NDC teams up with Taranis Training

Naicatchewenin Development Corp. (NDC) continues to build up and diversify its business partnerships, most recently teaming up with Taranis Training of Thunder Bay.
Taranis Training, a division of Taranis Contracting Group, offers heavy equipment operator training as well as commercial truck driver training.

Tony Marinaro, chief business development officer for the NDC, said NDC met with the owners of Taranis, and both parties saw the mutual benefits of working together.
“We see the opportunity to build capacity for area residents, First Nations and alike,” he noted.
“These partnerships create opportunities for people to develop the skills to work at home. With the potential employment opportunities that are emerging with the mining sector, there’s a very positive chance there will be [a demand for skilled workers],” added Marinaro.
“And be it mining sector or not, these are transferable skills that can be used in many areas,” he said, clarifying that the partnership specifically is with Taranis Training, not Taranis Contracting Group.
With NDC having become involved in ventures ranging from security to drilling to name but two, Marinaro said NDC has to build a pool of employees for each of the different sectors, and this is one of them.
He added the whole district economy benefits by having more skilled workers.
Marinaro pointed out that Taranis Training has Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities accreditation, which means they are committed to specific guidelines and standards which are put in place to ensure trainees receive proper training, and that, along with the fact Taranis Training is regional, was key in NDC’s decision to partner with them.
Taranis Training director of recruitment and training Mike Hummel noted there’s a lot of work available in the region without having to go out west. In addition to the burgeoning mining sector, the transferable skills provided by Taranis Training prepare those trained to work in road construction, sewer and water, building demolition, and more.
“We’re very fortunate that the Taranis Training School is owned by Taranis Contracting Group, so with that comes the expertise of being owned by an actual construction company. And therefore we have the ability and skills to train new people entering that field. Our expertise is being in the construction field ourselves,” he added.
“And that’s something that NDC looked on very positively, in the sense that, you’re being educated by people actually in the business,” noted Marinaro.
“It’s one of the things that separates us from the other schools, is that factor,” mentioned Hummel.
Marinaro said that in addition to being a division of Taranis Contracting Group, a lot of the other contractors will hire those trained by Taranis Training because they know they’re trained well.
“One of the things we do for our potential clients when they come to us is we can actually provide them with different documents from different companies that they do acknowledge us as a training school, they have hired our former students, and they will continue to hire our graduates,” explained Hummel.
“There’s a very good track record,” he added. “Virtually everybody that we have trained thusfar has been able to find a job, and I think there’s only one individual that did go out west out of all the people we’ve trained so far, and he did that of his own accord. He was offered a job locally, but he wanted to a total lifestyle change, so he opted to go out west.”
Hummel said Taranis is fortunate to work with NDC, as the latter has the ability to reach out to people in this area far better than they would be able to in the marketing of their programs.
“We’re very happy that they’ve chosen us to work with,” he added.
NDC president Gary Councillor said the new partnership is “a good thing,” adding NDC is fulfilling its mandate to train Aboriginal and non-native residents alike.
Those interested in finding out how to access training through NDC and Taranis can contact NDC office manager Candace Bagacki.
Hummel noted there are many ways people can access funding for training, and Taranis can help them out if individuals do not know how.
This latest venture is just one of several NDC has taken on in the past year or so, with the others including NDC Food Services Divison, NDC Synterra Security Solutions, and Arrowhead Gold Drilling.
NDC also has teamed up with Saulteaux Consulting & Engineering, opening an office at 242 Scott St., and partnered with local “World of Water” franchisees Brian and Pia Beers, and Lillian Gerley at The UPS Store.
NDC also offers a wide range of consulting services, and in partnership with Can-Op (Thunder Bay), can provide for any commercial fuel needs including providing for fuel needs at remote locations.
As well, C&O Logging is a an Aboriginal-owned and operated forest harvesting company founded through NDC in 1992, which offers a range of forest harvesting services and provides employment for Naicatchewenin First Nation members.
For more information on any of these, contact NDC at its Fort Frances office, located at 242 Scott St., or by calling (807) 274-6136.