Electricity-themed Camp Set to Motivate Aboriginal Youth in Rouyn-Noranda

OTTAWA July 12, 2010 - The Electricity Sector Council (ESC) will be conducting an electricity-themed Bright Futures Camp for Aboriginal youth from July 12 - 16 at the Centre de plein air du lac Flavrian in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. 

Delivered by Elephant Thoughts, a national charity dedicated to promoting the availability of quality education for children all over the world, the week long camp “is designed to bring attention to the opportunities for Aboriginal youth in the electricity and renewable energy industry and the importance of taking math and sciences in school,” said Michelle Branigan, Interim Executive Director, ESC. 

 “The activities planned for the week will engage and educate the kids in a fun and entertaining way,” said Melissa Brousseau, Communications/Admin Officer, Niskamoon Corporation. “For example, they’ll learn how electricity is generated by building solar powered cars and wind generators. They’ll take part in educational games and workshops which will include making their hair stand up with electricity, lighting a light bulb up on their head, making things float in mid air, and lots more!  The electricity and renewables industry offers such an extensive array of careers, and this camp will allow the children to discover that in a way that speaks to them.”

By incorporating fun activities with an underlying educational message, girls and boys ages 10 to 13 will learn how electricity plays a major role in everyday life, from where it comes from, to where it ends up and what it is used for. Camp counselors will engage the youth by helping them create electricity-powered toys and having them participate in hands-on activities. “The campers will discover the many exciting career opportunities that exist in the industry and why these men and women play an important role in making our lives easier on a daily basis,” said Henry Mianscum, member of the ESC Aboriginal Workforce Participation Initiative Committee and Director, Cree Human Resources Development.

We are pleased to work with Elephant Thoughts on the delivery of this Bright Futures Camp, which would not have been possible without the support from our industry partners including our Champion sponsors Niskamoon Corporation and Cree Human Resources Development (CHRD), as well as Hydro Québec, Engineers Canada, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Cree School Board, and the Aboriginal Human Resource Council,” said Michelle Branigan.

The Bright Futures Camp is a component of the ESC Aboriginal Workforce Participation Initiative project which focuses on increasing the participation of Aboriginal peoples (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) in the electricity and renewable energy workforce.

The Electricity Sector Council is an independent, not-for-profit organization funded by the Government of Canada’s Sector Council Program with support from participating sector communities of business, labour organizations, educators and stakeholder associations. The Council provides human resource and workplace development support to workers employed by the electricity, renewable energy industries and related cogeneration, energy efficiency, and manufacturing and service/ consulting industries. Through its research and work with industry employers, the Council is resolving issues such as recruiting and retaining workers, facilitating school-to-work transitions and developing sector and career awareness strategies.