ABORIGINAL EDUCA TION @ KEY ANO COLLEGE

A B O R I G I N A L E D U C AT I O N @ K E YA N O C O L L E G E
20
11
YOURS
MINE
OURS
LET’S BUILD A BETTER
ENERGY FUTURE.
LET’S GO.
Shell Albian Sands and its joint venture owners,
Chevron and Marathon, proudly support
aboriginal education.
That’s why we recently invested more than
$2 million in Keyano College to support eight
major initiatives and programs, including
the Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Certificate
Program and a new campus in Fort Chipewyan.
You are our new energy future.
829804
Shell Canada Limited
full page · fp
IFC
Shell Canada Energy is 60% owner and operator of the Athabasca Oil Sands Project (AOSP) along with Chevron Canada Limited (20%) and Marathon Oil Canada Corporation (20%). AOSP
includes Shell Albian Sands (Muskeg River Mine & Jackpine Mine) and the Scotford Upgrader.
Contacts
Table of Contents
Do you have questions?
Don’t hesitate to give us a call.
One of our knowledgeable staff members
can help you with everything Keyano.
Clearwater Campus (main)
780-791-4800
(Toll-Free: 1-800-251-1408)
Fort Chipewyan Campus
780-697-3767
5 Message from Keyano College President
7 Community
8 Map and Campuses
8 Map
9 Fort McMurray
Regional Learning Centres
Conklin Learning Centre
780-559-2434
Fort McKay (Dorothy McDonald Learning
Centre)
780-828-4433
Gregoire Lake Learning Centre
780-334-2559
Janvier Learning Centre
780-559-2047
Academic Advice & Program Information
780-791-4801
Aboriginal Education Chairperson
780-791-8967
Awards & Scholarships Office
780-791-4894
Bookstore
780-791-4960
Lifelong Learning Division
780-791-4856
Office of the Registrar
780-791-4801
([email protected])
KCSA
780-791-4950
Keyano Theatre Box Office
780-791-4990
Library
780-791-4917
Syncrude Sport & Wellness Centre
780-791-7792
Used Bookstore
780-791-8978
10 Fort Chipewyan
12 Learning Centres
12 Conklin
13 Fort McKay
14 Gregoire Lake
15 Janvier
17 Programming
25 Keyano Services
26 Aboriginal Scholarships and Awards
27 Community Investment
Yours, Mine, Ours—Aboriginal Education @ Keyano College was produced by Keyano’s Marketing & Communications
team and JuneWarren-Nickle’s Energy Group in partnership with Keyano’s Aboriginal Education department.
KEYANO COLLEGE
JUNEWARREN-NICKLE’S ENERGY GROUP
Publisher
Russell Thomas
President & CEO
Bill Whitelaw
[email protected]
Editor & Project Manager
Heather Rice
Writer
Kiran Malik-Khan
Contributors
Cathy Davis-Herbert, Janet Lowndes,
Sharon Shultz, Natasha John-Hurford
Graphic Design Coordinator
Robyn Shilling
Photographer
Sean McLennan
Publisher
Agnes Zalewski
[email protected]
Director of Sales
Rob Pentney
[email protected]
Editor
Chaz Osburn
Editorial Assistance
Laura Blackwood, Marisa Kurlovich, Kyle Thompson
Calgary:
2nd Flr. 816-55 Avenue NE
Calgary, AB T2E 6Y4
Tel: (403) 209-3500
Fax: (403) 944-9500
Toll-free: 1-800-387-2446
Edmonton:
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Edmonton, AB T6E 6V6
Tel: (780) 944-9333
Fax: (780) 944-9500
Toll-free: 1-800-563-2946
Graphic Designers
Lyuba Kirkova, Peter Markiw
Sales Account Representative
Philip Enarson
Westbrier Communications
A B O R I G I N A L E D U C AT I O N
3
You see the possibilities.
You’ve been inspired to learn and grow. Aboriginal communities in northeastern Alberta are fortunate to have access to
stellar programming, services and training at Keyano College. Suncor Energy shares this commitment to student success
and community development. Your potential is unlimited. It all begins with seeing what’s possible.
Find out more about Suncor’s track record and how we are planning to responsibly develop North America’s energy supply. www.suncor.com/sustainability
energy
innovation
commitment
TM
Trademark of Suncor Energy Inc.
Suncor: Keyano College – Yours, Mine, Ours SEI-11-0943: Full page (8” x 10-3/4” page trim), bleeds, 4c. KLVC final, March 15, 2011.
11.
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Message
from
Keyano
College
President
W
elcome to the second edition of Yours, Mine, Ours, which contains a number of fascinating
stories of inspiration, passion and determination from current students, graduates, recruits
and community members. Our wish is that through these stories and the overview of Keyano College,
we will make education both more interesting and achievable for you. Perhaps you will see yourself in
one of the people profiled and/or one of our programs will pique your interest. We hope that we are able
to inspire you to take an educational journey with us.
Students in Fort Chipewyan will soon have a new campus to help them on their journey. We are in the
process of constructing a state-of-the-art Keyano College campus in our northernmost location where
we have been providing quality educational opportunities for years. We began by offering programs
from trailers and then through rented space in the community’s multiplex. As you will learn in this
publication, we thought it was time to build a permanent home for Keyano in Fort Chipewyan.
While our northern community has grown and changed, so has Keyano College. Our programming is
relevant and our commitment to our communities remains firm. We will not falter in our commitment
and we will continue to investigate new opportunities that will allow us to provide better services and
training to our communities.
We could not establish and maintain the level of services that we provide without the support of
our community, government, industry and post-secondary partners. We thank you for your continued
support of our College and its students, and we look forward to working with you on new initiatives in
the future.
I hope that you enjoy this edition of Yours, Mine, Ours as much as we did putting it together for you.
Dr. Kevin Nagel
President & CEO
A B O R I G I N A L E D U C AT I O N
5
Canadian Natural
Resources Limited
H ORIZON O IL S ANDS
702792
Canadian Natural Resources Limited
full Helping
page ·build
fp
p 6 futures
brighter
Canadian Natural believes in the power of a quality education and giving students
access to opportunities that will allow them to forge a successful career path.
Our company supports students through a number of initiatives, one of which is our
Building Futures Scholarship Program. It has provided financial assistance to hundreds
of students living in a variety of communities near our operations. We’re proud to play
a role in helping young people build brighter futures.
To learn more about Canadian Natural and our educational initiatives please visit www.cnrl.com
Community
yours mine ours yours mine ours
According to the 2008 census, some 103,334 people live
in Wood Buffalo, and the population of Aboriginal people
(12 per cent, according to the 2006 Municipal Census)
represents one of the largest and fastest growing groups
in the region. Here are some other things to know about
the community.
INDUSTRY
The main industry in Wood Buffalo is oil production from the worldfamous Athabasca oil sands. According to The Oil Sands Developers
Group Survey Results (May 2010):
• Wood Buffalo Aboriginal companies performed over $711 million in
contract work with oil sands companies in 2009. Over the past 11 years,
Aboriginal companies have earned over $3.7 billion.
• In 2009, over 1,600 Aboriginal people were employed by the oil sands
industry in permanent operations jobs in the Wood Buffalo region (not
including construction jobs).
As oil sands projects continue to expand within the region and workers
are lost to attrition, the industry will require thousands of skilled
individuals for new, permanent operations and construction sector
employment opportunities.
KEYANO COLLEGE
In order to have a meaningful impact in Aboriginal communities, we must
first and foremost be members of those communities. That is why Keyano
continues to operate campuses in Fort McMurray and Fort Chipewyan,
as well as learning centres in Conklin, Fort McKay, Gregoire Lake and
Janvier. Because of our permanent presence within these communities,
Keyano is able to employ a network of educators and professionals who
are connected to the communities they serve and are providing vital
educational access to Aboriginal people in remote and isolated areas of
our province.
PARTNERS IN EDUCATION
By working with partners in government, industry, the community
and other post-secondary institutions, we are offering unparalleled
programming, services and training right here in Wood Buffalo.
