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The cooling pond project is a clear success. Without question this is largely attributable to the aboriginal contractors working on the project.

Community Updates

May 2011 Newsletter shared with Unama'ki communities

May 31^st, 2011

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Community Update - Collaborative Approach to Economic Development Unama’ki Economic Benefits Office

October 7^th, 2010

In 2007, the five Unama'ki communities formed a unique economic partnership and established a collaborative approach to economic development that is becoming recognized across Canada. The Unama'ki Economic Benefits Office is the result. The $400 million Sydney Tar ponds Celanup project was the immediate opportunity.

Success of the Unama'ki Economic Benefits Office (UEBO), is due to its strong business approach to economic development, strong engagement of the communities through the steering committee, strong communication, effective partnering efforts with government and industry and a strong training program that is tied to industry needs. The success is shown in the results. Local Aboriginal companies are now involved in $71 million in contracts at the Tar Ponds, resulting in 36 full time jobs. In the first 24 months of the Unama'ki ASEP training program, 213 individuals have been trained and 60 of them secured full time employment. The UEBO was involved in creating 102 full time jobs since it opened three years ago. It started out with a staff of one and now has a staff of seven.

The Tar Ponds Cleanup project was the immediate opportunity. After years of planning and negotiation, in October 2008, the Unama'ki communities concluded an agreement for the first Nova Scotia Aboriginal set-asides, totaling over $19 million for work on the Tar Ponds Cleanup project which should be completed by 2014.

This story is much more than a story of the Tar Ponds. The success at the Tar Ponds has allowed the Unama'ki communities to build capacity and allowed its businesses to gain valuable experience. It has also allowed the Unama'ki Economic Benefits Office to now broaden it horizons and pursue new economic opportunities, including those associated with port development and energy and environmental sustainability.

The Unama'ki Economic Benefits Office has established a partnership with the key stakeholders involved in the aggressive development plan for the Port of Sydney. This plan could soon see a world class container terminal in the Port of Sydney and a major ship building facility.

The Unama'ki Economic Benefits Office is exploring opportunities in the area of energy and environmental sustainability. Energy and environmental sustainability are of huge importance to the whole world, making it a great opportunity, especially with our local experience with environmental remediation related to the Tar Ponds and coal mines. Cape Breton also has a huge energy reserve.

The Unama'ki Economic Benefits Office hopes to partner with the new Centre for Sustainability in Energy and the Environment at Cape Breton University. We see this centre as a major driver of commercialization in the green economy and the Unama'ki communities want to be part of this research and commercialization. This also addresses another priority of the Unama'ki Economic Benefits Steering committee. The steering committee is seeking ways to engage more young Aboriginals in the field of Science and engineering.

The Economic Benefits Office has also recently established partnerships with EMERA Utility services, a subsidiary of Emera Inc., the largest utility services contractor in Atlantic Canada.

The EMERA Utility Line Workers Program was developed to provide local aboriginal with the skills necessary to carry out duties installing and repairing data lines and cell towers for EMERA Utility Services. Working with EMERA, the Unama'ki Economic Benefits Office (ASEP Team), and the Nova Scotia Community college (NSCC), Marconi Campus, developed a program and a recruitment effort. After the initial Unama'ki ASEP recruitment efforts EMERA selected 10 candidates they felt had the right stuff to successfully complete the program and secure employment. The candidates reaped the benefit of having excellent faculty, great supports during the program, and an exceptional industry partner. In Sept 2010, towards the end of the classroom component of the program EMERA HR personnel and management attended a small celebration of the accomplishments of the participants. Management expressed the commitment and excitement within EMERA, up to the level of their CEO. Divisions within the EMERA family of companies are eager to take on placements and it is very likely all participants will find employment. At this celebration the students expressed their excitement and passion for this new employment opportunity. Students will get six Electrical credits from NSCC upon completing their 16 week training program. At the end of September, EMERA said they were so pleased with the individuals in training that they offered everyone of them a full time job.

