NTAB’s Partnerships for 2026-2027
Partnership: Lac Seul First Nation Career Fair Sponsorship & Participation
NTAB will sponsor and participate in the Lac Seul First Nation Career Fair, engaging directly with students, jobseekers, employers, and community members throughout the event. As part of this partnership, NTAB will display updated occupational profiles, share region-specific labour market information, and provide guidance on Apprenticeship pathways, training options, and Employment Ontario supports. Staff will interact with participants at the booth and connect with employers in Neighbouring booths to gather insight into hiring needs, skill shortages, and recruitment challenges across the region. These interactions support NTAB’s employer engagement objectives by creating opportunities for direct, informal conversations with local businesses in a community-based setting. This partnership strengthens NTAB’s relationship with Lac Seul First Nation and supports career exploration for youth and adults in the community.
This project will be assessed based on participation levels, conversations with jobseekers and students, and direct outreach to employers attending the fair. NTAB will document employer feedback on training needs, recruitment challenges, and emerging workforce trends. Informal feedback gathered from participants will help identify which occupations or sectors require more targeted outreach or resources. These insights will feed into NTAB’s LLMP analysis and inform future partnerships focused on workforce development in Indigenous communities. Additionally, NTAB will ensure that required surveys are distributed to and completed by both participants and partners to collect CIPMS-specific feedback, as applicable.
Issue and Priority: Indigenous clients represent nearly half of Employment Services participants in both districts, at 48% in the Kenora District and 51% in the Rainy River District in 2024-2025. A high proportion of participants also rely on Ontario Works, ODSP, or have no source of income, underscoring the need for employer engagement that supports accessible and sustainable employment. Career fairs in Indigenous communities create direct opportunities for employers to share hiring needs, discuss skill requirements, and better understand local labour supply. Engagement through the Lac Seul First Nation Career Fair strengthens connections between employers, jobseekers, and community partners, supporting workforce development strategies that highlight on the ground conditions.
Key Partners: NTAB will sponsor and participate in the event in collaboration with Lac Seul First Nation, alongside Employment Ontario Service providers, educational institutions and regional employers.
Expected Outcome: Sponsoring and participating in the Lac Seul First Nation Career Fair will increase NTAB’s visibility in the community and strengthen relationships with local employers, educators, and jobseekers. The partnership will support early career awareness, highlight regional training and employment opportunities, and help identify community-specific barriers and workforce needs. Information gathered through employer conversations and participant engagement will be incorporated into NTAB’s LLMP and guide future employer engagement and workforce development initiatives.
Status: This partnership is scheduled for April 30, 2026 in Lac Seul.
Partnership: Northwestern Ontario Works – Multi-Channel Marketing and Promotion Campaign
NTAB will support the launch of Northwestern Ontario Works, a regional employment platform led by the Atikokan Economic Development Corporation in partnership with Magnet and Toronto Metropolitan University. NTAB will contribute to promotion and awareness by developing and sharing print and digital materials through its regional networks. This will include creating promotional assets for use at events, distributing materials through NTAB’s board and partner channels, and sharing platform updates through NTAB’s website and social media. NTAB’s role is to extend the visibility of the platform across the Kenora and Rainy River Districts and support early employer awareness and onboarding. All messaging and materials will align with AEDC’s branding and direction, with NTAB providing design capacity, outreach support, and distribution where appropriate.
Progress will be measured through engagement across NTAB’s outreach channels, including social media interaction, website traffic to the platform link, distribution of print materials, and employer inquiries. NTAB will also document qualitative feedback gathered through employer conversations and discussions with economic development partners. These insights will help identify common questions, early onboarding barriers, and emerging employer needs, supporting AEDC’s ongoing platform refinement and contributing to NTAB’s interpretation of employer demand in future LLMP work. Additionally, NTAB will ensure that required surveys are distributed to and completed by both participants and partners to collect CIPMS-specific feedback, as applicable.
Issue and Priority: Employer participation in formal training and workforce programs remains very low in the Kenora and Rainy River Districts, with fewer than ten employers accessing the Canada Ontario Job Grant in each district in2024-2025. At the same time, many employers continue to rely on informal or fragmented recruitment methods, limiting visibility of local hiring demand as noted through feedback provided at the Employment Ontario Data Share. By amplifying the platform through trusted regional networks, NTAB helps lower barriers to employer participation, improve access to local job opportunities, and strengthen the quality of demand-side labour market information across Northwestern Ontario.
Key Partners: NTAB will partner with Atikokan Economic Development Corporation and Magnet (co-created by Toronto Metropolitan University).