Furthermore, Keyano cannot ignore the impact it has on community
development. Our Corporate Training division continues to grow in
response to the tremendous training needs of industry, and we will
continue to collaborate with our partners to improve the quality of life
for all residents of our wonderful region. ■
A B O R I G I N A L E D U C AT I O N
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Map
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Wood Buffalo:
a closer look
The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is home to
Keyano College. Stretching from north-central Alberta to
the borders of Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories,
Wood Buffalo is one of the largest municipalities in North
America. Major communities served by Keyano College
include Fort McMurray, Fort McKay, Fort Chipewyan,
Gregoire Lake, Anzac, Janvier and Conklin.
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Ca
urs
Campuses
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FORT MCMURRAY
This diverse and growing community located approximately 450 kilometres north of Edmonton is Wood
Buffalo’s largest community with a population of more than 90,000.
Clearwater Campus (main)—Located in the heart of downtown Fort McMurray, this campus houses the
majority of Keyano’s classrooms, as well as administration and housing. It is also home to the Keyano College
Theatre & Art Centre, the Syncrude Sport & Wellness Centre and the Suncor Learning Innovation Centre.
Suncor Energy Industrial Campus—Located in the MacKenzie Industrial Park, this campus is home to Keyano’s
many heavy equipment and industrial programs.
Leonard
Gauthier
For The Love Of Music And
Making A Difference
L
eonard Gauthier’s eyes sparkle as he talks about helping young
people and music. His salt and pepper hair dances in the light as he
remembers long ago dreams of being a social worker and his history with
Keyano College.
A proud Métis born and raised in Fort McMurray, Leonard, 58, first
attended Keyano College in 1971 when it was known as the Alberta Vocational
Training Centre. He eventually completed the Business Administration
Program, spent several years trying out various things including a timekeeper
role with Suncor Energy, and decided to return to Keyano to take the Heavy
Equipment Program.
“I kept hearing stories of how much money people were making in the
trades. I knew that going back to Keyano was my ticket.”
“At one point I thought I should get into social work,” he recalls. “People
didn’t work with youth a lot when I was growing up. I did become a social
worker, and I’ve ended up in a position where I feel I can make a positive
difference with young people.”
Today, Leonard works in Edmonton for the Alberta Government’s Energy
Department as a manager in the Aboriginal Relations branch working on
maximizing economic participation. In that role, and for the past decade, his
professional journey has given him the chance to assist young Aboriginals in
the region achieve their dreams.
“My experiences and education have given me knowledge that I’m able to
pass along to our youth. I love it.”
Another thing that Leonard loves is music and it has been a constant
through the many changes in his life. When he was younger, he participated
in and won several local talent shows and even appeared on television. In 1981,
he was invited to sing for Native Nashville North, a talent show for upcoming
singers. Long-time Wood Buffalo residents probably have strong memories
of his band Air Borne.
“We played in Fort Chipewyan, Janvier and at the former Riviera Hotel,”
he shares. “We were singing and jigging—both mainstream and Aboriginal
cultures were reflected in our performances. Music is what I go to when I’m
happy and when I’m sad.”
There was a time in the annals of our region’s history when Air Borne was
so popular that it inspired long lineups that began hours before gigs. Leonard
recalled one booking when he arrived at the venue and the doorman wouldn’t
let him in. He had to wait until the manager discovered him in line.
For the last three years, Leonard has been involved with Keyano’s
Environmental Monitoring Program steering committee. The Department
of Energy provides two scholarships to qualifying Keyano students. He
volunteers for the Apeetogosan, a money-lending Métis group’s Board,
and also sits on the Board of Directors for Bosco Homes and the Alberta
Congress Board. And, although he now resides in the province’s capital, his
eyes sparkle when he speaks of Wood Buffalo.
“I still consider Fort McMurray home. My friends are here and I still
appreciate the many things I learned because of Keyano College.” ■
A B O R I G I N A L E D U C AT I O N
9
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FORT ChipewYAn CAMpUs
Keyano College’s service to the community of Fort Chipewyan started in January 1977, and over the years our
institute has resided in a number of different locations. Today, Keyano is nearing completion of its own campus
in order to provide an environment that is more conducive to adult learning. This new adult learning space will
also allow us to expand programming and deliver more community-driven programs in a greater variety of
learning areas such as health, education and trades, through partnerships with community-based institutions
and organizations. The access and quality will be supported with new innovative technologies to give students
a window on the world.
Construction of the new facility has been made possible by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, The
Imperial Oil Foundation, Shell Canada, Total E&P Canada Ltd, Keyano College Foundation, Mikisew Cree First
Nation, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and the Métis Nation of Alberta.
Darrell
Piche
Helping One Person at a Time
R
ound two—that’s what Darrell Piche calls his new life after
he almost died eight years ago because of alcohol. That spin
cycle is now over, and last year he was named Fort Chipewyan’s Male
Citizen of the Year and received a Regional Aboriginal Recognition
Award (RARA).
Sitting in Keyano’s Fort Chipewyan Campus, Darrell, who is a member of
the Mikisew Cree band, recalls his dark days with courage. Born to alcoholic
parents 36 years ago, he raised himself and by 22 had completely succumbed
to the lifestyle he had grown up watching.
“I took it too far. I thought I could handle the world, and then the world
came crashing down on me,” he says quietly.
On an exceptionally cold night when temperatures dropped to -40°
Celsius, Darrell collapsed drunk on the street and was certain he would die. If
a friend hadn’t spotted him, he wouldn’t be sharing his story today. Not only
did Darrell give up alcohol after that incident, but he swore to help others as
well. He says he does it one person at a time, alone, without a strategy.
“I pray when I want to do something. That’s how I start. I don’t do group
stuff. I’m a loner. It’s a challenge because alcohol is so accessible. To help
someone with an alcohol problem is insulting them, so I try to get them
on my side. I take them food and help with chores. It’s slow but steady.”
10 K E YA N O C O L L E G E 2 0 1 1
As he was turning his life around, he had the support of his family and
parents, who also quit drinking. Returning to school became a priority.
Darrell joined Keyano College for Upgrading and graduated in 2009.
“It was fun, hard and scary. This was my third crack at school. I just wanted
to see if I could do it. I was the first one here and the last one out most days. I
had 95 per cent attendance,” he shares proudly.
Darrell also keeps an eye out for students thinking about dropping out. He
is always there to counsel them.
“People who quit school or think about it drive me that much harder,” he
says with uncanny force.
Whether it’s helping fellow students or community members, Darrell
always goes beyond the call of duty, and his recent RARA award is proof that
this inspiring man’s commitment to bettering his community has not gone
unnoticed. Before a crowd of 550 people including his parents, his wife Kelly
and other family members, Darrell was honoured as a hero who believes in
giving back.
“It was great to get the award. I didn’t think I was seen that way;
I was shocked. My reward is knowing that the people I help are safe
now. I have only two people to thank for everything I am today and
they are my parents.” ■
Proud Supporter of
Yours, Mine, Ours:
Aboriginal Education
at Keyano College
Total is proud to contribute to the
bright future of Keyano College
www.total-ep-canada.com
Our energy is your energy
Learning Centres
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CONKLIN
Located 140 kilometres southeast of Fort McMurray, Conklin offers its 400 residents, mostly of Métis descent,
a quiet lifestyle in a close-knit community.
The Conklin Learning Centre has the technology and capacity to host 15 full-time students. Since opening
its doors just over a decade ago, the Learning Centre has grown to offer Trades Preparation and Continuing
Education training opportunities, as well as being Conklin’s access hub for eCampusAlberta and its AlbertaNorth Community Access Point.
Lena
McCallum
Doing it all at 66
L
ena McCallum wanted to write better letters, so she enrolled at
Keyano’s Conklin Learning Centre. She now advises every Conklin
resident to join the College.
“The things I get myself into at 66,” she laughs.
You would never guess her age if she didn’t tell you. Strong and
active, Lena was building a shed when she greeted me by her log cabin,
a two-bedroom unit she built with her own hands in 1977. Her father
and brother helped, but it’s mostly her handiwork. It’s where she raised
her four children. The family later moved into a house next door that
had modern amenities.
“When I create something, it’s a part of me. It’s just great,” she continues.