In 2010 NewPage Paper Mill in Port Hawkesbury also partnered with the Unama'ki Economic Benefits Office. The New Page Paper Mill in Port Hawkesbury, has worked closely with the Nova Scotia Community College (Strait Campus) and the Unama'ki Economic Benefits Office, ASEP training Program, in the planning of this unique training program. New Page has a need for skilled workers, with many within its workforce about to retire. They also recognized the large pool of young Aboriginals as a possible workforce and want to change the fact that not one Aboriginal now works in the New Page Paper Mill. In 2010, New Page committed to working with the Unama'ki Economic Benefits Office, ASEP program, in developing a training program and support system and committed to hiring at least four local Aboriginals that successfully complete the training.

In Aug 2010, 10 local Aboriginals began the 10 week New Page Training. The program will first provide the participants with Towes testing and essential skills upgrading to meet New Pages requirement for employees in their warehouse, the standard entry training level and the standard entry point for new workers at New Page. The goal is for the participants to attain a score of 3 in the Towes testing, thus opening the door for more job opportunities at New Page. Following the essential skills training, there is industrial training, including operations and safety and then training on equipment specific to New Page. The industrial training will be primarily at the NSCC, Strait Campus and some training specific to New Page will be offered at the paper mill. When the industrial training is complete the participants will be retested on Towes and then final interviews will take place. After the final interviews, the top four candidates will be offered employment with New Page.

Local engineering firms and construction companies have also partnered with the Unama'ki Economic Benefits Office to train local Aboriginals to address an industry need for civil tech workers. In addition to the success at the Sydney Tar Ponds Cleanup project, these are significant and tangible measures of success, success that is delivering jobs.

The Steering Committee recognized the importance of education and training to their long-term economic success. The Tar Ponds project presented an opportunity for the Unama'ki Economic Benefits Office to submit a detailed long-term training proposal for the Unama'ki communities. In July 2008 HRSDC approved a four year, $4.3 million training program, referred to as the Unama'ki ASEP Training Project. The Unama'ki Economic Benefits Office manages this ASEP training program. Alex Paul of Membertou is the Director in charge of the Unama'ki ASEP Training program, Owen Fitzgerald is the Executive Director of the Office, Kim Milley is Training Coordinator, Alyssia Jeddore is Job Support Officer and Maxine Stevens is Training Support Officer. Laura Prosper was recently promoted to Business Support Officer and Irene Carroll is the new Finance Officer.

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Community Update - Unama’ki Economic Benefits Office

September 9^th, 2009

The Unama’ki Economic Benefits Office opened in July 2007 and in just two years it has certainly accomplished a great deal. This is a story of success, the story of a unique collaborative approach to economic development by five first nation communities in Cape Breton (Unama’ki). Cape Breton is building a new economy and the Unama’ki communities are proud to be part of this effort.

It is the result of strong aboriginal leadership that recognized the importance of taking a business approach to pursuing economic opportunities. This leadership recognized the importance of collaboration, partnering with business and governments. The Economic Benefits Office started out with one staff person, Cape Breton businessperson, Owen Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald was president of the Sydney and Area Chamber of Commerce. Today the Benefits Office has a staff of five.

The communities established the Unama’ki Economic Benefits Steering Committee that is made up of two to three representatives from each of the five Cape Breton First Nation communities. The Steering committee provides direction for the Unama’ki Economic Benefits Office. METS, Ulnooweg Development Corporation, the Union of Nova Scotia Indians and the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) are also members of the Steering Committee. Dan Christmas of Membertou is the chair of the Steering Committee. The goal is to maximize the near-term economic benefits for Unama’ki communities, meaning jobs and contracts. The steering committee is also focused on expanding the long-term expertise and economic capacity of Unama’ki communities and businesses. The immediate opportunity that drove this initiative was the $400 Million Sydney Tar Ponds Cleanup Project.

After years of planning and negotiation, in October 2008, the Unama’ki communities concluded an agreement for the first Nova Scotia Aboriginal set-asides, totaling over $19 million for work on the Tar Ponds Cleanup project over the next five years.