Expected Outcome: The promotional campaign will increase awareness of Northwestern Ontario Works among employers, jobseekers, and Employment Ontario service providers across the region. By supporting early employer engagement and amplifying the platform through established regional networks, NTAB will help strengthen the volume and visibility of local job postings. This will contribute to improved access to employment opportunities, enhance the quality of regional labour market information, and support NTAB’s goal of improving employment resource coordination in Northwestern Ontario.
Status: This partnership is in the design stage.
Partnership: Joint LMI Release with EmployNext and North Superior Workforce Planning Board
NTAB will collaborate with EmployNext and the North Superior Workforce Planning Board on the release of a joint labour market information report. This regional resource will draw on the Conference Board of Canada’s data tools and Vicinity Jobs job-posting analytics, combined with insights from NTAB’s and North Superior’s Local Labour Market Plans, to provide a clear and accessible overview of labour market trends across Northwestern Ontario. The joint LMI will examine hiring patterns, employer demand, demographic pressures, and sector-specific shifts, with attention to both urban and rural contexts. Beyond publication, NTAB’s goal is to actively promote and mobilize the findings of the joint LMI. In addition to a coordinated social media campaign featuring infographics and key highlights, NTAB will support knowledge-sharing through facilitated panels, webinars, and participation in relevant conferences and sector events, where appropriate. These activities are intended to help employers, service providers, and community partners engage more deeply with the findings and apply the information in planning, service delivery, and workforce development discussions.
Success will be measured through reach, engagement, and uptake of the joint LMI product and related knowledge-sharing activities. NTAB will track downloads, social media analytics, webinar or panel participation, and distribution through partner networks. Qualitative feedback gathered from employers, Employment Ontario service providers, and community stakeholders will be used to assess the usefulness and clarity of the LMI, identify gaps in regional understanding, and highlight areas requiring deeper analysis. Additionally, NTAB will ensure that required surveys are distributed to and completed by both participants and partners to collect CIPMS-specific feedback, as applicable.
Issue and Priority: Employment Services participation increased by 8% across Northern Ontario in 2024-2025, while participation declined by 37% across Ontario overall. At the same time, the number of Northern Ontario clients securing employment decreased by 10%, compared to a 47% decline provincially. These trends highlight the importance of regionally specific labour market analysis that reflects northern dynamics rather than provincial averages. A joint LMI release supports more consistent interpretation of job-posting data, apprenticeship trends, and service outcomes across districts, strengthening evidence-based planning and coordinated responses to workforce challenges in Northwestern Ontario.
Key Partners: NTAB will co-lead this project in collaboration with EmployNext and the North Superior Workforce Planning Board, engaging employers, service providers, and other workforce stakeholders across Northwestern Ontario. Each Local Board will assume responsibility for costs incurred within its own organization in support of the joint LMI project. This may include, but is not limited to, printing and circulation of materials (both print and digital), travel expenses, and conference or event-related costs associated with the rollout and dissemination of the report. Each Board independently determines its level of participation and covers the costs of printing and distribution within its respective region, ensuring there is no duplication of project funding.
Expected Outcome: This partnership will result in a regionally relevant LMI product that supports more consistent and accurate understanding of labour market conditions across Northwestern Ontario. By pairing the release with intentional promotion and engagement activities, NTAB will increase awareness and practical use of the information among employers, jobseekers, service providers, and planners. The initiative will strengthen evidence-informed decision-making, enhance regional dialogue on workforce challenges and opportunities, and deepen collaboration between neighbouring Local Boards, contributing to stronger alignment across the Employment Ontario network.
Status: This partnership has started.
Partnership: Trades Awareness & Early Engagement Initiative with “Animal Trades”
NTAB will deliver a trades-awareness partnership with Thunder Bay-based children’s book author and electrician Steve McKeown, whose work has been featured on CBC. The project will include a classroom visit at a Dryden-based French school where Steve will read his trades-themed children’s books, donate French-language copies, and lead hands-on, child-friendly activities that introduce students to skilled trades concepts in an engaging and age-appropriate way. NTAB and Steve will also participate in the Dryden Public Library’s Wednesday Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) program to offer a drop-in session for children and families, providing direct opportunities to discuss skilled trades pathways, local training supports, and available Employment Ontario programs. This partnership will take place during the first week of November to align with Career Month and Skilled Trades Week.
This partnership supports employer engagement and workforce development by introducing trades pathways early and increasing awareness of regional opportunities in the skilled trades. NTAB will track participation at both events, collect feedback from school staff and library attendees, and document questions or areas of interest raised by children, parents, and educators. The project will also highlight Skilled Trades Ontario, Apprenticeship pathways, and EO supports that are especially relevant in Northwestern Ontario’s labour market. Information gathered during these sessions will be used to inform future employer outreach, youth programming needs, and training-related gaps identified in the LLMP. Additionally, NTAB will ensure that required surveys are distributed to and completed by both participants and partners to collect CIPMS-specific feedback, as applicable.
