, and counseling regarding family dynamics and addictions. Funding for this program has been extended to 2009.

Sports & Recreation