This long-term commitment allows the Unama'ki communities, through the Unama’ki Economic Benefits Office, to plan and train for these opportunities. In March 2009, the result of early success by First Nation companies working on the Tar Ponds cleanup, the most significant contract to date in the $400 million cleanup project was awarded to a Unama’ki company, MB2 Construction, for a $37.6 million contract.

The contract is in addition to an earlier agreed upon $19 million in Aboriginal set asides and it is important to note that this $37 million contract was not a set-aside and was won by an Aboriginal company in a bidding process that was open to any construction company. This is real success.

The local First Nation communities are now considered an integral part of the local economy and the local business community. This is demonstrated by the September induction of Chief Terry Paul into the Cape Breton Business Hall of Fame.

The Tar Pond project is still a critical part of this economic development effort. It is providing valuable experience and helping build capacity and expertise and perhaps most importantly, it allowed the Unama’ki Economic Benefits Office to broaden its horizons and explore other economic opportunities and partnerships.

The Steering Committee recognized the importance of education and training to their long-term economic success. The Tar Ponds project presented an opportunity for the Unama’ki Economic Benefits Office to submit a detailed long-term training proposal for the Unama’ki communities. In July 2008 HRSDC approved the office for a four year, $4.3 million training program, referred to as the Unama’ki ASEP Training Project.

What makes this training program unique is that the Economic Benefits Office has partnered with industry and all training is tied to industry needs. In the last few months the office has begun to roll out several training programs, a Foundations Training program to prepare people for entering or re-entering the workforce, a training program for Women in the trades as well as the BEAHR Environmental training program. These programs are delivered by the Nova Scotia Community College, Strait Campus and Marconi Campus and several programs are delivered in Unama’ki communities. Some of the training involves on the job training as well, providing valuable work experience. The ASEP training is focused primarily on the construction industry, including opportunities with the Sydney Tar Ponds Cleanup project. Alex Paul of Membertou is the Director in charge of the Unama’ki ASEP Training program.

So it can effectively pursue these new economic opportunities, the Economic Benefits Office is in the process of building its own internal capacity. Earlier this year the Unama’ki Economic Benefits Office opened satellite offices in Eskasoni at the Sara Denny Cultural Centre and one at the Wagmatcook Community Centre, downstairs. It also hired Laura Prosper of Eskasoni as Administrative Assistant for the Benefits Office. The Economic Benefits Office also now has a toll free phone number- (877) 535-6222.

As part of building capacity within the Economic Benefits Office, Robert Bernard of Waycobah was hired in early 2009 as “Procurement-Community Business Liaison Officer”. Robert brings a wealth of business experience to the job. He will regularly visit all five communities and meets with Unama’ki businesses as well as identifying and promoting procurement, or business opportunities for Unama’ki businesses.

Alyssia Jeddore of Eskasoni was also hired this year by the Economic Benefits Office to be the new “Job Coach-Training Support Officer” and she knows first hand the importance of education and support to succeed in these new economic times. Alyssia is a recent student herself, having completed a science degree from Cape Breton University (CBU) and her education degree from St. F.X. University. Alyssia brings her knowledge and experience as a Mi’kmaq student and educator to assist students and new employees.

A second major objective of Alyssia is to encourage more Mi’kmaq young people to study sciences in university and support the Mi’kmaq students that are now studying at CBU. There are more and more Mi’kmaq students going to university, but very few are entering science programs. The Unama’ki Economic Benefits Steering Committee has made this one of its priorities. The Benefits office wants to get more Mi’kmaq students studying science and engineering. Alyssia is hired to promote the sciences and ensure these students get all the support they need so they will succeed. She works out of the Eskasoni office as well as the Membertou office.

This is all part of an aggressive training program launched by the Unama’ki communities with the purpose of ensuring Cape Breton Mi’kmaq people participate in the growing opportunities within this new economy.

