Google Canada supporting free IT training for Indigenous job seekers
Google Canada announced it is handing out $600,000 in support of Indigenous job seekers.
The majority of the funding will go to ComIT’s ‘Recoding Futures’ program that offers free IT training to First Nations, Metis, and Inuit while $100,000 goes to Indspire’s education and job training programs, with a portion of that money going toward Google career certificate scholarships.
The partnership between Google Canada and ComIT began in early 2021 with a $250,000 grant from the tech giant. Now that the grant has been doubled for 2022, ComIT founder Pablo Listingart said, “we can scale and reach out to more people."
ComIT has been offering free IT training to unemployed and underemployed Canadians since 2017, and with more than 1,000graduates, the charity boasts an employment rate of up to 70 per cent within the first six months.
The idea of creating an additional program targeting Indigenous job seekers came while Listingart, who is originally from Argentina, was studying for his Canadian citizenship test. He learned about the history of Indigenous people in Canada and thought, "I should be doing something, I should be helping people."
"Indigenous people are completely under-represented in technology and we need to do something about it," he said.
The first run of 'Recoding Futures' was met with enthusiasm.
"We went from thinking maybe five or six people might be interested, to suddenly having 800 registrations," Listingart said.
Ultimately, the program admitted 450 Indigenous students.
The online program is broken up into two courses. The first is a one-month introductory course covering topics like HTML, CSS and Javascript. This is followed by a more specialized three-month course that allows students the flexibility to follow along on their own time.
David Patterson is Metis and was among the first round of 'Recoding Futures' graduates. Patterson was weighing his options in pursuing higher education, but said many of the courses were cost prohibitive. When he came across ComIT's program, he said it was exactly what he was looking for.
"I've had a lot of time to study and I've had time to work at the same time too."
Dr. Michael Hart, vice-provost of Indigenous Engagement at the University of Calgary, said ComIT's program is a great first step in addressing the digital divide faced by Indigenous communities.
"We do not have generations of people being involved in IT who could pass on that knowledge, so a program like this creates more awareness of all the amazing opportunities that are out there."
He said having the right partnerships in place is key to the success of a program geared toward Indigenous people of Canada.
"For this program, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and Indspire are familiar with First Nations, Metis and Inuit communities and can provide insight on the needs of these communities."
For more information on any of ComIT's free IT training programs, visit their website here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s has linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
Toronto eliminated from PWHL playoffs
Toronto has been eliminated from the PWHL playoffs.
Information commissioner faces $700K funding shortfall, says system is 'overwhelmed'
Canada's information commissioner says her office is facing a $700,000 funding shortfall that could impact its ability to investigate complaints about government transparency and accountability.
B.C. man 'attacked suddenly' by adult grizzly near Alberta boundary: RCMP
A B.C. man is recovering from multiple injuries after he was "attacked suddenly" by an adult grizzly bear near Elkford Thursday afternoon.
Backlash over NFL player Harrison Butker's commencement speech has reached a new level
The NFL is distancing itself from controversial comments by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker during a recent commencement address.
Dabney Coleman, actor who specialized in curmudgeons, dies at 92
Dabney Coleman, the mustachioed character actor who specialized in smarmy villains like the chauvinist boss in '9 to 5' and the nasty TV director in 'Tootsie,' has died. He was 92.
Craig Berube named as next head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have named Craig Berube as their new head coach.