Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest has been recognized for its delivery of the economic forum of November of last year called "Change Brings Opportunity".
The two day conference which attracted delegates from across North America, explored the potential impact of the container port to the community and how it could change the dynamics of trade both locally and in Western Canada.
For their efforts in organizing the conference, Community Futures won the 2007 Minister’s Award for Excellence, which is awarded annually to one of the 34 Community Futures offices in British Columbia by the Minister of Western Economic Diversification Canada.
The Daily News reviewed the impact of the conference and the glad tidings brought to Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest by Rona Ambrose, the Conservative Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada.
Conference organizers honoured
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Friday, April 13, 2007
The Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest has won the 2007 Minister’s Award for Excellence and Innovation for the successful delivery of its “Change Brings Opportunities” conference.
The Minister’s Award for Excellence and Innovation is given annually to one of the 34 Community Futures offices in British Columbia by the Minister of Western Economic Diversification Canada. The award recognizes outstanding achievement in creating an innovative local solution to a local challenge, and showcases that solution to British Columbians. Community Futures offices are part of Western Economic Diversification Canada’s Western Canada Business Service Network.
“Canada’s government is committed to helping communities across British Columbia and of the rest of Canada to compete and prosper in the global marketplace,” said Rona Ambrose, president of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification. “I congratulate the Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest for demonstrating leadership and bringing industry, business and government together to develop a strong and viable community.”
‘Change Brings Opportunities’ brought more than 350 delegates from Alaska, Washington State, California, Ontario, Alberta and Inuvik to Prince Rupert to explore the economic opportunities of converting the Prince Rupert Port into a container terminal.
Representatives from industry, First Nations, federal, provincial and municipal governments attended.
They collaborated with local stakeholders and citizens to discuss implications, including increased access to the Asia-Pacific market, an increased need to attract and retain skilled workers, and an expanding local population.
“Results from the ‘Change Brings Opportunities’ conference will lead to greater economic opportunity for those operating businesses in Prince Rupert, along the Northern corridor and across Canada,” said Bob Wright, Chair of the Community Futures Development Association of B.C. “This event reflects Community Futures’ dedication to addressing needs, developing capacity and fostering economic development in rural B.C. communities.”
Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest offers a variety of services to the North Coast region. Its mission statement is to “actively contribute to building a diversified and sustainable economy for the Pacific Northwest through entrepreneurial development and participation in regional economic planning”. Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest also offers loans to small and medium-sized businesses, and has a business resource centre available to members of the general public at no cost.
Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is a department of the Government of Canada that works in partnership with the provinces, industry associations and communities to stimulate and encourage diversification of the Western economy, as well as to represent the interests of the West in national decision-making.
Showing posts with label Community Futures of the Northwest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Community Futures of the Northwest. Show all posts
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Friday, December 08, 2006
Survey says, they’re half way to the their goal
Community Futures has hit a bit of a wall with the returns coming in to their Gateway Skills Assessment, which so far has seen only 500 surveys completed, about half the way to the goal of at least 1,000 replies they are hoping to have.
The survey which is co-funded by BCIT and Service Canada is designed to see what labour shortages may be on the horizon in the next five to ten years and how local industry can best prepare for a rejuvenated economy with the container port on line and in operation.
On Thursday, The Daily News reviewed what the survey is all about and the concerns at Community Futures about the community’s input thus far.
WORKERS URGED TO SPARE THE TIME FOR SURVEY
By James Vassallo
The Daily News
Thursday, December 7, 2006
Page one
Community Futures is still hoping to receive more than 500 surveys from businesses around the region to help ensure a ready, skilled workforce is available in the future.
“People are surveyed to death but we’re trying to show businesses the importance of this,” said Maynard Angus, general Manager of Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest. “It’s really for them to tell our community this is what we need to do because we’re going to be faced with a shortage tow or three years down the road.
“We want people to know if we come by we’re not gathering information, this is not another survey that’s going to sit on the shelf.”
The Pacific Northwest Gateway Skills Assessment, funded by BCIT and Service Canada, will assess the current state of skilled workers, and the future needs of North Coast communities including Prince Rupert, Port Edward, Metlakatla, Oona River, Dodge Cove, Lax Kw’alaams, Metlakatla and Hartley Bay.
“We have the infrastructure being built, we’ve got people at all different levels doing there thing to get (the port) project going,” said Angus. “Where we come into play is the human capacity side of things – you can build this thing, but you’ve got to get the people to work and keep it going.”
Community Futures has received about 500 completed surveys, but hopes to have as many as 1,000 returned to get a clear picture of the requirements three, five and 10 years down the road.