Success of the Unama’ki Economic Benefits Office, is due to its strong business approach to economic development, strong engagement of the communities in its steering committee, strong communication, effective partnering efforts with government and industry and a strong training program that is tied to industry needs.

On July 6 the Unama’ki Economic Benefits Steering Committee met with the five Unama’ki Chiefs to brief them on the activities of the Economic Benefits Office. The Steering Committee asked that this update on the activities of the Economic Benefits Office be shared with the communities. For more information, call 562-4700.

This is just the beginning!

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Launch of Video - Success of Mi'kmaq participation in Tar Ponds

April 22^nd, 2009

The successful completion of Nova Scotia’s first ever Aboriginal Set-Aside is now a video documentary. The 22-minute video ‘Experienced, Capable,Ready’ tells the story of exceptional work done by local aboriginal companies at the Sydney Tar Ponds Cleanup project. The Wagmatcook Community Cable Television (WCCTV) Network partnered with Membertou First Nation to capture six months of video used to create a 22-minute documentary.

The documentary chronicles the efforts of three Unama’ki (Cape Breton) Aboriginal companies that brought their expertise together to deliver on a significant cleanup project. They completed the job on time and on budget, and project leaders at the Sydney Tar Ponds Cleanup Project have publicly expressed that its success was largely attributable to the Aboriginal contractors working on the project. The video was officially launched in Wagmatcook First Nation on Wednesday. WCCTV Manager Mike Bona said he is thrilled to host the event at the Wagmatcook Centre and to have it coincide with Earth Day.

“This is a very important event for us; it not only highlights work performed by Aboriginal companies involved in the delivery of the remediation project for the Sydney Tar Ponds Project, but it also demonstrates that there are other Aboriginal firms ready to do business - such as WCCTV,” said Bona. “The official launch of ‘Experienced, Capable, Ready’ gives viewers a first-hand look at the work successfully completed by Aboriginal people and their businesses.”

“This is positive, not just for the Cape Breton First Nation communities, but for all of Cape Breton,” said Membertou Chief Terrance Paul. “And this is just the beginning. We need to be successful in business if we are to be self-sufficient and to have self-determination.”

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Tar Ponds Cleanup

April 6^th, 2008

The Unama’ki Economic Benefits Steering Committee met in Wagmatcook on April 3 to review Unama’ki participation in the Tar Ponds Cleanup project. The committee wants to keep Unama’ki First Nation communities updated on what is happening with the Tar Ponds project, other related initiatives of the committee and what the Economic Benefits Office is doing, therefore this report to the communities.

Unama’ki construction companies are bursting with pride over the success they have had in undertaking a $4 million Cooling Pond contract, as part of the Sydney Tar Ponds Cleanup project. These Construction companies now have their sights set on millions of dollars in future contracts.

This experience has also allowed these Unama’ki construction companies to build capacity and expertise and has positioned them to play a significant role in future contracts and other major construction projects in Nova Scotia.

“The cooling pond project is a clear success. Without question this is largely attributable to the aboriginal contractors working on the project,” said Frank Potter, President, Sydney Tar Ponds Agency. “They have responded to the challenge of a demanding environmental project and in the process have acquired valuable skills and training from some of the top experts in the field of solidification and stabilization. Through their hard work, important partnerships were developed and their ability to compete for other cleanup projects, both regionally and globally, has broadened.”

With the success of the Cooling Pond project, the Unama’ki Economic Benefits Steering Committee feels it has something to brag about and a great story to tell. Therefore the Economic Benefits Office has begun to aggressively promote this success. You will soon be seeing ads in business magazines and the local newspaper as well as feature articles about the success of the Unama’ki construction companies.

The Economic Benefits Steering Committee had encouraged the Sydney Tar Pond Agency to issue a contract to have a promotional video produced. The committee is pleased that WCCTV in Wagmatcook was awarded a contract by the Sydney Tar Ponds Agency to produce a promotional video telling of the success of this unique economic partnership between the Unama’ki communities, as well as the success of the Unama’ki construction companies working on the Cooling Pond contact at the Tar Ponds site.