Born and raised in Conklin, Lena is Métis. She worked in the construction
labour field for the oil sands and was even a firefighter for the forestry
department in Fort McMurray, where she moved in 1964.
“I came back home in 1977,” she says.
Life became busy. After she raised her children, she raised four
grandchildren, who went on to be successful and educated individuals.
“I wanted their well-being, so I jumped in to raise them; I enabled them,”
says Lena.
This year, one of her grandchildren enrolled in Keyano’s Power
Engineering program, and another is working for Syncrude Canada Limited.
It was the sudden death of her granddaughter in 2006 that ignited one of
Lena’s passions. Tessa, a 22-year-old Keyano student on her way to becoming
an electrician, was returning home from an evening at the beach with friends
when she and another 24-year-old young woman were killed in an all-terrain
vehicle crash.
12 K E YA N O C O L L E G E 2 0 1 1
“I think people find it
crazy that I went back to
school. Keyano is full of
opportunities; I wonder
why I didn’t do it earlier.”
“My girl was killed by boys on a stolen quad,” Lena recalls, fighting back
tears. It is healing to talk about the incident, she says.
Soon after, she began volunteering for Life Works, a Calgary-based
addictions counselling group. She began setting up loss and grief workshops
in Conklin. One of Lena’s lifelong dreams is to build an addictions healing
centre by the lake in Conklin.
As she works towards that dream, Lena is keeping herself busy by
working evenings as Keyano’s interim Alberta-North Community Access
Point Coordinator at the Conklin Learning Centre, and she is indeed writing
better letters.
“My letters are more formal now and without run-on sentences,” she
says matter-of-factly. “I think people find it crazy that I went back to school.
Keyano is full of opportunities; I wonder why I didn’t do it earlier.” ■
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Fort MCKAY
Fort McKay is a bustling community of 900 residents overlooking the Athabasca River just 55 kilometres north
of Fort McMurray. Recreation and employment opportunities abound in this scenic community. Proximity to the
oil sands makes industry the primary employment source for the community, although some members pursue
seasonal forestry, hunting and trapping.
The Dorothy McDonald Learning Centre has the capacity to accommodate 20 full-time students and provides
upgrading opportunities for trades, technology and various other programming. It serves as the Alberta-North
Community Access Point for the community.
Dayle
Hyde
Community, Art and Children—
A Rainbow of Passions
I
t was an unseasonably cold and wet day when I arrived in Fort McKay
to visit with Dayle Hyde, Training and Development Officer for Fort
McKay First Nations —and the subject of our cover story for this edition of
Yours, Mine, Ours. While the air outside was less than friendly, I was instantly
warmed by Dayle’s contagious laughter and welcoming spirit.
As we began to get acquainted, I learned about her life growing up in this
small rural community and her unbridled passion for art, children and the
people of Fort McKay.
Dayle is the middle child of the late Dorothy McDonald, Fort McKay’s wellknown former Chief and namesake of the Keyano College Fort McKay Learning
Centre, and Rod Hyde, who was with the Fort McKay School for 31 years, first as
a teacher, then later as a principal. She has an older sister and a younger brother.
As Dayle took us back into the early chapters of her life, she shared
stories of her mother’s courage, determination and undying zeal to better her
community.
“My mom used to say you need guts of steel to be a Chief—she
was fearless,” says Dayle. “I’m not fearless, but I’m happy to work for my
community and my family—these are the people I grew up with and they
mean a lot to me.”
Her relationship with Keyano College goes back to 1993 when Dayle
was only 13. She wanted to pursue her passion for art and took a class
just to see where things would go. The inspiration to say something
with pictures and colours came from watching Mr. Dressup, a popular
children’s television show.
“I loved the part where he would tell a story and draw. I must have
drawn a thousand princesses as a child, inspired by him,” she laughs.
She returned to Keyano College to study Visual Art & Design after
graduating from high school in 1999. She would do so again in 2003 and most
recently in 2008.
“Garry Berteig, Marie Leduc and Robin Smith-Peck helped me hone my skills,”
Dayle recalls.
“Art is very personal; there’s always a risk that someone won’t like it.”
There is no question that Dayle is an accomplished artist as I glance up at a
stunning, brightly hued wall-size mural she painted in the preschool classroom
where we enjoyed our visit. This room once housed the school library, a room
where Dayle developed a love of language, stories and imagery.
Her inspiration for the mural comes from local scenery.
“When you enter Fort McKay and cross the little bridge, this is the scene on
your right. The tall trees and the river—Fort McKay is my home and passion.”
Recalling her days as a teacher in the same room (she was the Early Literacy
Assistant in the Fort McKay School for two years) she says she enjoyed every
day. It’s the one place, she says, where “every day was different and you could be
creative daily.”
“Something about children is engaging,” she emphasizes.
Education has been a constant theme in Dayle’s life. She always wanted to
pursue a degree in Native Studies even though she was told at a young age that it
wasn’t an “employable” path to follow. She proved otherwise.
She graduated last year with a Bachelor’s degree in Native Studies with a
minor in Art & Design from the University of Alberta. Her view looking back on a
life of learning is profound and inspiring.
“You persevere through education. Anything new is scary, but if you have a
plan, you can accomplish your goals.” ■
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Learning Centres
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GreGoire Lake
In between Gregoire Lake Provincial Park and Anzac is the community of Gregoire Lake, home to the Fort
McMurray First Nation #468 and the Gregoire Lake Learning Centre. Located on the very shores of Gregoire
Lake, the 250 residents have access to numerous outdoor activities. Residents travel to the nearby community
of Anzac for community events, recreational activities and services.
The Gregoire Lake Learning Centre has upgraded technology and the capacity to host 15 full-time students. It is
also the Alberta-North Community Access Point serving the immediate area.
Tanya
Donovan
Her Playground and Happy Place—
The Environment
T
anya Donovan’s early childhood memories go back to being at
one with her environment. As a two-year-old in diapers, she
skinned beaver hides with moose bone. At four, she made drums in
her grandfather’s shed, and later, at the age of seven, she collected
tree seed cones by the pail and sold them to forestry companies
for $5 a pop. Tanya’s relationship with nature goes back more than
three decades and the bond has only solidified with time.
The 2008 Valedictorian of Keyano’s Environmental Monitoring
Program, Tanya is currently working as an Instructor Aide and
Community Access Point Coordinator for Alberta-North at the
College’s Gregoire Lake Learning Centre. The environment is still a
big part of her life, and she says the training she received at Keyano
has enhanced this passion exponentially.
“A tree is not a tree anymore. Dirt is more than earth beneath
our feet. Keyano’s program has given me a newfound respect for
everything around me and beyond. I’m more aware of legislation
that surrounds environmental issues. It has made a big difference
in my life,” enthuses Tanya, 33.
Pursuing post-secondary education was not an easy decision
for her. You would never guess it in a million years, but the
talkative, social Tanya used to be painfully shy. She was so shy
that the day after Keyano Orientation Day in 1995, she withdrew
from classes.
“I was intimidated. I just didn’t want to leave my comfort
zone. I felt college was going to be too much responsibility,”
she recalls.
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After a brief stint in the oil sands industry, a friend recommended
Keyano’s Environmental Monitoring Program. Beverly Knibb, Keyano’s
EMP Coordinator, sold her on the initiative.
“A major reason for joining the program was that it was tailored
for Aboriginal people. It was comfortable. I was told that I instantly
took on a leadership role, but I see it as mothering and nurturing. I
know what shy people go through, and I just wanted to help.”
Originally from Anzac, Tanya is an only child, but comes from a
very big Cree and Irish family.
“My family is my passion. My grandfather was Irish and my
grandmother was Cree. We are a very close family. My mom is my rock. I
am everything I am because of her, and always want to make her proud.”
Being an only child also meant spending a lot of time outdoors,
which is where Tanya’s passion for the environment stems from.
Her mother had a rule: if Tanya said, “I’m bored,” she would find her
something to do like scrub the walls or floors.
“So I knew how to keep myself busy. I swam in the lake a lot. These
woods were my hiding place. I would pick mint here,” she notes as she
walks barefoot at Anzac Campgrounds, by Camp Yogi.