Teachers and the city’s public works department, where nearly 40 per cent of those employed are approaching retirement age, are just two examples of places where worker shortages in the community may pose problems in the next three to five years. There will also be a need for a host of skilled trades people required for the port and related opportunities.
“What we plan to do from (the data) is take the findings of those gaps and be able to put together a training plan, recommendations to (NWCC) UNBC, BCIT,” he said. “The college can to their students and say “look we’re talking to industry and this is exactly what they want, this is what we’re planning for and we’d like to speed things up. Do you have any kids in your school that are wanting to get into trades because this is where they can go to work when they finish?” We need to begin working on a plan to start the training now and create a connection between post-secondary and industry into the high schools.”
Community Futures hopes to have a draft report completed by Jan. 31, 2007, with a final report by Feb. 15, 2007.
The survey which is co-funded by BCIT and Service Canada is designed to see what labour shortages may be on the horizon in the next five to ten years and how local industry can best prepare for a rejuvenated economy with the container port on line and in operation.
On Thursday, The Daily News reviewed what the survey is all about and the concerns at Community Futures about the community’s input thus far.
WORKERS URGED TO SPARE THE TIME FOR SURVEY
By James Vassallo
The Daily News
Thursday, December 7, 2006
Page one
Community Futures is still hoping to receive more than 500 surveys from businesses around the region to help ensure a ready, skilled workforce is available in the future.
“People are surveyed to death but we’re trying to show businesses the importance of this,” said Maynard Angus, general Manager of Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest. “It’s really for them to tell our community this is what we need to do because we’re going to be faced with a shortage tow or three years down the road.
“We want people to know if we come by we’re not gathering information, this is not another survey that’s going to sit on the shelf.”
The Pacific Northwest Gateway Skills Assessment, funded by BCIT and Service Canada, will assess the current state of skilled workers, and the future needs of North Coast communities including Prince Rupert, Port Edward, Metlakatla, Oona River, Dodge Cove, Lax Kw’alaams, Metlakatla and Hartley Bay.
“We have the infrastructure being built, we’ve got people at all different levels doing there thing to get (the port) project going,” said Angus. “Where we come into play is the human capacity side of things – you can build this thing, but you’ve got to get the people to work and keep it going.”
Community Futures has received about 500 completed surveys, but hopes to have as many as 1,000 returned to get a clear picture of the requirements three, five and 10 years down the road.
Teachers and the city’s public works department, where nearly 40 per cent of those employed are approaching retirement age, are just two examples of places where worker shortages in the community may pose problems in the next three to five years. There will also be a need for a host of skilled trades people required for the port and related opportunities.
“What we plan to do from (the data) is take the findings of those gaps and be able to put together a training plan, recommendations to (NWCC) UNBC, BCIT,” he said. “The college can to their students and say “look we’re talking to industry and this is exactly what they want, this is what we’re planning for and we’d like to speed things up. Do you have any kids in your school that are wanting to get into trades because this is where they can go to work when they finish?” We need to begin working on a plan to start the training now and create a connection between post-secondary and industry into the high schools.”
Community Futures hopes to have a draft report completed by Jan. 31, 2007, with a final report by Feb. 15, 2007.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
The eyes and ears of the business world are ours this week.
With the “Change Brings Opportunity” Conference underway today, last night’s Daily News provided a small preview of the conference and the participants who have arrived in town to take part in it.
The two day conference, which has been organized by the Prince Rupert office of Community Futures Development Corporation of the Pacific Northwest, promises some interesting networking opportunities for participants. It brings together a wide variety of business advocates and industry insiders to town, ready to explore opportunities related to the Prince Rupert Container Port currently under construction at Fairview Bay.
The project has captured the imagination of communities across Northern BC and Alberta in the last year and reaches far beyond Canada, with many representatives of from across North America set to take part in the sessions planned for the next two days. The Daily put together its pre meeting coverage, with a front page story in Tuesday’s paper.
INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION ON CITY
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Tuesday, November 7, 2006
Pages one and five
A conference in Prince Rupert this week has sparked international interest, say organizers.
“Although the Nov. 8 -9 Change Brings Opportunity conference is being held in Prince Rupert, it’s about far more than just Prince Rupert,” said conference organizer Maynard Angus, of the Community Futures Development Corporation of the Pacific Northwest.
Several hundred people are expected to attend the event Wednesday and Thursday at the Lester Centre of the Arts.
“The ripple effect in economic and business opportunities, resulting from container ships sailing, the new trade between Asia and North America’s first pure intermodal container terminal at the Port of Prince Rupert next year, will wash across the northwestern transportation corridor and eastern Canada on its way into the North American Midwest,” said Angus.
He noted that the economic impact generated from the new container port would be felt thousands of miles inland from Prince Rupert. Many other communities are looking at ways to take advantage of the potential export markets that exist – from Prince George, which is developing an inland container terminal to Grande Prairie, Alberta.