Steering committee representatives are meeting with provincial and federal government officials on a monthly bases to discuss future Aboriginal participation in the Tar Ponds Cleanup project. We do hope to soon have agreement in further Unama’ki participation in the Tar Ponds Cleanup, but we don’t expect that any major new contracts for the Tar Ponds will be announced until late June.

The Economic Benefits Office is also exploring ways to address challenges facing Unama’ki construction companies, such as bid bonds and training. As part of this effort, the office continues to build a database of the skills, businesses and equipment that exists in the Unama’ki communities.

From time to time, organizations and individuals bring other issues or projects to the Steering committee for consideration. At meetings in Jan and Feb, the Unama’ki Economic Benefits Steering Committee was updated on plans for growing the Cape Breton Tourism industry, the possibility of constructing homecare facilities in the communities, a possible mining venture and a possible water venture.

Job fairs, Tar Ponds Workshops as well as an Entrepreneur Workshop and an Aboriginal Women in Business Workshop were held in recent months. These were put on by the Economic Benefits Office or in partnership with the Membertou Entrepreneur Centre. The Economic Benefits Office has also been providing ongoing support for the three Unama’ki construction companies as they worked on the Cooling Pond project. This included attending bi-weekly progress meeting onsite.

The steering committee met in Eskasoni in February, in Membertou in March and in Wagmatcook in April. Economic Benefits Staff also try to visit each community once or twice a month to make sure EDOs are kept up to date on activities and address any questions the communities might have. In recent weeks the Economic Benefits Office has also presented an update to Chief and Council in Membertou and Potlotek. It hopes to soon present to Chief and Council in the other communities.

The Economic Benefits Office is also continuing to work on a major multi-year training proposal that will assist all Unama’ki communities. We hope to have approval of this proposal in the near future.

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Sydney Tar Ponds Cleanup Underway With Local Aboriginal Companies In The Lead

January11^th, 2008

After years of studies, the cleanup of the Sydney Tar Ponds is now well underway with local aboriginal companies in the lead. “Soon we will no longer have the Tar Ponds as a blight on our community,” said Owen Fitzgerald, President of the Sydney and Area Chamber of Commerce. “This $400 million cleanup project also presents significant economic opportunity for all Cape Breton, including the First Nation communities.”

The photo on the left shows Mona Morris of Morris Construction in Eskasoni First Nation and Owen Fitzgerald, Director of the Unama'ki Economic Benefits Office in Membertou. The photos on the right show work on the actual Stabilization and Solidification process being applied to the contents in the Cooling Pond and were taken Jan.11, 2008

This Cooling Pond project is the first project to deal with the actual cleanup of the Tar Ponds. Previous work centered on planning, engineering and site preparation. The Cooling Pond project is valued at over $3 million and is being done by three local aboriginal companies as part of the first ever, aboriginal set-aside in Nova Scotia. These aboriginal companies are developing an expertise in the unique Solidification and Stabilization (S&S) process that is being implemented in the cleanup of the Tar Ponds. Extensive water and air monitoring and dust suppression is being conducted throughout this cleanup project.

In January, 2007, representatives of the five Cape Breton First Nation communities established a unique economic partnership to help maximize the near term economic benefits for their communities and expand the long term expertise and economic capacity of Unama’ki (Cape Breton) communities and businesses resulting from major construction projects like the Sydney Tar Ponds Cleanup project. To ensure success, the communities then established the Unama’ki Economic Benefits Office in Membertou.

The Cooling Pond project is employing upwards of 20 aboriginals and should be completed by April. The three aboriginal construction companies that won the tender to work on the cooling pond are Norman Morris Joint Venture (Parsons) of Eskasoni; MB2 Excavating and Construction of Membertou, and Membertou - HAZCO Remediation Group.

The Cooling Pond is a circular body of water located in front of the Sydney Tar Pond Agency’s office on Inglis Street in Sydney. Its function was to cool water used by SYSCO’s rolling mills.