Issue and Priority: Apprenticeship activity is increasing in both districts, with new registrations up 44% in the Kenora District and 55% in the Rainy River District in 2024-2025. At the same time, modular training participation has declined in the Rainy River District and employer use of training supports remains very low, signalling a weak pipeline despite growing demand. This is particularly concerning given the aging workforce in sectors such as mining and construction and emerging opportunities for regional expansion, making early trades awareness critical for long-term workforce development.
Key Partners: NTAB is leading this project in collaboration with electrician and children’s book author Steve McKeown and in partnership with École catholique de l’Enfant-Jésus, and the Dryden Public Library.
Expected Outcome: The partnership will increase awareness of skilled trades among elementary-aged students and families, support local promotion of Apprenticeship pathways, and strengthen NTAB’s connection to employers and community organizations involved in trades-related outreach. The project is expected to deepen youth interest in trades careers, provide educators with updated information on local supports, and help NTAB identify early indicators of training or awareness gaps that can be addressed through future projects. The initiative will also expand NTAB’s visibility and deliver high-value engagement during a key awareness period (Career Month and Skilled Trades Week).
Status: This partnership is in the planning stage.
NTAB’s Partnerships for 2025-2026
Partnership: Rainy River District Spring Career Fairs
NTAB will plan and co-host a virtual career fair for potential Newcomers to the Rainy River and Kenora Districts; featuring employers from Northwestern Ontario.
Issue and Priority: The Rainy River District School Board, along with NTAB and other service providers hosted a Spring Career Fair at the Fort Frances School and at the Atikokan Little Falls Community Centre.
Participating employers will host a booth for the duration of the event, provide details on their organization and available job opportunities in advance of the event, discuss job opportunities with interested students, provide materials (e.g. application forms) to students as applicable, and conduct informal and formal interviews as appropriate. Service providers attended and set up informational booths as well.
Key Partners: Rainy River District Schools Board, Employers, NTAB and other Service Providers.
Expected Outcome: By participating the employers were able to access the members of the Rainy River District youth job market in one place, promote their business/organization as a possible summer employment opportunity for students and connect with potential cooperative education participants. In turn, local youth benefited from gaining an awareness of what type of work is available in their communities, as well as the ability to apply directly on the spot for various student opportunities.
Status: This partnership is complete: Fort Frances Spring Career Fair was held on April 16, 2025 and Atikokan Spring Career Fair was held on May 9 and 10, 2025.
Partnership: Workforce Navigation Toolkit
Rather than listing programs, the guide is organized around common employer situations. Each pathway outlines practical routes forward and the types of supports that may apply. NTAB will gather valuable information from various sources to assemble the Workforce Navigation Toolkit, which will include;
- Hiring Your First Employee
- Hiring but Struggling to Find Applicants
- Training Your Current Staff
- Hiring Youth or Students
- Taking on an Apprentice
- Upskilling for New Equipment, Technology, or Regulations
- Responding to Turnover, Disruption, or Sudden Change
Issue and Priority: Hiring, training, and workforce planning can feel complex in Northwestern Ontario. Programs exist, but they are often spread across multiple organizations with different rules and timelines. This tool will have the ability to be accessed through our website, along with digital and hard copies that will be available to employers and other service providers. We will also collect feedback from recipients.
Key Partners: NTAB
Expected Outcome: The Workforce Navigation Toolkit was created to help employers move through that landscape with clarity. This resource tool will provide employers with every available option to assist them to maintain a strong team at their place of work.
Status: This partnership was completed on February 13, 2026 and can be accessed here: Workforce Navigation Toolkit
Partnership: Fresh Start Resource Connection
NTAB will plan and host a service provider meeting in the Rainy River District to collaborate on potential inmate service needs; such as Re-integration, Employment, Housing, Counselling, etc. We will then (together with service providers) host an information session to selected inmates within the Fort Frances Jail (who will be pre-approved by the Ministry of the Solicitor General/Fort Frances Jail).
Issue and Priority: This initiative will incorporate the tools needed for successful re-integration into the labour force. It will benefit the inmates by connecting them to various service providers to have a better understanding of what type of local post-supports are available to them upon release.
Key Partners: NTAB, Employment Ontario Service Provider, Ministry of the Solicitor General, and Fort Frances Jail.
Expected Outcome: By connecting eligible job seekers to employers who are experiencing labour shortages, we hope to address some of these gaps to enhance opportunities for newly released inmates.
Status: This partnership was completed on September 10, 2026.
This Employment Ontario program is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