“Once the containers begin to flow back and forth along the Northwest transportation corridor between Prince Rupert and the Midwest of North America, any community or business that can reach out and link into that flow of containers will have connected itself to international trade and commerce,” said Angus.
Community and economic development professionals from a number of B. C.’s Community Futures Development Corporations will be in attendance at the Nov 8-9 conference, as well as representatives of economic development agencies from such communities as Edmonton, Ketchikan, Prince George, Seattle and Tacoma.
Featured speakers represent a diverse range of expert organizations involved in the Pacific Gateway Strategy as well as related transportation and logistics industries. These include the Asia-Pacific Foundation, Boston Consulting Group, WESTAC, CN Rail, Maher Terminals and the Port of Prince Rupert. B. C. Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon will deliver the keynote address at the Nov. 9 gala dinner.
The Fairview Container Terminal is currently under construction and Phase 1 should be able to handle 500,000 containers.
It is expected to open in November 2007.
Maher Terminals, the largest container terminal operated on the East Coast of North America, will be the operator and CN Rail has also invested millions into the project and new rolling stock to handle containers.
The two day conference, which has been organized by the Prince Rupert office of Community Futures Development Corporation of the Pacific Northwest, promises some interesting networking opportunities for participants. It brings together a wide variety of business advocates and industry insiders to town, ready to explore opportunities related to the Prince Rupert Container Port currently under construction at Fairview Bay.
The project has captured the imagination of communities across Northern BC and Alberta in the last year and reaches far beyond Canada, with many representatives of from across North America set to take part in the sessions planned for the next two days. The Daily put together its pre meeting coverage, with a front page story in Tuesday’s paper.
INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION ON CITY
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Tuesday, November 7, 2006
Pages one and five
A conference in Prince Rupert this week has sparked international interest, say organizers.
“Although the Nov. 8 -9 Change Brings Opportunity conference is being held in Prince Rupert, it’s about far more than just Prince Rupert,” said conference organizer Maynard Angus, of the Community Futures Development Corporation of the Pacific Northwest.
Several hundred people are expected to attend the event Wednesday and Thursday at the Lester Centre of the Arts.
“The ripple effect in economic and business opportunities, resulting from container ships sailing, the new trade between Asia and North America’s first pure intermodal container terminal at the Port of Prince Rupert next year, will wash across the northwestern transportation corridor and eastern Canada on its way into the North American Midwest,” said Angus.
He noted that the economic impact generated from the new container port would be felt thousands of miles inland from Prince Rupert. Many other communities are looking at ways to take advantage of the potential export markets that exist – from Prince George, which is developing an inland container terminal to Grande Prairie, Alberta.
“Once the containers begin to flow back and forth along the Northwest transportation corridor between Prince Rupert and the Midwest of North America, any community or business that can reach out and link into that flow of containers will have connected itself to international trade and commerce,” said Angus.
Community and economic development professionals from a number of B. C.’s Community Futures Development Corporations will be in attendance at the Nov 8-9 conference, as well as representatives of economic development agencies from such communities as Edmonton, Ketchikan, Prince George, Seattle and Tacoma.
Featured speakers represent a diverse range of expert organizations involved in the Pacific Gateway Strategy as well as related transportation and logistics industries. These include the Asia-Pacific Foundation, Boston Consulting Group, WESTAC, CN Rail, Maher Terminals and the Port of Prince Rupert. B. C. Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon will deliver the keynote address at the Nov. 9 gala dinner.
The Fairview Container Terminal is currently under construction and Phase 1 should be able to handle 500,000 containers.
It is expected to open in November 2007.
Maher Terminals, the largest container terminal operated on the East Coast of North America, will be the operator and CN Rail has also invested millions into the project and new rolling stock to handle containers.
Monday, October 30, 2006
Survey will say…
On Friday, The Daily News completed its week of almost non stop Community Futures stories, with an article about the upcoming workforce survey to determine if Prince Rupert is ready to boom.
And while it certainly is worth trumpeting the achievements of the local office and highlighting its plans for the future, you have to wonder if maybe there aren’t one or two stories in the city missing out on some valuable newsprint.
It seems that not a day went by this week without mention of the happenings of the 3rd Avenue economic development office (well ok Thursday was Futures free) including a bio on the General Manager.
The week wrapped up exactly where it began, providing a bit more information about that now well promoted Skills survey about to be conducted by the folks at Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest.
Now that’s what one calls a news cycle…
EXPERTS FIGURING OUT IF CITY’S WORKFORCE IS READY FOR BOOM
Huge survey will look at whether workers have the skills they will need
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Friday, October 27, 2006
Pages one and two
A massive workforce skills assessment is underway in the Northwest, the likes of which has never been done before.
And Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest is hoping people both employed and unemployed will take the 15 minutes required to participate in the analysis of the existing workforce.
”The more we know about the strengths and weakness of our current workforce and existing jobs, the better prepared we will be to tackle the future,” said Maynard Angus, general manager of Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest.
Called the Pacific Northwest Gateway Skills initiative, the project will assess what jobs are out there now, which skills those jobs require, which jobs may be coming in the community in the future, and the skill sets those jobs require.
Understanding the size, availability and skills of the local workforce, whether employed or unemployed, will be critical in predicting how effectively Prince Rupert will be able to take advantage of new jobs and business opportunities that will created with the opening of the container port and other developments on the horizon.
Information will be gathered through interviews with representatives from industry, labour and the business community.
However, in addition to identifying skills needed by industry and the business community, the Pacific Northwest Gateways Skills Initiative will also be compiling an inventory of existing workforce skills, based on information gathered from telephone interviews and questionnaires.
Each interview takes about 15 to 20 minutes to complete and Community Futures is hopeful that when people are asked to participate, the public will contribute their time.
“This is an important survey, and we need as many people to participate as possible,” said Angus. “The more people we can interview, the more accurately we will be able to identify existing skills needs and the training required to prepare for future job opportunities.”
A number of agencies in town are involved with organizing interviews through their own membership networks. The Career Resource Centre, Hecate Strait Employment Development Society, the Friendship House, Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a Society and the North Coast Transition Society are all helping deliver the survey. Students from Northwest Community College have also volunteered to conduct one on one interviews and will be out in the community asking people to sign up for a phone interview.
The skills assessment areas covers the eight communities in the Community Futures Pacific Northwest Region, including Prince Rupert, Port Edward, Oona River, Dodge Cove, Lax Kw’alaams, Metlakatla, Hartley Bay and Kitkatla.
Data collectors have also been hired in Hartley Bay, Kitkatla and Lax Kw’alaams and will be going door to door to collect information.
To participate in the Workforce Skills Initiative, please contact Community Futures at 622-2332 or 1-877-622-8288.
And while it certainly is worth trumpeting the achievements of the local office and highlighting its plans for the future, you have to wonder if maybe there aren’t one or two stories in the city missing out on some valuable newsprint.
It seems that not a day went by this week without mention of the happenings of the 3rd Avenue economic development office (well ok Thursday was Futures free) including a bio on the General Manager.
The week wrapped up exactly where it began, providing a bit more information about that now well promoted Skills survey about to be conducted by the folks at Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest.
Now that’s what one calls a news cycle…
EXPERTS FIGURING OUT IF CITY’S WORKFORCE IS READY FOR BOOM
Huge survey will look at whether workers have the skills they will need
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Friday, October 27, 2006
Pages one and two
A massive workforce skills assessment is underway in the Northwest, the likes of which has never been done before.
And Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest is hoping people both employed and unemployed will take the 15 minutes required to participate in the analysis of the existing workforce.
”The more we know about the strengths and weakness of our current workforce and existing jobs, the better prepared we will be to tackle the future,” said Maynard Angus, general manager of Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest.
Called the Pacific Northwest Gateway Skills initiative, the project will assess what jobs are out there now, which skills those jobs require, which jobs may be coming in the community in the future, and the skill sets those jobs require.
Understanding the size, availability and skills of the local workforce, whether employed or unemployed, will be critical in predicting how effectively Prince Rupert will be able to take advantage of new jobs and business opportunities that will created with the opening of the container port and other developments on the horizon.
Information will be gathered through interviews with representatives from industry, labour and the business community.
However, in addition to identifying skills needed by industry and the business community, the Pacific Northwest Gateways Skills Initiative will also be compiling an inventory of existing workforce skills, based on information gathered from telephone interviews and questionnaires.
Each interview takes about 15 to 20 minutes to complete and Community Futures is hopeful that when people are asked to participate, the public will contribute their time.
“This is an important survey, and we need as many people to participate as possible,” said Angus. “The more people we can interview, the more accurately we will be able to identify existing skills needs and the training required to prepare for future job opportunities.”
A number of agencies in town are involved with organizing interviews through their own membership networks. The Career Resource Centre, Hecate Strait Employment Development Society, the Friendship House, Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a Society and the North Coast Transition Society are all helping deliver the survey. Students from Northwest Community College have also volunteered to conduct one on one interviews and will be out in the community asking people to sign up for a phone interview.
The skills assessment areas covers the eight communities in the Community Futures Pacific Northwest Region, including Prince Rupert, Port Edward, Oona River, Dodge Cove, Lax Kw’alaams, Metlakatla, Hartley Bay and Kitkatla.