Yet another of Tanya’s interests is working with Aboriginal
youth. She volunteers at the First Nations band office, and assists in
organizing and implementing sports and cultural activities for youth,
so she can “nurture the dreamer in them.”
“I want young Aboriginal people to know their environment—the
importance of sweet grass, drums, powwow dancing and the Cree
language. It’s all so beautiful and it’s all right here for us.” ■
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JANvIeR
Janvier, a hamlet located 100 kilometres south of Fort McMurray, is a community of almost 200 people,
mostly Métis, and is home to the Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation. Over the past few years, employment
opportunities have been on the rise as gas and oil sands activity has increased in the region.
The Janvier Learning Centre is located within the community’s beautiful log cabin–style multiplex, and has the
capacity to host 25 full-time students. It is the Alberta-North Community Access Point and the portal to online learning
opportunities through eCampusAlberta.
Aaron
Cardinal
Kicking it up a Notch with Confidence
and Honour
A
aron Cardinal knows he is a role model in the Janvier community.
He is proud of this fact, and he strives to keep that reputation.
A local celebrity of sorts, Aaron, 21, is well known in the region for his
one-foot high kick, an Aboriginal northern sport where participants must
kick an object, suspended at a measured distance from the ground, with
one foot.
Aaron’s highest kick so far is 8 feet 6 inches, and if you think that’s not too
difficult, give it a try. Watching Aaron, however, will make you think it’s easy.
We are outdoors at Keyano’s Janvier log cabin, a beautiful facility. It is a
perfectly sunny day to learn about northern games and a young man who
knows what he wants from life.
Aaron sets up a kickstand, complete with what looks like a convex ball
suspended from a hook. Deep concentration fills his oval face. He approaches
the suspended object, his loose navy blue shirt swaying in the gentle breeze,
and touches the suspended ball ever so slightly.
He steps back, his sockless feet keeping rhythm with his heart, and runs
at the kickstand; he lands on the same foot he kicks with and maintains his
balance, a requirement of the game. He has executed the kick majestically
and satisfaction marks his face.
Named to Team Alberta North last year, Aaron, who has a Dene
background, represented the province at the 2010 Arctic Winter Games in
Grande Prairie.
“I started competing in the 2006 Arctic Winter Games, held in the Kenai
Peninsula in Alaska. I won the bronze for the sledge jump, another Aboriginal
[northern] sport. I jumped over 10 boxes [sledges]. The Russians broke the
record that year,” says Aaron, his voice laden with disappointment.
“I know how the kids out
there feel and what they
are going through.”
He recovers quickly and volunteers to demonstrate another one-foot high
kick, this time increasing the height. After yet another amazing performance,
we head inside, where Aaron opens up about his experience at Keyano
College and his community involvement.
Aaron enrolled in Keyano’s Academic Foundations program in 2008. In
the fall of 2009, he returned to start the College Preparation program and
during the spring semester was invited to demonstrate his one-foot high
kick at Keyano’s annual Aboriginal Awareness Day. He loves working with
his hands, and after graduation he plans to work for Syncrude Canada
Limited as a welder or scaffolder. His ultimate goal is to one day operate
his own trades business.
When he isn’t busy with sports or school, working with youth is a priority
for Aaron. He volunteers for a number of youth initiatives in Janvier and was
even hired as a youth leader last year.
“I know how the kids out there feel and what they are going through,” he
shares. “I want to help them by organizing year-round activities. It keeps
them busy and out of trouble. I am successful, and I hope my story touches
and inspires other youth.” ■
A B O R I G I N A L E D U C AT I O N
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533962
Sawridge Inn & Conference Centre
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• 188 Guest Rooms including
Executive & Honeymoon Suites
• Business Class Rooms
• Hearthstone Grille Restaurant
• State-of-the-art Conference
Centre accommodating 10 to 800
• Hearthstone Lounge
• Indoor Atrium with heated Pool
and Jacuzzi Tub
• Business Centre
• Fitness Centre
• Spacious Parking
• Perfectly Divine
Day Spa
Programming
AboriginAl Child & FAmily ServiCeS
AboriginAl entrepreneurShip
environmentAl monitoring
SynCrude AboriginAl trAdeS prepArAtion
ACAdemiC upgrAding
generAl
Programming
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AbORIGINAL ChILD &
FAMILY SeRvICeS
This program, offered through a partnership with Yellowhead
Tribal College in Edmonton, addresses the concerns of First
Nations, Métis and urban Aboriginals as they respond to the
redesign of family and social services for children and families as
well as the move by First Nations people to provide local control
for social programs. At Keyano College, all of the Aboriginal
Child & Family Services courses emphasize the influence that
family, health and culture have on child development. Students
learn practical skills to provide help as qualified child and family
services employees. Keyano College is proposing two new
diplomas that integrate best practices and learnings from the
Aboriginal Child & Family Services (ACFS) programming. The
proposed Social Work and Community Development, Wellness
and Addictions diplomas draw on the history of ACFS to create
new models that will respond to the human service needs of our
vibrant region.
Charlene
Boucher
Aboriginal Child & Family Services Recruit
S
he sat quietly right next to the entrance as we entered the Dorothy
McDonald Learning Centre in Fort McKay, not even looking up as
we asked for her at the front desk. Charlene Boucher is a person of few
words, but when she speaks you can’t help but take notice.
“We may not have it all together, but together we have it all,” she said,
sharing her mantra early into our conversation.
A graduate of Keyano’s College Preparation Program, Charlene has
continued her educational journey this year with our Aboriginal Child & Family
Services Program offered in Edmonton.
The road to post-secondary education has been paved with
challenges for Charlene—challenges she is proud to have overcome.
Low self-esteem coupled with trouble at home saw her drop
out of school at 15. It took another 15 years for her to realize the
consequences of that decision.
“I want the youth to
know a lot of people are
out there to help....”
18 K E YA N O C O L L E G E 2 0 1 1
Born and raised in Fort McKay, Charlene is a member of the Fort McKay
First Nation. When she was growing up, other things overshadowed the
benefits of staying in school.
“I just wanted to be out and partying,” recalls Charlene, 32. The memory
brings more pain than pleasure as she fidgets with her scrapbook clutched
in her hands, recalling the recent decision to make a change. She decided to
go back to school and enrolled at Keyano College, determined to finish what
she started all those years ago.
“I was shy and thought I wasn’t capable of doing this. I almost
dropped out again because of Biology,” she shares, a frown
punctuating her face.
“Never drop out of school. It’s harder to go back at 30. You have to push
yourself so hard.”
Despite the inherent challenges of returning to school as a mature
student, there was lots of support at the Fort McKay Learning Centre,
an Alberta-North Community Access Point. According to Charlene,
staff members like Linda Mason and Parminder Disange (Instructor and
Instructor Aide, respectively) were critical in her success, as was Janet
Lowndes, who heads the Aboriginal Education Department at the College.
“If it wasn’t for their constant encouragement, I probably wouldn’t
have graduated.”
Charlene believes that the sky is the limit and has firm plans to pursue
a Bachelor’s degree in Aboriginal Child & Family Services and a career in
youth counselling.
“When I was growing up, I felt nobody was there for me to turn to,
to talk to. I want the youth to know a lot of people are out there to
help, so be yourself and don’t be afraid to ask for assistance,” shares
a determined Charlene. ■
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AbORIGINAL eNTRePReNeURShIP
Sponsored by
Shell Canada
RBC Foundation
Doug
Vidic
Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Graduate
P
assion is Doug Vidic talking about his jewellery-design and gem
business, passion is travelling around the world for the right cut
of gems, and passion is his desire to excel in the business and be on top.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that I’m going to be successful in the
gems and jewellery business,” says Doug with an ear-to-ear smile.
It’s a claim he doesn’t make lightly. Doug is only 26, but already has
about six years of research, design and travel under his belt. From Fiji
to Thailand, San Francisco, Mexico, Venezuela and Peru, Doug has been
around the world searching for just the right diamonds, rubies, emeralds
and other precious gems.
He stumbled upon the jewellery design field by sheer accident a few
years ago when he was surfing the Internet as a student at Camosun
College in Victoria, British Columbia.
