The Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology has announced the grand opening of a new Pop-up Career Centre in La Loche. The new Career Centre is SIIT’s tenth such centre in the province and is now located at the La Loche Friendship Centre.
Plans for a Career Centre in or near La Loche came up a few years ago, but the project was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We anticipate that the Pop-up will be there as long as industry in the area is needing a labour pool of individuals that are labour ready, so I foresee that we will be there for several years,” explained SIIT Senior Director, Employment and Strategic Initiatives James Ouellette.
The new Pop-up Career Centre will serve as a hub for Indigenous individuals and communities seeking employment and training services. SIIT plans to create a unique service plan that responds to local job market opportunities and the circumstances of people searching for jobs in La Loche.
“When you’re operating in an area that goes through the boom-and-bust cycle it’s a little bit tougher for individuals to have employment,” said Ouellette. “In the La Loche area, now that we have an industry that is active, I think things will turn around, it’s a start but I really believe things will turn around.”
Last year SIIT Career Centres helped over 4000 individuals on their path towards employment. Other SIIT Career Centres are located in Creighton, La Ronge, Lloydminster, Meadow Lake, Prince Albert, Regina, Saskatoon, Yorkton and the Battlefords.