Data collectors have also been hired in Hartley Bay, Kitkatla and Lax Kw’alaams and will be going door to door to collect information.
To participate in the Workforce Skills Initiative, please contact Community Futures at 622-2332 or 1-877-622-8288.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Triple Play news days for Community Futures
Community Futures is three for three on the pages of the Daily News this week, as for the third day in a row the local Community Futures office received its fair share of publicity.
The latest article is a page three review of an award given to Maynard Angus, the Manager of Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest. Angus was honoured with a National award as one of the top aboriginal economic developers at a gathering in Saskatoon earlier this month.
The story examined the award that he received and looks back at his experience with Community Futures, what some of the projects that they were involved with locally were and featured his involvement with the local community.
ANGUS RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE BEST
Community Futures manager honoured with national award
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Wednesday, October 25, 2006.
Maynard Angus, general manager for Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest, has been recognized as one of the top aboriginal economic developers in the country by the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO)
Angus, who was nominated in the ‘individual’ category, received the runner up award during a CANDO conference in Saskatoon earlier this month.
“It was an honour to be selected because there was only two of us in Canada,” said Angus.
Each year CANDO chooses two individuals and two businesses/community projects for its Economic Developer of the Year awards. The individuals and businesses then make a presentation during the annual conference and delegates vote for the winner.
Angus, said when he was first asked to speak, he thought it was under the business/community category for the Community Futures project called the Resources, Access and Information Network (RAIN). This project brought high-speed internet and many associated opportunities to remote communities. When he found out that the nomination was in fact in the ‘individual’ category, he was asked to re-write his presentation and talk about his individual achievements.
“It was pretty difficult to do that… trying to put my presentation together from an individual standpoint. Because of all the projects we’ve don and we’ve done many, they are not mine,” he said. “The projects that don’t belong to me, they belong to the communities.”
Angus who is from Kincolith, has been General Manager at Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest since it opened in 1999. In that time, the organization has helped leverage more than $10 million for community projects such as the container port, Northland Cruise Terminal, the dock and wharf rebuild in Kitkatla and the cultural centre in Hartley Bay.
With 22 years of business experience in small and corporate business, Angus was recognized for his ability to bring his education, experience and commitment to the community in his work with the Community Futures.
In addition to his work at Community Futures, Angus is involved with the Rotary Club, is chairman of the Coast Community Future Fisheries Legacy Trust, is a member of the First Nations Technology Council, has a Directorship on the Nisga’a local government and is a member of the CFDABC’s Enhanced Aboriginal Service Delivery Program.
He also sits on the steering committees for the B. C. Pacific Northwest’s regional infrastructure development strategic project.
CANDO is the only national organization that focuses on education and professional development for EDO’s working in Aboriginal communities or organizations.
Angus said he enjoyed the Saskatoon conference because it offered him a look at what is taking place in other parts of the country.
“There was a lot of young people at the conference. It was interesting from that perspective and it was interesting to see what was going on in Canada with regards to aboriginal communities,” he said.
“You begin to realize they (aboriginal business people) are starting to make their mark. In areas like small business, they are the fastest growing small business segment, 6.8 per cent last year.”
This year’s winner of Economic Developer of the Year was Gary Swite, an entrepreneur/business owner and board member of All Nations Trust Company (ANTCO,) who for the past 25 years been developing business and economic opportunities in the central Okanagan economy.
His varied business interests include trucking, landscaping, commercial and residential property development.
The latest article is a page three review of an award given to Maynard Angus, the Manager of Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest. Angus was honoured with a National award as one of the top aboriginal economic developers at a gathering in Saskatoon earlier this month.
The story examined the award that he received and looks back at his experience with Community Futures, what some of the projects that they were involved with locally were and featured his involvement with the local community.
ANGUS RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE BEST
Community Futures manager honoured with national award
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Wednesday, October 25, 2006.
Maynard Angus, general manager for Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest, has been recognized as one of the top aboriginal economic developers in the country by the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO)
Angus, who was nominated in the ‘individual’ category, received the runner up award during a CANDO conference in Saskatoon earlier this month.
“It was an honour to be selected because there was only two of us in Canada,” said Angus.
Each year CANDO chooses two individuals and two businesses/community projects for its Economic Developer of the Year awards. The individuals and businesses then make a presentation during the annual conference and delegates vote for the winner.
Angus, said when he was first asked to speak, he thought it was under the business/community category for the Community Futures project called the Resources, Access and Information Network (RAIN). This project brought high-speed internet and many associated opportunities to remote communities. When he found out that the nomination was in fact in the ‘individual’ category, he was asked to re-write his presentation and talk about his individual achievements.