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Tar Ponds Cleanup Project

November 5^th, 2007

The Unama’ki Economic Benefits Office wants to keep Unama’ki First Nation communities updated on what is happening with the Tar Ponds project and what the office and steering committee is doing.

In January, 2007, representatives of the five Cape Breton First Nation communities established a unique economic partnership and agreed to form the Unama’ki Economic Benefits Steering Committee comprised of 2 or 3 representatives from each Unama’ki community. The steering committee meets each month, rotating between the five communities for its meetings. Dan Christmas of Membertou is the Chair of the Steering Committee.

The goal of the Unama’ki Communities is to maximize the near term economic benefits for our people and expand the long term expertise and economic capacity of Unama’ki Communities and businesses resulting from major construction projects like the $400 million Sydney Tar Ponds Cleanup project.

The Unama’ki Economic Benefits Office serves as a liaison between the aboriginal communities; both aboriginal and non-aboriginal businesses; and the Sydney Tar Ponds Agency. This is a major opportunity. Through partnerships and collaboration, the Economic Benefits Steering Committee feels the Unama’ki communities can gain jobs, experience and expand their capacity.

The Unama’ki Economic Benefits Office opened in Membertou in July with Owen Fitzgerald named as director of this office. In October the Economic Benefits Office hired Mary Collier as the Community Business Liaison Officer. Mary is from Potlotek and has a degree in business administration from CBU. Eileen Paul of Membertou continues making an important contribution to the Economic Benefits Office. Eileen also manages the Membertou Entrepreneur Centre.

The first tender for actual cleanup work on the Sydney Tar Ponds and the first Nova Scotia Aboriginal Set-aside was awarded in October. This tender is for the cleanup of the cooling pond.

The companies are on a multiple standing offer list allowing the Sydney Tar Ponds Agency to select a company on a rotational basis to supply labour, materials, and equipment to the project. This first contract has a total value of more than $3 million and should take about three months to complete. At its peek, this contract is expected to employ 22 people.

The three aboriginal construction companies that won the tender to work on the cooling pond are Norman Morris Joint Venture (Parsons) of Eskasoni; MB2 Excavating and Construction of Membertou, and Membertou - HAZCO Remediation Group. Work will begin in early November.

Only Aboriginal businesses could bid on this Cooling Pond tender and these companies had to be at least 51% owned by Aboriginals. The winning companies must also ensure that at least 75% of all workers on the project are Aboriginal.

The Unama’ki Economic Benefits Office hosted a very successful job fair in Membertou on Oct.18. This was an opportunity for local aboriginals to meet the people and the companies that are doing the hiring.

It is hoped that the Cooling Pond Set-Aside will be the first of several projects identified for Aboriginals and the Economic Benefits Office will be working to ensure non-Aboriginal companies that will be doing work on the Tar Pond cleanup project, will be hiring Aboriginals.

At a previous meeting of the Steering Committee, the new President of DEVCO, Ross McCurdy, made a presentation about DEVCO’s plans to spend $150 million on old mine site remediation over the next five years. At another meeting, senior management from the Xstrata Donkin Mine project briefed the steering committee on their plans for developing a new $300 million mine in Donkin.

The Economic Benefits Office is continuing to collect data on employment, education, and businesses in the five Cape Breton aboriginal communities. It has awarded a contract to a local aboriginal company to develop a database to manage this data and to assist the Steering Committee in making sound decisions that can be based upon current and reliable information.

Based upon community and individual needs and based upon the data collected, the Economic Benefits Office will determine what training will be required to help ensure Unama’ki individuals and businesses are successful with participating in these large construction projects. The office will develop plans for training programs, mentoring programs, internships.

The Economic Benefits Office has also contracted an aboriginal company to produce a new web site to assist it in communication with the Unama’ki communities as well as to promote its self and local aboriginal businesses.

Submitted by:

Owen Fitzgerald, Mary Collier and Eileen Paul
Unama’ki Economic Benefits Office
6 Doucettes Lane
Membertou, NS
Tel: 902-562-4700

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