ACCESS and Seaspan partnership empowering urban Indigenous students

Having a continuous pipeline of skilled trades is fundamental to shipbuilding, and programs like ACCESS play a critical role in developing that talent pool.

Seaspan’s partnership with ACCESS provides opportunities for Indigenous empowerment. Photo from Seaspan.

Many Indigenous people living in urban centres face unique challenges relating to access to employment and education. With more than half of the Indigenous population in Canada currently living in major urban centres, many experience separation from traditional support systems and cultural connections away from their communities.

According to the sixth session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, some of the most prominent issues facing urban Indigenous people include housing, education and unemployment. The lack of accessible training opportunities, especially for Indigenous youth, only exacerbates these issues.

Founded in 1999, the Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services Society (ACCESS) is responding to the challenge.

ACCESS is dedicated to making the labour market more accessible for urban Indigenous people, empowering them to pursue meaningful, stable careers. The organization also emphasizes autonomy in the education sector. Through comprehensive training programs and accessible funding opportunities, ACCESS puts control back into the hands of urban Indigenous community members by allowing individuals to take ownership over their educational and employment future.

From computer programming to marine transportation, ACCESS connects students to diverse training options with educational institutes across BC’s lower mainland. Major partners include BCIT, Douglas College, Vancouver Career College and others.

Students can sign up for foundational trade skills programs, including carpentry, heavy equipment operation, piping, welding, and firefighting. Additionally, ACCESS funds a tourism training program teaching participants Indigenous storytelling techniques and empowering them for future leadership in the industry. The organization even runs a gaming and technology camp where Indigenous youth can learn how to build their own gaming computers.

Of course, none of these opportunities would be possible without the ongoing support of partnering organizations. The longstanding relationship between ACCESS and Seaspan is particularly worth highlighting because of their shared values, sustainable efforts and the reciprocal nature of the partnership.

"Training and employment lead to a brighter future," states Lynn White, President and CEO of ACCESS. "And Seaspan is one of our most valued partners."

Since 2016, Seaspan has invested 4.3 million dollars into ACCESS. The funds directly support the shared goal of economic prosperity and improved employment opportunities for the urban Indigenous population.

“Skilled tradespeople are the people who put the ships together, so they couldn’t be more important to our business,” said Dan Southern, Seaspan’s Director of Workforce Development. “We’re excited to work with ACCESS Trades to develop the next generation of shipbuilders. They really help us make sure that our workforce represents our community.”

In June 2021, Seaspan announced an additional 1.35 million investment into ACCESS over three years. The additional investment demonstrates ongoing support of the work ACCESS is doing and recognition that economic reconciliation is a continual process for everyone involved.

Beyond making financial contributions, Seaspan also has a reciprocal job placement program with ACCESS. Through the ACCESS Bridge Watch program, students undergo four weeks of essential skills training followed by sixteen weeks of technical training at BCIT. The program covers the fundamentals of working in the marine transportation industry, including navigation, seamanship and safe working procedures. Students and graduates of the program are directly connected with employment opportunities at Seaspan as part of the reciprocal relationship with ACCESS.

"Our partnership with Seaspan has allowed us opportunity," explains White. "It's really given us the chance to take people out of high school, put them in a trade and have them have a job that they can go to, a meaningful job that can change their life."

Seaspan was a gold sponsor of the 2022 Indigenous Partnerships Success Showcase, which took place on May 26th and 27th both online and in Vancouver, British Columbia. The sponsorship demonstrates an ongoing commitment to being at the forefront of conversations about economic reconciliation and prosperity for Indigenous communities.

Written by CJ McGillivray. Readers can learn more about the Indigenous Partnership Success Showcase, returning in 2023, by visiting www.indigenoussucess.ca.