“It was pretty difficult to do that… trying to put my presentation together from an individual standpoint. Because of all the projects we’ve don and we’ve done many, they are not mine,” he said. “The projects that don’t belong to me, they belong to the communities.”
Angus who is from Kincolith, has been General Manager at Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest since it opened in 1999. In that time, the organization has helped leverage more than $10 million for community projects such as the container port, Northland Cruise Terminal, the dock and wharf rebuild in Kitkatla and the cultural centre in Hartley Bay.
With 22 years of business experience in small and corporate business, Angus was recognized for his ability to bring his education, experience and commitment to the community in his work with the Community Futures.
In addition to his work at Community Futures, Angus is involved with the Rotary Club, is chairman of the Coast Community Future Fisheries Legacy Trust, is a member of the First Nations Technology Council, has a Directorship on the Nisga’a local government and is a member of the CFDABC’s Enhanced Aboriginal Service Delivery Program.
He also sits on the steering committees for the B. C. Pacific Northwest’s regional infrastructure development strategic project.
CANDO is the only national organization that focuses on education and professional development for EDO’s working in Aboriginal communities or organizations.
Angus said he enjoyed the Saskatoon conference because it offered him a look at what is taking place in other parts of the country.
“There was a lot of young people at the conference. It was interesting from that perspective and it was interesting to see what was going on in Canada with regards to aboriginal communities,” he said.
“You begin to realize they (aboriginal business people) are starting to make their mark. In areas like small business, they are the fastest growing small business segment, 6.8 per cent last year.”
This year’s winner of Economic Developer of the Year was Gary Swite, an entrepreneur/business owner and board member of All Nations Trust Company (ANTCO,) who for the past 25 years been developing business and economic opportunities in the central Okanagan economy.
His varied business interests include trucking, landscaping, commercial and residential property development.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Container Port conference attracting much interest
Community Futures week continued at the Daily News, as for the second day in a row a project being organized by Community Futures of the Northwest found itself on the front page of the Daily paper.
Tuesday’s story involves the upcoming Change Brings Opportunity Conference, which is being planned and promoted by Community Futures of the Northwest and is set to take place on November 8 and 9 at the Lester Centre of the Arts. So far 240 people have registered for the two day event.
It has become a much anticipated event in the area as a number of guest speakers have been lined up to bring their expertise on containerization to the Northwest and give local residents a better understanding of how transportation works in the world and the impact it could have on the Northwest.
In the front page story on Tuesday, Maynard Angus of Community Futures outlined the expectations for the conference and what local residents might learn over the course of the two days.
BOOM IN ASIA, CONTAINER PORT DRAWING BIG CROWD
Conference about opportunities on the horizon has a wide appeal
By Leanne RitchieThe Daily News
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Page One
The organizers of the Change Brings Opportunity Conference are hoping to see more than 300 people come together to explore opportunities related to the Fairview Container Terminal.
Maynard Angus, general manager of the Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest, said that as of last Wednesday, they had 240 people registered for the two-day event.
The conference is being held, he explained, to identify opportunities that are related to the construction of the container terminal and the rapid growth currently happening in the Asian markets.
“We’ve got some really high end speakers to talk about these opportunities,” said Angus.
“We are hoping these speakers will address this boom in China and how it will help people here.”
The Change Brings Opportunity Conference will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 8 and 9, at the Lester Centre of the Arts in Prince Rupert.
The conference brings together a distinguished lineup of speakers from across North America, who will brief participants from Prince Rupert and the B. C. /Alberta Northwest corridor region on the latest developments related to the expansion of the container port. The conference is being held to identify opportunities and purpose strategies for expanded entrepreneurship, employment and exports.
The agenda will allow time for delegates’ questions and answers, discussions with presenters, networking and a tour of the construction site of the new container port facilities, which is expected to open in the fall of 2007.
“We have also put out invitations to the college and high school students to bring a further awareness – you don’t have to think about leaving because there will be opportunities here,” said Angus.
So far, they have people registered from Tacoma, Seattle, Edmonton, Kamloops, Vancouver and Alaska.
One presenter is David Fung, Chairman and CEO, ACDEG International, who will speak on export opportunities created by the new container port. Fung has investment partnerships in North America, Europe and Asia through strategic alliances in forest products, biomass energy, chemicals, electrical power cogeneration, OEM parts manufacturing and packaging wastes recycling.
Another presenter on the list is George Stalk Jr. senior vice president and director with the Boston Consulting Group, who has actively lobbied for larger container port expansions. He will talk about the global context in which the Prince Rupert container port will operate.
Stalk’s practice is focused on creating unassailable competitive advantage. He has consulted for a variety of leading manufacturing, technology and consumer products companies throughout North and South America, Europe and throughout Asia and is the author of several books, including The China Rip Tide: Threat or Opportunity?.