“I knew right away what I wanted to do with my life. It combined my
two interests, jewellery and computers.”
His room is a veritable workshop, complete with a 42-inch computer
monitor, which has a $10,000 jewellery design software program called
Matrix, and a large virtual inventory including designs for a Montrealbased souvenir company.
Then there are his personal souvenirs from travelling the globe: a
hand-knit baby alpaca rug with a soaring eagle from Peru, a traditional
cannibal neck-breaker from Fiji (as eerie to look at as it sounds), and
sundry scrolls and maps.
Doug has a multicultural background. His mother is of
European descent and his father was half Yugoslavian and half
Métis. He moved to Fort McMurray in 2007 from Edmonton in
search of better employment and joined Keyano’s Aboriginal
Entrepreneurship Program.
Whether your business idea is opening a café, an accounting firm
or a mobile welding service, the Aboriginal Entrepreneurship
Program will allow you to seize the many opportunities
available. This program is designed to provide people in
Aboriginal business settings with the knowledge and skills to
excel in business without having to disrupt their family lives by
moving to another city or quitting their jobs. With the program
now offered online, students can choose to complete courses at
their own pace and at a time that is convenient for them.
“The whole program was
geared towards my business.
From business law to
marketing plans, everything
helped me.”
The program, Doug believes, was the edge he needed to become a
savvy businessman. He graduated last year with a 3.93 GPA, an average
he maintained throughout the two-year online program.
“The whole program was geared towards my business. From
business law to marketing plans, everything helped me. I would be so
lost without Keyano College. By the time I was done, I had a 30-page
plan ready for my business.”
And ready he is. With plans to start a jewellery business as early
as this year in Calgary, Doug is determined to excel in the industry.
With his eyes sparkling as bright as the gems he works with, Doug is
looking forward to leading the next generation of gem business owners,
with 3-D designs replacing traditional goldsmithing. His boundless
passion certainly spells success, and the silver Jaguar XJ8 Vanden Plas
in his driveway proves this. ■
A B O R I G I N A L E D U C AT I O N
19
Programming
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eNvIRONMeNTAL MONITORING
PROGRAM
Sponsored by Cenovus
Sponsored by ConocoPhillips Canada Ltd.
Living close to the land and being aware of the changes it goes through
has been part of Aboriginal culture for decades. The Environmental
Monitoring Program equips students with the skills needed to take
part in the modern processes that examine how the land is affected
by industry and individuals. Students in the Environmental Monitoring
Program will receive hands-on training through flexible and responsive
instruction, which is focused on students’ individual needs and those
expressed by industry. Students gain safety and technical skills that
are beneficial in many areas of employment in the region, as well as
specific environmental study in areas such as planning, inspection,
reclamation and waste management. Upon successful completion
of the program, students are interviewed by industry stakeholders
and participating employers, which may lead to employment as an
environmental monitor. This program is currently under review as part
of Keyano’s ongoing quality assurance practice.
“I
t’s the Aboriginal spiritual connection with the land that’s our
driving force,” says Tosha Moore. “It makes every day different
when you start out with that powerful connection. You breathe the trees,
the earth and the sky.”
Tosha shares her Aboriginal way of life enthusiastically, but it wasn’t the
first thing I noticed about her. It was her perfectly dyed and highlighted long
hair glistening in the early morning sunlight, her eggshell jacket and tan capris,
and the dreamcatcher earrings that caught my attention.
Then Tosha began to speak about education, the environment, her Métis
Cree heritage and growing up in Fort Chipewyan, and it was then that I realized
that this 32-year-old single mother has every aspect of her life together.
In fact, her passion for all these subjects not only reflects in her words, but
in her eyes as well—especially when she talks about being outdoors in Fort
Chipewyan with her father.
“Being indoors was just odd,” says Tosha, sitting comfortably at her
kitchen table.
“My father and I were very close. I used to fish with him in the summer,” she
shares, looking at her now-deceased father’s photo on the nearby wall.
This love for nature intrigued her to find out more about Keyano’s
Environmental Monitoring Program. Everything fell into place magically.
She applied on a Wednesday, got accepted on Friday and classes started the
following Monday. She graduated in 2009 and is currently working for Cenovus
as an Environmental Technician.
“I didn’t know what to expect from the Environmental Monitoring
Program. It was an instant re-connection with nature, which is my
strength. There is a difference between being an environmentalist and an
environmental steward. The latter is traditional knowledge–based. I loved
the program and I love my work now.”
20 K E YA N O C O L L E G E 2 0 1 1
Tosha
Moore
Environmental Monitoring
Program Graduate
Her work involves regulatory tasks, which include collecting
water samples, seeding and erosion control as well as keeping tabs
on wildlife. Another emerging interest of hers is to pursue Aboriginal
stakeholder relations.
Before finding her niche, Tosha also flirted with theatre. She enrolled in
Keyano’s Visual Performing & Arts Program in 1997 and performed in Narnia
and Grapes of Wrath. Next was getting to know about special education via
the Early Childhood Certificate in 2003. She wanted to be able to help her
two children who had special needs. Tosha has two boys and a girl, ages 11, 7
and 4, respectively.
An eternal student, she also completed the massage therapist course
via Alberta Massage Therapy and is a registered massage therapist, an
occupation she pursued for a while. She is planning to return to Keyano
College to combine her knowledge base with Environmental Sciences and
contemporary Aboriginal issues.
Education is the edge, she says, which is complemented by a traditional
land-use knowledge base. Her unique perspective she says comes from
being Métis.
“In the last 10 years, Keyano has allowed me to do what I love,” Tosha
emphasizes.
Tosha says the Aboriginal learning and communication style is very
different.
“An elder once told me the ears are higher than the mouth. Listening
is more important than talking. Mainstream teaching style encourages
questions, while Aboriginal learning is based on watching. Asking questions
means you are not listening.”
Highlighting these cultural differences is important for Tosha, and I have
no doubt that she will continue to be a voice for her people. ■
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Syncrude AboriginAl TrAdeS
PrePArATion ProgrAm
Sponsored by Syncrude Canada Ltd.
Sponsored by Alberta Employment and Immigration
Sponsored by Rupertsland Institute
Michael
Grandejambe
The Syncrude Aboriginal Trades Preparation Program provides
Aboriginal people with the skills to enter and succeed in
apprenticeship training and employment opportunities at
Syncrude Canada Ltd. The program builds the trainees towards
apprenticeship employment through strengthening their
essential skills, their adoption of oil sands workplace safety
culture and their academics (math, science and reading).
Augmenting this base are discussions with Aboriginal mentors
and safety professionals, safety certification courses, work
site tours and trades exploration activities. The last month
consists of a trade work placement at Syncrude Canada Ltd. For
graduates, this experience is the precursor to their employment
with Syncrude or other oil sands employers.
Syncrude Aboriginal Trades
Preparation Program Graduate
A
ccording to Michael Grandjambe, thinking about problems makes
you upset, and being upset is not the answer—so he made music
the answer to his problems.
A local celebrity, Michael, 22, is part of the Aboriginal hip-hop group Rezz
Dawgz, based in Fort McKay. They perform in different venues around town
including headlining Keyano’s annual Aboriginal Awareness Day event in 2008
and opening for hip-hop artist Kardinal Offishall at a local bar last year.
His rap name is Madd Mic—and no he’s not always mad.
“Madd means great,” he shares with a shy smile.
Rezz Dawgz was founded in 2005 by Blair Faichney (Young B). Rezz refers
to the hamlet of Fort McKay. Including Michael and Blair, there are a total of
five members: Jeremy Richards (J Rich), Ryan Faichney (K-9) and Michael’s
cousin Terry Grandjambe (G-Styles).
They are currently working on their second CD, a mixed album with rap
and love songs.
“We started out with gangster stuff, but got over it quickly. One of
my favourite songs that we wrote is ‘Bury Me Alive in Cash.’ It’s about not
having money and then coming to a point in your life when you have a lot
of it,” says Michael.
The group also performs inspirational Aboriginal songs. They know they
are role models for Aboriginal youth and try to live up to that reputation with
songs like “I Got Tradition” and “Bannock Song.”
