Announcements

Reflecting on 2024 has brought to light so many memories of the achievements and connections we’ve made together. This year has been nothing short of a success. From the Operation Innovation project to new product launches and new ImmersiveLink experiences, 2024 brought so many great opportunities.

Our continued growth has been driven by our team and supported by our partners and communities we serve. As I look back on the year, it’s not only to celebrate our accomplishments but highlight all of the efforts that made them possible.

Operation Innovation 2.0

Through this project we are focused on taking a next-level approach to screening and recruitment for training to employment initiatives. Through the First-People-First Process, we focus on recruiting, screening, and referring candidates. Unique to our recruiting process is the hands-on element of our screening tools. We kicked off the project focusing on heavy equipment operators. This year, we extended our congratulations to 15 graduates who successfully completed training and were referred to employment.

We have now added an additional career pathway for Smart Meter Installers! While a new opportunity with the project, one individual has been hired and three more have been recommended to join the team.

Keep an eye out for new opportunities coming in 2025!

ImmersiveLink 7 Launch: Honouring traditional knowledge in modern education

To see this project finally be shared with you all was so exciting! This course has been in the works for quite some time. Through the VR experience and in-person workshop, we have delivered this course to communities across the province. Recognizing the need to make something like this more accessible, we developed the online format.

Bringing Indigenous teachings into classrooms and the workplace is a positive step forward. These values can be understood and practiced by Indigenous and non-Indigenous people alike. Connecting back to culture is a part of everything we do. In this course, that’s showcased through the integration of the Seven Sacred Teachings and their applications with ethics today.

As this course is really a culmination of all our efforts over the years, it holds a special meaning to me. It is dedicated to my Mama Agnes Hardy, who was a constant advocate and ambassador for education. The sacred teaching she promoted the most was truth: “always speak from your heart, be honest and tell the truth, even if your voice shakes”.

Enhancing ImmersiveLink experiences

The ImmersiveLink team has been busy both improving our ImmersiveLink app and creating some exciting new content.

This year’s productions have been mainly focused on the careers side of ImmersiveLink, highlighting roles such as:

• Electric meter installers
• Security guards
• Introductory carpentry module.

Some of these experiences are being used to support screening for the OI 2.0 project!

The IL team has also been instrumental in supporting the build of online e-learning courses for internal offerings and client projects. To enhance the courses, the IL team has been developing custom animations and interactive activities.

Making an Impact through Workshops and Training

The Indigenous Engagement Team has been on the road non-stop delivering our programming. We’ve had the opportunity to visit new communities and be welcomed back to communities we’ve worked with before.

There has been a positive uptake of the Wake the Warrior program as it focuses on preparing individuals for employment through both personal development and work readiness training.

Key takeaways

As we continue to enhance our current programs and offerings, we take a look at feedback we are receiving from clients and what resonates well with workshop participants.

When it comes to career preparation, it’s clear that building off a strong foundation will ultimately lead to career success. This means starting right from the foundation of personality types, values, and inherent skills. The cultural element has been an important piece that has helped individuals in understanding their core beliefs and having something to connect to.

Community impact

With each and every workshop, screening, or event, we meet so many amazing people. Our partners who have joined the Operation Innovation 2.0 project have been essential in supporting in training and employment opportunities. Our community partners have helped us reach many job seekers in connecting them to workshops and further opportunity to support their career growth.

A great success that we shared earlier this year was with Kirkland, an Operation Innovation participant, who found himself keen on heavy equipment operation. Through various workshops and this program, he was motivated to complete the heavy equipment training and advance in his career for himself and his family. Stories like Kirkland are just a testament to the power of partnership and dedicated resources for higher education.

Embracing Change

The technology space is constantly evolving. This keeps our team on our toes learning how to incorporate new technologies to enhance our offerings.

A significant milestone has been upgrading our ImmersiveLink app from version 2 to version 3. This upgrade includes supporting all our current content and extending development efforts aligned with the new infrastructure changes and, most importantly, delivers new and improved features for our clients. This update provides the opportunity to increase interactivity and content within each experience!

Team highlights

While all this work is getting done, we make sure to take breaks for a little fun too! At our team retreat over the summer, our remote and in-person crew gathered in the Thunder Bay office for a few days of team building. ORIGIN’s values align with the seven teachings. During our retreat the team completed the ImmersiveLink 7 Ethics course, reinforcing these values and promoting strong ethics within ORIGIN.

Looking ahead

As we look ahead into 2025, I am optimistic about the opportunities to come. Together, our team will continue to innovate our offerings and grow our impact. To every partner and supporter, Chi-Miigwech for your belief in our mission! Wishing you all a fantastic holiday season and new year!