Also on the list of distinguished speakers is Frans van Riemsdyk, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Maher Terminals. He will address Prince Rupert’s strategic location from a port operator’s perspective.
For more information, contact Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest.
Tuesday’s story involves the upcoming Change Brings Opportunity Conference, which is being planned and promoted by Community Futures of the Northwest and is set to take place on November 8 and 9 at the Lester Centre of the Arts. So far 240 people have registered for the two day event.
It has become a much anticipated event in the area as a number of guest speakers have been lined up to bring their expertise on containerization to the Northwest and give local residents a better understanding of how transportation works in the world and the impact it could have on the Northwest.
In the front page story on Tuesday, Maynard Angus of Community Futures outlined the expectations for the conference and what local residents might learn over the course of the two days.
BOOM IN ASIA, CONTAINER PORT DRAWING BIG CROWD
Conference about opportunities on the horizon has a wide appeal
By Leanne RitchieThe Daily News
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Page One
The organizers of the Change Brings Opportunity Conference are hoping to see more than 300 people come together to explore opportunities related to the Fairview Container Terminal.
Maynard Angus, general manager of the Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest, said that as of last Wednesday, they had 240 people registered for the two-day event.
The conference is being held, he explained, to identify opportunities that are related to the construction of the container terminal and the rapid growth currently happening in the Asian markets.
“We’ve got some really high end speakers to talk about these opportunities,” said Angus.
“We are hoping these speakers will address this boom in China and how it will help people here.”
The Change Brings Opportunity Conference will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 8 and 9, at the Lester Centre of the Arts in Prince Rupert.
The conference brings together a distinguished lineup of speakers from across North America, who will brief participants from Prince Rupert and the B. C. /Alberta Northwest corridor region on the latest developments related to the expansion of the container port. The conference is being held to identify opportunities and purpose strategies for expanded entrepreneurship, employment and exports.
The agenda will allow time for delegates’ questions and answers, discussions with presenters, networking and a tour of the construction site of the new container port facilities, which is expected to open in the fall of 2007.
“We have also put out invitations to the college and high school students to bring a further awareness – you don’t have to think about leaving because there will be opportunities here,” said Angus.
So far, they have people registered from Tacoma, Seattle, Edmonton, Kamloops, Vancouver and Alaska.
One presenter is David Fung, Chairman and CEO, ACDEG International, who will speak on export opportunities created by the new container port. Fung has investment partnerships in North America, Europe and Asia through strategic alliances in forest products, biomass energy, chemicals, electrical power cogeneration, OEM parts manufacturing and packaging wastes recycling.
Another presenter on the list is George Stalk Jr. senior vice president and director with the Boston Consulting Group, who has actively lobbied for larger container port expansions. He will talk about the global context in which the Prince Rupert container port will operate.
Stalk’s practice is focused on creating unassailable competitive advantage. He has consulted for a variety of leading manufacturing, technology and consumer products companies throughout North and South America, Europe and throughout Asia and is the author of several books, including The China Rip Tide: Threat or Opportunity?.
Also on the list of distinguished speakers is Frans van Riemsdyk, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Maher Terminals. He will address Prince Rupert’s strategic location from a port operator’s perspective.
For more information, contact Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest.
Monday, October 23, 2006
In a town with few jobs today, they’re planning for the labour shortages of tomorrow!
It seems kind of strange to be talking about jobs going begging when your unemployment is as high as it is today, but over the next ten years that could very well be the situation on the North coast.
With an expected turn around of the local economy to come (we hope) over the next few years and existing companies facing a retirement drain of their current work force, the plans are being put together to make sure that local residents have the necessary skills to take on those jobs when they become available.
Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest is working on the Pacific Northwest Gateway Skills Initiative, a project funded by BCIT and Service Canada and designed to determine what skills are presently being used by local businesses and what skills will be required in the future.
The General Manager of Community Futures of the Northwest, Maynard Angus explained the scope of the project and what the net result of it will be; his plans were previewed in Monday’s edition of the Daily News.
GROUP LOOKING TO HELP FILL THE NORTH COAST SKILLS GAP
Community Futures finding out where skills shortages are likely to appear
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Monday, October 23, 2006
Pages One and Five
Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest is working with employers and employees to come up with a detailed picture of what skills will be needed to fill local jobs in the future.
Maynard Angus, general manager of Community Futures of the Northwest, introduced the Pacific Northwest Gateway Skills Initiative to the business community at a chamber of commerce lunch meeting last week.
“There’s a concern about a shortage of a skilled work force, that’s the foundation of this project. There’s a shortage coming and in some cases it’s here now,” said Angus.