“You have to print that moose meat and bannock are the bomb,” he insists
with a smile, adding they understand their role model status, especially in
High Level, Alberta, his hometown.
“We always take CDs and t-shirts to the youth there. We want them to
know that music is a great way to express yourself positively and relieve
stress. I would be nothing like I am now without music,” he says.
A 2010 graduate of Keyano’s Syncrude Aboriginal Trades Preparation
Program, Michael is on his way to becoming a heavy-duty mechanic and plans
to return to Keyano College for apprenticeship training.
“I used to get sick of hearing that
workinghardpaysoff.ThenItried
‘hardwork’forschoolanditreally
doespayoff.”
“I used to get sick of hearing that working hard pays off. Then I tried ‘hard
work’ for school and it really does pay off,” says Michael, who returned to
school after dropping out at 18.
“Living in Fort McMurray is expensive. I had to leave school. I regret
that now, but honestly, I didn’t want to go back to school. Now that I have,
my passion for learning is back also.”
Music has been a constant for Michael as life dipped up and down, and
so were his mother’s inspiring words. She is the reason Michael kept in touch
with his Aboriginal heritage.
“She always used to say, ‘people can push you to the limit. It’s your choice
to jump or not.’ My mom is a very strong woman. She was a single mother. I
respect her a lot, in fact I respect all women because of her.” ■
A B O R I G I N A L E D U C AT I O N
21
Programming
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ACADeMIC UPGRADING
Academic Foundations
Entry-level Academic Foundations develops skills in math, writing, reading
and computers to a Grade 5.5 level. Small groups, one-on-one instruction
and a variety of reading materials are used to meet your needs and
interests. Students may join entry-level in September or January.
The intermediate and advanced levels each offer adult language
arts and math courses between a Grade 5 .5 and Grade 9 level. These
levels operate on a typical 16-week semester with classes starting in
September and January.
Sherry
Tremblay
Upgrading Student
Pursuing her Dreams
and Making Them a Reality
College Preparation
This program is designed to meet the needs of those who wish to
upgrade their academic education. With College Preparation and the
appropriate prerequisites completed, you can enter apprenticeship,
technical, career or university programs or the workforce. College
Preparation offers Grade 10, 11 and 12 equivalency levels including
customized course prep packages that prepare you to apply for your
career program and be successful. Online options and flexible delivery
(FLEX courses) are available for selected courses.
Transitional Program
The Transitional Program aims to:
• Ease the transition from high school to employment or future education
• Provide an opportunity for young adults to experience one more year in
a structured educational environment
• Provide students with the necessary tools to be successful in school
or the workplace
• Assist students with organizational, educational and career goals
A
broken ankle couldn’t keep Sherry Tremblay from missing a
day of school. With her sights set on a career in health care,
Sherry isn’t letting anything slow her down.
“I slipped on ice and broke my right ankle last winter, and started
walking on my cast earlier than advised,” says Sherry. She refused to
use crutches, so she wouldn’t be dependent on them. “My recovery
took longer in the end,” she quietly adds.
Returning to school was a very spur-of-the-moment decision
Sherry made over two years ago. She dropped out at age 16 for
personal reasons. Then one day she awoke and felt the need to
do something more with her life. She decided to take a Keyano
placement test at the Dorothy McDonald Learning Centre in Fort
McKay even though she knew returning to school wouldn’t be easy.
“It was difficult at first, but it came back to me. I started out at
level 7 in September and had done half of my level 9 by November.
By January 2009, I was up to level 13, ahead of the class. They
were still on level 7,” recalls Sherry, 28, proudly.
Sherry admits that having her education funded by the Fort
McKay Métis Local #63 has made it much easier to pursue her
educational goals. She is very thankful for their support and
encourages other would-be students to seek out the same kind
of assistance.
22 K E YA N O C O L L E G E 2 0 1 1
“Every Métis should apply. It is very easy. All you have to do
is go and ask,” Sherry advises.
With her upgrading completed, Sherry is well on her way to
making her dreams a reality, with plans to enroll in Keyano’s
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Program—a dream she
has been pursuing for years. The inspiration came when she
was working for Bouchier Contracting on the Canadian Natural
oil sands site.
“I would watch the EMTs working on site. I loved the
uniform and the ambulance. The work just inspired me. I
always wanted to be an EMT. After I asked them a lot of
questions about the field, I became passionate about pursuing
it as a career.”
Sherry says she looks forward to the practical aspects
of being an EMT and to working in the field. She hopes that
she, too, will be working as an EMT on an oil sands site after
completing Keyano’s program. Like many other mature students,
staying close to home and her young family is important to
Sherry. She and her husband Ryan have two boys, Markus, 8, and
Hunter, 5.
“I’m very happy that Keyano offers training right here in
Wood Buffalo. I can stay at home and get the job that I want.” ■
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GeNeRAL PROGRAMMING
and Aboriginal communities, and they are developing a Contract
Continuing education
them in bidding and managing contracts within the oil sands.
From professional designations to musical theatre, Continuing
Education offers a wide range of courses to meet the needs of Wood
Buffalo residents. We have part-time studies (credit or non-credit)
in trades, academic, lifestyle, post-graduate, professional certificate
and other specialized areas. Online assessments and testing
services are also available. A complete list of offerings is available at
www.keyano.ca/calendar/coned.asp.
Corporate Training
Keyano College delivers high-quality training and consulting services
to businesses and industry. Contract Training works with Aboriginal
Education to provide training and training facilities to companies and
organizations in rural Wood Buffalo. With these two dynamic Keyano
teams working together, the College has customized leadership training
for the Fort McKay Group of Companies, brought Construction Safety
Training System to Fort Chipewyan and provided computer training in
Janvier. They are investigating delivery options to utilize a web-based
electronic tool kit in support of economic development in regional
Management Program for Aboriginal and small businesses to assist
Through this partnership, Keyano has also been able to provide
work placements for students graduating from the Construction
Craft Labourer Employability Program, professional development
opportunities for Aboriginal human services providers such as group
home workers and counsellors, and customized training for office
workers employed at Aboriginal organizations.
Learner Assistance Program
If you had to describe the Learner Assistance Program at Keyano
College succinctly, you could call it a life-changing initiative. The
program provides services to current and prospective students whose
disabilities involve any number of conditions affecting mobility, vision,
hearing, learning, and physical or mental health. The initiative has a high
retention rate because it is a community effort. Students, parents,
instructors and school boards—everyone is involved to ensure that
learners excel. Expansion of the Learner Assistance Program into the
regional campuses is in the works. ■
Connacher is committed to working with its various
stakeholders and believes in developing strong and
sustainable relationships.
774579
Connacher Oil & Gas Ltd
1/2h · hp
Connacher is an active supporter, directly and
through staff participation and involvement, in
various charitable causes in the regions in which it
conducts activities.
At the Great Divide oil sands project in northern
Alberta, exploration, development and construction
work provides local businesses an opportunity to
grow and develop alongside Connacher, as it
continues to expand its SAGD projects.
Suite 900, 332 - 6 Avenue SW
Calgary, AB Canada T2P 0B2
E: [email protected]
TSX: CLL
www.connacheroil.com
A B O R I G I N A L E D U C AT I O N
23
489760
Keyano College
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Keyano Services
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Counselling & Career Services
Aboriginal Student Centre
Students at Keyano College have a place to call their own, where they can
kick back and relax or work on a class project. The Aboriginal Student Centre
located in Room 155 of the Clearwater Campus is open to Aboriginal and nonAboriginal students and is equipped with tables, chairs, couches, computers
and beautiful Aboriginal art.
Aboriginal Counselling
Students at Keyano College have access to an Aboriginal Counsellor. The
Counselling department provides services to Aboriginal students at the
Clearwater and regional campuses. The Aboriginal Counsellor employs both
mainstream and Aboriginal methods in the counselling practice for Aboriginal
and non-Aboriginal students.
SKILL Centre
The Student Knowledge Independent Lifelong Learning (SKILL) Centre offers a
number of services:
• Tutoring and assistance with math, science and writing
• Tips for time management, study skills and exams survival
• A quiet environment to work on projects or homework
Office of the Registrar
The Office of the Registrar provides academic support services to students,
faculty, administrators and staff through supporting the mission of Keyano
College. It is committed to maintaining the confidentiality, integrity and
security of students’ academic records.
