Six Canadian organizations win international awards for providing skill
development and learning opportunities

www.conferenceboard.ca

TORONTO, April 20 /CNW Telbec/ - Six organizations from across Canada are the winners of the 2010 Global Best Awards for the Americas region, presented by The Conference Board of Canada in collaboration with the International Partnership Network at a conference later this month.

"The awards celebrate outstanding partnerships that have a significant impact on the communities in which they operate," said Michael Bloom, Vice-President, Organizational Effectiveness and Learning. "These winning partnerships are making a difference in their communities by providing skill development and learning opportunities."

The Canadian winners in each category are:

    
    Building Learning Communities

    -  Northern Ontario School of Medicine's Integrated Aboriginal Community
       Experience (ICE) provides students with the opportunity to learn about
       and experience the delivery of health care services for Aboriginal
       people in Northern Ontario.

    -  iSisters Technology Mentoring develops learning programs to help women
       in the Ottawa region who are unemployed, have limited education and
       depend on government services for basic needs to enhance their
       employability skills.

    Developing Skills of the Future Workforce

    -  Northwest Community College, in partnership with the Smithers
       Exploration Group, founded the School of Exploration & Mining to train
       predominately First Nations students for careers in the minerals
       industry.

    Promoting Health and Well-Being of Children and Youth in Education

    -  Pacific Community Resources Society's (Surrey, B.C.) Baristas Youth
       Skills Link Program provides at-risk youth with the opportunity to
       gain life and employability skills, and work experience. The program
       is designed to support healthy lifestyles and advance the educational,
       career and life-long learning goals of the youth.

    The Role of Education in Meeting Global Challenges

    -  Niagara Catholic District School Board has built innovative learning
       programs, allowing students to explore careers in areas of:
       transportation; arts and culture; construction; horticulture and
       landscaping; and hospitality and tourism.

    -  SaskTel's We See You program connects Saskatchewan youth and corporate
       sponsors with organizations in African communities. The most
       vulnerable people in these communities receive medical and educational
       support through the program.

    The winners will receive their awards at the 10th International Education
Business Partnership Conference: Making a Difference in Today's Global
Economy... The Power of Partnership!!, April 25 - 28 in Toronto. In addition,
one overall Global Best Award winner will be selected from each of the four
geographic regions at the event.
    The following Canadian organizations earned honorable mentions that will
be showcased at the conference. They are:

    -  Halton Education Industry Council
    -  PALS - Partners Assisting Local Schools
    -  Gateway for International Professionals, G. Raymond Chang School of
       Continuing Education, Ryerson University
    -  Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary
    -  Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure
    -  TechAlliance
    -  knowfire
    -  Healthy Partnership Initiative
    -  International Business Management Program, Fanshawe College
    -  Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge
    -  Active Healthy Kids Canada
    -  Canadian Coalition for Tomorrow's ICT Skills
    

For further information: Brent Dowdall, Media Relations, Tel.: [phone] ext. 448, E-mail: [email protected]