Funded by BCIT and Services Canada, the project will assess what skills are currently being used by local businesses, what skills will be needed as future businesses develop, what the retirement rate looks like for the current workforce and when new skills will be needed in the future.
“Just from some of the phone calls we’ve done, in five years are going to hit a shortage, not just with city workers but also teachers. And Ridley Terminals, for example, the average age is 48 years old out there,” said Angus.
“We are doing an inventory search and a GAP analysis, so we will find out what does it look like today, what will it look like in three years, five years and 1o years.”
Community Futures hopes to have a draft report completed by Jan. 31, 2007 with a final report by Feb. 15, 2007.
The report will assess all eight communities on the North Coast that are within Community Futures’ area – Prince Rupert, Port Edward. Metlakatla, Oona River, Dodge Cove, Lax Kw’alaams, Metlakatla and Hartley Bay.
While many reports have been done on the larger skills shortage facing the province, this is the first study of this kind on a local level.
“We talked to quite a number of people and nobody has even seen anything like it (for this area.)” said Angus.
“It will be really interesting because when we get that report it will tell us what are the skills that are out there right now, where are the gaps and when will the gaps occur. There may not be any gaps right now, but in three years we will be able to see where they are going to be.”
Once the report is complete, the findings of the Pacific Northwest Gateway Skills Assessment will go out to educational institutions to help them design training programs.
This way institutions like Northwest Community College and BCIT will know that in three years this is where the needs are going to be. And at the same time, Community Futures is also working hand-in-hand with the Prince Rupert Port Edward Economic Development Commission.
The two entities will work together to find out where employers from the region go to attract prospective employees. This will help the city determine where to send out information for future residents, to attract them to employment opportunities locally.
“We are both going down this road but it’s two different directions that will accomplish the same outcomes,” said Angus.
With an expected turn around of the local economy to come (we hope) over the next few years and existing companies facing a retirement drain of their current work force, the plans are being put together to make sure that local residents have the necessary skills to take on those jobs when they become available.
Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest is working on the Pacific Northwest Gateway Skills Initiative, a project funded by BCIT and Service Canada and designed to determine what skills are presently being used by local businesses and what skills will be required in the future.
The General Manager of Community Futures of the Northwest, Maynard Angus explained the scope of the project and what the net result of it will be; his plans were previewed in Monday’s edition of the Daily News.
GROUP LOOKING TO HELP FILL THE NORTH COAST SKILLS GAP
Community Futures finding out where skills shortages are likely to appear
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Monday, October 23, 2006
Pages One and Five
Community Futures of the Pacific Northwest is working with employers and employees to come up with a detailed picture of what skills will be needed to fill local jobs in the future.
Maynard Angus, general manager of Community Futures of the Northwest, introduced the Pacific Northwest Gateway Skills Initiative to the business community at a chamber of commerce lunch meeting last week.
“There’s a concern about a shortage of a skilled work force, that’s the foundation of this project. There’s a shortage coming and in some cases it’s here now,” said Angus.
Funded by BCIT and Services Canada, the project will assess what skills are currently being used by local businesses, what skills will be needed as future businesses develop, what the retirement rate looks like for the current workforce and when new skills will be needed in the future.
“Just from some of the phone calls we’ve done, in five years are going to hit a shortage, not just with city workers but also teachers. And Ridley Terminals, for example, the average age is 48 years old out there,” said Angus.
“We are doing an inventory search and a GAP analysis, so we will find out what does it look like today, what will it look like in three years, five years and 1o years.”
Community Futures hopes to have a draft report completed by Jan. 31, 2007 with a final report by Feb. 15, 2007.
The report will assess all eight communities on the North Coast that are within Community Futures’ area – Prince Rupert, Port Edward. Metlakatla, Oona River, Dodge Cove, Lax Kw’alaams, Metlakatla and Hartley Bay.
While many reports have been done on the larger skills shortage facing the province, this is the first study of this kind on a local level.
“We talked to quite a number of people and nobody has even seen anything like it (for this area.)” said Angus.
“It will be really interesting because when we get that report it will tell us what are the skills that are out there right now, where are the gaps and when will the gaps occur. There may not be any gaps right now, but in three years we will be able to see where they are going to be.”
Once the report is complete, the findings of the Pacific Northwest Gateway Skills Assessment will go out to educational institutions to help them design training programs.
This way institutions like Northwest Community College and BCIT will know that in three years this is where the needs are going to be. And at the same time, Community Futures is also working hand-in-hand with the Prince Rupert Port Edward Economic Development Commission.
The two entities will work together to find out where employers from the region go to attract prospective employees. This will help the city determine where to send out information for future residents, to attract them to employment opportunities locally.
“We are both going down this road but it’s two different directions that will accomplish the same outcomes,” said Angus.
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