The Office of the Registrar also offers:
Academic Advising
Student Advisors are available to provide guidance to students seeking
information on credit programs, admission requirements and how to apply for
admission. The advising team also offers assistance in choosing courses and
transferability of courses and programs.
Student Awards, Scholarships, Bursaries &
Student Loans
The Financial Aid and Awards Coordinator is available to provide guidance
and information to students about different funding options as well as
student awards.
Transcripts
The Office of the Registrar maintains academic transcripts. Transcripts can be
issued upon receipt of a signed written request. Official transcripts will only be
released when students have met all their financial obligations to Keyano College.
Confirmation of Enrollment Letters
Students may obtain a letter from the Office of the Registrar verifying
their enrollment as documentation for student discounts, insurance, loan
deferments or other purposes. The request must be made in writing and
must indicate the student’s name, address, phone number and student
identification number, as well as the information to be released, the
reason for the release and the location to which the letter should be sent.
The Office of the Registrar also:
• Processes credit and Continuing Education registrations
• Processes address and name changes
• Prints fee assessments and student schedules
• Provides replacement T2202As for attendance before 2009
• Provides parchments and parchment replacements
• Processes applications to graduate
• Monitors end-of-term grade processing
• Coordinates yearly convocation
For more information on the services available from the Office of the
Registrar, contact us at (780) 791–4801, toll-free at 1–800–251–1408 or by
e-mail at [email protected]
We are open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am–4:30 pm, and are closed on
statutory holidays.
Prep Packs
Custom preparation packages are Keyano’s newest tools to help students
with academic and career preparation. These packages help students
navigate the upgrading and college preparation process and ensure
they have the prerequisites for advanced post-secondary programs and
technical or trades training.
Prep packs are available for career clusters in:
• Business
• Community & Human Services
• Engineering and Engineering Technology
• Biological, Environmental and Earth Sciences
• Health Sciences
• Power Engineering and Process Operations
• Trades and Technologies (in development) ■
A B O R I G I N A L E D U C AT I O N
25
Aboriginal Scholarships and Awards
Keyano College’s Student Awards program provides recognition and support to eligible students
for academic achievement, community involvement and financial need. The program is made
possible through generous gifts from individual and business donors, community organizations,
provincial government and the continuing efforts of the Keyano College Foundation.
ATCO electric and ATCO Power electrical Technology bursary
$1,000
Jean Family Scholarship
$1,000
ATCO Gas energy and environmental Technologies Award
$1,000
Krupp Canada Aboriginal entrepreneurship Scholarship
$1,000
ATCO Power and ATCO electric Co-Op Power engineering bursary
$1,000
Lawrence and Adele Thomson Adult education Award
$1,000
bank of Montreal Continuing education bursary
$1,000
M-I SwACO, A Schlumberger Company bursary
$500
bank of Montreal emergency Medical Technician bursary
$1,000
NIPI Services Inc. Award
$500
bert Lang Native bursary
$750
North American Construction Group bursary
$1,000
bucyrus Aboriginal woman of the North Award
$1,500
Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers Scholarship
$4,000
Shell Canada Fort Chipewyan Student Award
$1,000
Charles Martin Memorial Scholarship Award
$ 500
Chief Jim boucher Distinguished Alumnus Award
$1,000
Chief Jim boucher Ministerial Award of excellence
$1,000
ConocoPhillips Canada Award
$2,000
Donna Cyprien Award
$150
enbridge Inc. entrance bursary
$1,000
eric and Kathleen Newell Aboriginal
entrepreneurship Certificate Program Award
$1,000
Strad energy Services Ltd. bursary
$500
Ted walter bursary
$350
The wallace Family Award
$1,000
Tim walsh Aboriginal entrepreneurship Certificate Program Award
$1,000
TransCanada Transmission bursary
$1,200
TransAlta Corporation Co-Op Power engineering Award
$2,000
wood buffalo Aboriginal Achievement Awards
$500
harvard broadcasting Aboriginal Award
$5,000
Many other awards are available to students attending Keyano College.
For a complete listing, please go to our website at keyano.ca under
Awards and Scholarships.
JACOS heritage bursary
up to $3,500
For a complete list of all provincial awards, please visit
www.alis.gov.ab.ca/scholarships. ■
26 K E YA N O C O L L E G E 2 0 1 1
Community
Investment
Keyano strongly believes that partnerships nurture
our learning environment, thus we continue to
cultivate effective working relationships with
Aboriginal organizations, industry partners,
funders and other post-secondary institutions.
Such collaborations are key to the continued
success of Keyano College. by working with
partners, we are able to offer unparalleled
programming, services and training right here
in the Regional Municipality of wood buffalo.
Community Investment
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Community and Industry
Shell Canada
Syncrude Canada Limited
Shell Canada is a generous sponsor of the Aboriginal Entrepreneurship
Program at Keyano College. The program is designed to provide people
in Aboriginal business settings with the knowledge and skills to excel
in business without having to disrupt their family lives. Previously
offered via the classroom, the program is now also offered online,
making it more accessible and flexible than ever to complete this highly
popular training. Shell Canada also supports the construction of our
new campus in Fort Chipewyan, the mobile driver trainer simulation lab
that takes training out to communities, and a number of student awards
which are available to persons of Aboriginal decent.
In September 2008, Syncrude Canada announced its single largest
financial commitment in its 43-year history with a $5-million donation
to Keyano College. Approximately $1.8 million was dedicated towards
funding the Syncrude Aboriginal Trades Preparation Program. The
program allows for a maximum of 40 students to enroll each year
for three years. Students from Fort McMurray as well as the region’s
outlying communities of Fort Chipewyan, Fort McKay, Janvier and
Conklin attend face-to-face and videoconference courses as a
cohort. Graduates are able to pursue trades apprenticeships through
Syncrude employment or other programs geared towards working
in the oil sands, including heavy equipment technician, welding,
electrician, steamfitter/pipefitter, or power and process operations.
RbC Foundation
As a founding and continuing sponsor of the Aboriginal Entrepreneurship
Program, the RBC Foundation continues to provide advice and support to
ensure the growth and development of the program.
Cenovus, ConocoPhillips,
Government and Community
The Environmental Monitoring Program was first offered in 2006
through a collaborative effort between Keyano, industry, Fort
McMurray First Nation #468, Chipewyan Prairie First Nation, Métis
Nation of Alberta and Alberta Employment and Immigration.
The focus of the program is to provide First Nations and Métis
students or non-status Aboriginals with occupational skills and
academic employability to become environmental monitors with our
industry partners. This program is currently under review.
28 K E YA N O C O L L E G E 2 0 1 1
Northern Alberta Aboriginal business
Association (NAAbA)
The original founding members of NAABA were the driving force
behind the Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program at Keyano College.
NAABA is a non-profit organization with approximately 200 members.
It is a growing interest group of Aboriginal businesses committed to
enhancing and creating an environment that promotes businesses,
jobs and training for the betterment of all Aboriginal people in the
region. Full NAABA members own companies that are at least 51 per
cent Aboriginal. In partnership with Keyano, NAABA and Community
Futures assisted in developing the Aboriginal Entrepreneurship
Program, and participate in the updating of curricula, when necessary,
to reflect current business practices and the needs of the economy and
community.
NAABA member companies have been instrumental in providing
equipment to our Heavy Equipment Operator Program, ensuring that
students are trained on current technologies being used in our region.
This partnership helps to develop a well-educated and safely trained
workforce for Aboriginal companies.
mine ours yours mine ours yours mine ours yours mine ours
A Wood Buffalo Icon Reflects
on a Full Life of Service
“I’ve never lost my temper enough to hurt someone by my words or deeds.”
As Elsie Yanik confidently makes this claim at 94 years of age, it leaves you
wondering what a beautiful life she has led.
“I love people. I look at the heart and not the colour of the skin. Everybody
is so beautiful. My aim in life is to bring out the best in people,” she shares
sitting comfortably in her beautifully decorated apartment adorned with
family photos and a large collection of CDs, books and stuffed animals.
