Supercom Industries Celebrates Over 200 Successful Graduates
Graduates are ready for new opportunities in energy-related employment
Thunder Bay – Supercom Industries LP, a 100% First Nation owned business partnership, is celebrating the graduation of over 200 Northern Ontarians from its energy-related training programs. Twenty (20) new graduates completed training this week and are ready for employment in the energy industry, it announced today.
Supercom has partnered with several regional organizations such as Confederation College and Anishinabek Employment & Training Services (AETS) to deliver four (4) tiers of training. Programs range from The Energy Readiness Program and Skilled Occupations to Skilled Pre-Trades Training and Employment Preparation.
Chief Matthew Dupuis, Red Rock Indian Band & President of Supercom Industries LP says, “Supercom and our six-member First Nations are proud of the comprehensive skills training plan that has been put in place with our partners to ensure that Northern Ontario is ready to meet the anticipated employment needs in the energy sector. Our collective territories comprise the route of the proposed East-West Tie (the “Project”), one of Ontario’s highest priority transmission lines, linking Thunder Bay to Wawa. Today, 200 Northern Ontarians are trained and ready for work.”
Stephen Bannon, Graduate, Fort William First Nation shares, “I joined the program in April because it seemed like a great opportunity. After 15 weeks, I walked away with 25 certificates, and I hope to get a job in the near future working on transmission lines.”
Patrick Bananish, Graduate, Pic Mobert, Marathon says, “I took the Line Crew Ground Support program because it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I’m going to apply to the union tomorrow, and then I hope to get a job working on transmission lines.”
Herb McWatch, Graduate, Pic Mobert, Marathon says, “I took the Line Crew Ground Support Program because I could see that it was going to be a long-standing employment opportunity. The program was challenging, and I wanted to try something new, and prove that I could do it. My next steps are to complete my power line apprenticeship, and then I hope to find a career.”
Quick Facts:
- Supercom Industries LP (“Supercom”) is a 100% First Nation owned business: a partnership between Fort William First Nation, Red Rock Indian Band, Pays Plat First Nation, Biigtigong Nishnaabeg, Pic Mobert First Nation and Michipicoten First Nation.
- The collective territory of these six First Nations comprises the route of the proposed East West Tie, one of Ontario’s highest priority transmission lines, linking Thunder Bay to Wawa.
- With an estimated capital cost of $500 million+, the East-West Tie represents a substantial opportunity for economic development in Northern Ontario.
- Supercom was formed by the six First Nations with the aim of enabling and maximizing the economic benefits arising from the construction of the East-West Tie through procurement of materials, services, and labour from our shareholder First Nations.
