FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the North Superior Workforce Planning Board?
- What does the North Superior Workforce Planning Board do?
- What is the history of the Local Boards and of the North Superior Workforce Planning Board?
- What communities does the North Superior Workforce Planning Board service?
- What is Passport to Prosperity and the Employer Registry?
- Do you have labour market information and statistics for all of Northern Ontario?
- Where can I find relevant labour market information for the Thunder Bay District?
- Where can I find information on employment opportunities in the Thunder Bay District?
- Where can I learn about apprenticeships in the Thunder Bay District?
- How can I stay up to date with the latest news and information pertaining to the North Superior Workforce Planning Board?
If you have a question that is not answered here, please email us at admin@nswpb.ca and we will be sure to reply as soon as possible. Thank you!
1. The North Superior Workforce Planning Board is one of twenty-one Local Boards throughout Ontario mandated through the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to identify, assess, and prioritize the skills and knowledge needs of community, employers, and individual participants/learners in the local labour market through a collaborative, local labour market planning process.
The Board comprises equity representatives that aid the following groups: Francophones, Persons with Disabilities, Cultural Diversity, and Women. Representatives from Education & Training, Business, and Labour also provide input that assists their respective sectors.
2. The North Superior Workforce Planning Board's mission is "Connecting community partners to improve the quality of life in our communities through workforce development." Accordingly, some of the work that the Board does, includes:
- Engaging partners in the development and implementation of evidence-based local labour market plans and priority activities;
- Collaborating with business, labour, communities and organizations in order to advance local labour market strategies;
- Develop and implement a broad range of community-based projects with our partners to address specific needs related to literacy, employment & training information, adjustment, labour market information, and diversity group strategies;
- Hosting events, forums, conferences, and fairs to build stronger engagement with, and between, the demand and supply side of employment and training.
3. In response to the diverse needs of local communities and business in the area of workforce development, in 1990 the Ontario Premier’s Council Report recommended establishing regional committees. The first Local Boards were established in 1996 to fill this gap, including the North Superior Training Board. As Champions of Ontario’s Local Labour Market Solutions, the Local Boards works at a grassroots level to:
- identify workforce issues that are characteristic of the local community; and
- provide collaborative solutions by engaging stakeholders and working with partners.
Local Boards complement other programs and services because they cover all sectors -- not just one or a select few. This neutral position allows them to quickly connect the appropriate partners for the common good.
In August of 2009 the North Superior Training Board changed its name to the North Superior Workforce Planning Board to more accurately reflect the work that the Board does in planning and developing the local workforce. The NSWPB is recognized by community, economic and municipal leaders as a "partner of choice" in the identification and implementation of local solutions to local labour market issues.
4. The North Superior Workforce Planning Board provides services throughout the Thunder Bay District, including the following:
| Aroland 83 (Indian Reserve) | Manitouwadge (Township) | Red Rock (Township) |
| Conmee (Township) | Marathon (Town) | Rocky Bay 1 (Indian Reserve) |
| Dorion (Township) | Neebing (Municipality) | Saugeen Lake (Indian Reserve) |
| Fort William 52 (Indian Reserve) | Nipigon (Township) | Schreiber (Township) |
| Gillies (Township | O'Connor (Township) | Seine River 22A2 (Indian Reserve) |
| Ginoogaming First Nation (Indian Reserve) | Oliver Paipoonge (Township) | Shuniah (Township) |
| Greenstone (Municipality) | Osnaburgh 63A (Indian Reserve) | Terrace Bay (Township) |
| Gull River 55 (Indian Reserve) | Pays Plat 51 (Indian Reserve) | Thunder Bay (City) |
| Lac des Milles Lac 22A1 (Indian Reserve) | Pic Mobert North (Indian Reserve) | Thunder Bay (Unorganized) |
| Lake Helen 53A (Indian Reserve) | Pic Mobert South (Indian Reserve) | Whitesand (Indian Reserve) |
| Long Lake 58 (Indian Reserve) | Pic River 50 (Indian Reserve) |
5. Passport to Prosperity is a province-wide campaign to increase employer awareness of and participation in school-to-work programs. The campaign is an employer-led recruitment effort to provide opportunities for students to explore career options and develop workplace skills and experience.
The Provincial Partnership Council (PPC) leads this effort and is comprised of key leaders from private, public, and voluntary sectors. The PPC works closely with the Ontario Ministry of Education; the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities; and the Ontario Business Education Partnership representing business-education councils and local training boards.
The partners supporting school-to-work initiatives for the North Superior Workforce Planning Board area include CSDC des Aurores boréales, Lakehead Public Schools, Ministry of Education, Superior-Greenstone District School Board, YES Employment Services, Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board, and the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce.
If you are interested in learning more about P2P, or would like to provide an opportunity for a student to gain work experience through your place of employment, please visit www.employerregistry.ca/thunderbay. You can also contact the Passport to Prosperity coordinator by calling 807-346-2947 or emailing p2p@nswpb.ca.
6. The six Northern Local Boards (North Superior Workforce Planning Board, Northwest Training and Adjustment Board, Sudbury & Manitoulin Workforce Partnership Board, Far Northeast Training Board, Algoma Workforce Initiative Committee, and the Labour Market) have produced Census Analysis Reports based on the 2006 Census that focus on Aboriginals and the Economy, Francophones and the Economy, Changing Occupational Structure of Northern Ontario, Aging Population Trends in Northern Ontario, and other topics pertaining to the economy of Northern Ontario. You can read these informative documents here: www.nswpb.ca/census_analysis_reports
7. Relevant and up to date labour market information can be found on the Thunder Bay District Labour Market Information web portal: www.nwolabourmarketinfo.ca
The North Superior Workforce Planning Board has created and maintains this website, providing as timely information as possible related to the local labour market. Features include a comprehensive list of employment databases, publications, statistics, and a regularly updated blog featuring different aspects of the Thunder Bay District's labour market.
8. Information on employment opportunities in the Thunder Bay District can be found in the resources section of this website as well as the Thunder Bay District Labour Market Information web portal: www.nwolabourmarketinfo.ca/jobbanks.htm
This site provides a comprehensive list of databases that provide short-term and long-term employment opportunities.
9. Information relating to apprenticeships, including what an apprentice is, what opportunities are available, and how does one go about getting an apprenticeship can be found on our Links page, under "Apprenticeship/Skilled Trades": http://www.nswpb.ca/links
Also, Confederation College is a fantastic source for finding out all about apprenticeships. Read more here: http://www.confederationc.on.ca/apprenticeship or visit the campus at 1450 Nakina Drive.
10. If you would like to stay up to date with all of the news of the North Superior Workforce Planning Board, including recent publications, announcements, and upcoming events, you can join the Facebook page by visiting here: www.facebook.com/nswpb
Additionally, please visit our Contact page and join our mailing list for updates delivered to your inbox.
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