A Wood Buffalo icon, Elsie is a Métis Elder. She was born in 1917 in Fort
Fitzgerald, near Fort Smith, Northwest Territories. Elsie was eight when
her mother, Mary Flett, passed away. Her father was unable to take care
of the children because of work, so she was raised in a convent by the
Grey Nuns of Montreal.
“When I turned 18, I wanted to be a nun. But my father said, ‘I’ll never
give you permission to be one. You can still do what you want to do after
you meet a good man and have a family.’ I decided to wait till I was 21 and
be my own boss,” she chuckles.
Unfortunately, her father passed on in an accident soon after. Elsie couldn’t
bring herself to be a nun in honour of his memory.
She never forgot her mother’s advice either, who warned her against
drinking “fire water” (alcohol) and smoking cigarettes. Elsie has never touched
these, though she came close to trying gin once.
“I was out with my friends and I smelled the drink. As I was about to take a
sip, I heard my mother’s voice. That’s no word of a lie. I told my friend Louise, ‘I
can’t drink; I made a promise to my mother.’ I am sure my mother is proud of me.”
In 1938, Elsie married Lawrence Yanik, a young man from Czechoslovakia.
They met at midnight mass when Elsie was singing in the choir. They went on
to have five daughters, one son and a “chosen son” she adopted.
“I married the first man I met. We were married for 49 years. We always
managed to get past our difficulties,” Elsie recalls.
Lawrence worked for Alberta Forestry and the couple moved to
Fort Chipewyan, where they spent the next four decades. Here, Elsie
volunteered in the community, babysat as mothers attended Keyano
College, and as a lay preacher married many couples and presided over
many baptisms and funerals.
“My father was right: I did end up helping people, and I didn’t have to be a
nun to do so,” she says.
This zeal to help has earned Elsie accolades across the province. She was
Keyano’s 2001 Distinguished Citizen Award recipient; she received the Wild
Rose Foundation Volunteer of the Year Award; she was awarded the Governor
General’s Commemorative Medal for Lifetime Achievement; she has been
honoured with four Regional Aboriginal Recognition Awards; and the Catholic
Women’s League of Canada Alberta Mackenzie Provincial Council even
initiated the Elsie Yanik Award in her honour.
Additionally, Elsie carried the Olympic Torch as it made its way through
Wood Buffalo on November 6, 2009, and the Vancouver Olympics
“There are no words to
express my gratitude for
what Keyano College does.”
— Elsie Yanik, Métis Elder
Committee selected her to light the cauldron. When she received the call,
she thought her nephew was pulling her leg.
“I said, ‘Tell me another good one,’ and the man hung up. A few minutes
later someone called again,” she laughs. “Carrying the torch was an honour I
will never forget.”
Elsie’s deteriorating health and an open-heart surgery six years ago
meant moving to Fort McMurray to be closer to the hospital. She misses
her beautiful house in Fort Chipewyan, built by her husband.
Nevertheless, she continues her work for the people in Fort McMurray.
A familiar face around Keyano College, she often attends and opens many
Aboriginal events with her beautiful prayers filled with messages of
encouragement and hope, especially for youth.
Elsie deems Keyano College very special because of everything it does
for the community and says the instructors and staff do more than they
realize for the community, and in particular, the Aboriginal community.
She says, “There are no words to express my gratitude for what
Keyano College does. I love teachers and nurses; they give so much of
their lives to others.”
Community Education
Advisory Committees
Our Aboriginal Education department collaborates with
various College career cluster Advisory Committees to identify
new course and program needs, improve completion rates by
introducing initiatives such as the Learner Assistance Program,
and increase the variety of courses and programs available to
Aboriginal learners within their communities using alternative
education methods such as eCampusAlberta and AlbertaNorth. Community sub-committees are important consultants
on program and curricula matters.
A B O R I G I N A L E D U C AT I O N
29
Community Investment
Educational
Partnerships
Post-Secondary
Institutions
Alberta-North
Colleges
Alberta-North is a partnership of seven postsecondary institutions, including Keyano College,
that makes courses and programs accessible to
students in northern Alberta and the Northwest
Territories. The partners provide facilities,
learning technologies and support services to
over 80 online learning sites called Community
Access Points (CAP). Wood Buffalo is home to
six of these CAP sites: Conklin, Fort Chipewyan,
Fort MacKay, Fort McMurray, Gregoire Lake and
Janvier. Keyano, a founding member of AlbertaNorth, offers six programs ranging from Aboriginal
Entrepreneurship to College Preparation as
well as many individual courses. For additional
information, please call (780) 791-8967.
When colleges collaborate the result is
always a win-win partnership for students.
Keyano College and Yellowhead Tribal
College (YTC) are a model example. YTC,
the largest Aboriginal college in Edmonton,
assists Keyano in delivering the first year
of the Aboriginal Child & Family Services
Diploma. This collaboration ensures Keyano
is able to continually improve its services
and delivery within an Aboriginal cultural
setting. Thanks to YTC, Keyano is also
working closely with Aboriginal elders who
not only attend Keyano graduations but also
counsel students.
eCampusAlberta
If you always dreamed of going to school in your
pajamas, sitting in the comfort of your home—
wake up! Keyano can make that dream a reality.
For five years now, eCampusAlberta has been
providing flexible learning schedules. It offers
an opportunity for people who may not
otherwise be able to access post-secondary
education to complete a course or earn a
certificate or diploma. It is the vision of 15
Alberta post-secondary institutions that are
working together to provide online learning
opportunities to Albertans. As one of the
colleges participating in this initiative,
Keyano College currently offers courses
ranging from Aboriginal Entrepreneurship
to Business Communications. A complete
list of Keyano College courses offered
through eCampusAlberta is available at
www.keyano.ca. ■
ADveRTISeRS’ INDex
Canadian Natural Resources Limited ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................6
Connacher Oil & Gas Ltd .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................23
Keyano College Foundation...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................24
Nexen Inc ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................31
Sawridge Inn & Conference Centre ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................16
Shell Canada Limited ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................2
Suncor Energy Inc .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................4
Syncrude Canada Ltd........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................32
Total E&P Canada Ltd.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................11
30 K E YA N O C O L L E G E 2 0 1 1
RELATIONSHIPS
MATTER
Nexen Inc. recognizes our Aboriginal
neighbours have unique interests in the land
on which we operate. That’s why building
mutually-beneficial relationships with
Aboriginal communities is important to us.
We build relationships by being respectful
of traditional knowledge and culture and
collaborating on projects that strengthen
communities and the environment.
689310
And we’re making progress.
Nexen Inc
2003, our Long Lake oil sands facility
full page Since
· fp
has
awarded contracts worth more than
million to Aboriginal businesses. Each
IBC $122
year we offer scholarships to Aboriginal
students and provide summer employment.
Approximately 600 Nexen employees have
taken Aboriginal awareness training. Since
2008 we’ve invested more than $600,000 in
initiatives that support Aboriginal leadership
development, health care and education.
That’s Nexen’s way.
For more information about Nexen in
your community, please contact us at
780-334-2850.
www.nexeninc.com
Vanessa Cockerill, a process operator
at our Long Lake oil sands facility and
resident of Anzac, Alberta.
545734
Syncrude Canada Ltd
full page · fp
OBC
Opportunity rises from common ground.
For over three decades, Syncrude has worked closely with our Aboriginal neighbours to help
them succeed—in life, in their careers and in business. To us, the foundation for success lies in
education. That’s why we’re a leading supporter of programs that enable Aboriginal people to
learn and grow. Syncrude has sponsored many Keyano College programs tailored to Aboriginal
students. And today, Keyano is an important provider of Aboriginal post-secondary education and
training. Together, Syncrude and Keyano will continue to open the doors of opportunity—giving
people the skills they need to take part in the oil sands industry, or wherever life takes them.
For more information about careers at Syncrude visit syncrude.ca
The Syncrude Project is a joint venture undertaking among Canadian Oil Sands Limited, Imperial Oil Resources, Mocal Energy Limited, Murphy Oil Company Ltd., Nexen Oil Sands Partnership,
Sinopec Oil Sands Partnership, and Suncor Energy Oil and Gas Partnership.