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About OTI |
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Our Roots
How did Ottawa Talent Initiative get formed?
Since January 2001, layoffs in the technology sector have had a significant impact not only on the technology workers, but also on companies and the community as a whole. The ripple effect through the community has affected individuals and local businesses that provide products and services to the technology sector.At that time, many groups of laid off technology workers joined together to create peer networks focused on helping their members through peer support, networking, skills exchange, mentoring, entrepeneurship, information sharing and advocacy. In short, they each took action as best they could to support their members and generate community-based solutions. However, by late 2003, many of these groups recognized that each group was addressing only a portion of the problem, and they decided to work together to leverage their resources. They formed the Ottawa Talent Initiative, composed primarily of unemployed talent and community stakeholders, working together to create positive change.
Since November 2003, the members of Ottawa Talent Initiative have been working with the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (OCRI) and the City of Ottawa to find ways to support the unemployed and help them back to employment that utilizes their talents for the benefit of the City of Ottawa and the nation.
The following is a summary of the major progress Milestones for Peer Networks and the Ottawa Talent Initiative:
| 2003-June 9 | 1st town hall organized by the Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre (WOCRC) |
| 2003-July 29 | A second town hall organized by the WOCRC and the Kanata Kareer Group to prioritize project areas; a team is set up to develop these ideas into full-fledged project descriptions (called Positive WORK and included OCRI resource person) |
| 2003-Oct 1 | 1st Cabin Global event gives birth to a "Hope" initiative to help the unemployed |
| 2003-Oct 9 | Cabin Global‘s Lets Get Working group established to organize a 2nd public event |
| 2003-Nov 26 | Exploratory meeting held between Let's Get Working, The Ottawa Network, Kanata Kareer Group, Positive WORK, the City of Ottawa and OCRI; agreed to try and create a joint approach |
| 2003-Dec 2 | First meeting of the collective November 26th group with broad peer network group support; agree to try and work on one community initiative going forward |
| 2004-Jan 8 | Meeting with all three levels of government staff to determine interest in supporting a community initiative; strong support |
| 2004-Jan 15 | The Ottawa Talent Initiative team name, structure and mandate adopted |
| 2004-Jan 26 | Project funding secured from the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (OMTCU) to develop a Community Action Plan |
| 2004-Feb 24 | Ottawa Talent Initiative hosts an event called the Ottawa Talent Forum (see below) |
Ottawa Talent Forum
The Ottawa Talent Forum, held on Feb 24th, 2004, at the Nepean Sportsplex was attended by 500 unemployed and under-employed technology workers together with leaders from the community, government and business.The following leaders made presentations:
- Marlene Catterall, MP Ottawa West-Nepean
- Patrick Donnelly, District Manager - Ottawa, Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
- Councillor Janet Stavinga, City of Ottawa - Goulbourn Ward
- Helen Maskery, President, Maskery & Associates
- Kirk Mandy, Co-Chair, The Ottawa Partnership
- Tyseer Aboulnasr, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Ottawa
In addition to formal presntations, exhibit booths were set up for participants to gather information on employment and entrepreneurship services.
A forum highlight was the spirited challenge to government leaders by Tyseer Aboulnasr, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Ottawa, to support the development of technology industries in Ottawa. Ms Aboulnasr also announced that the University would provide 20 free placements in Engineering Courses for unemployed technology workers as retraining in order to have the skills needed for new job opportunities.
The forum attendees were also surveyed for the key technology employment issues that they felt still need to be addressed.
How many community networking groups are involved?
To date over 20 groups have contributed people and ideas to the Ottawa Talent Initiative. See Networking for a list of groups.The CAP
Following the Forum, the Ottawa Talent Initiative, completed a Community Action Plan.A Community Action Plan is a program of activities that help communities respond to changes in the local labour market. It includes recommendations for short- and long-term actions that address specific problems in the local economy. It is developed by and for the community. A Community Action Plan can be developed with financing from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities through the Adjustment Advisory Program. The mandate of the Ontario Adjustment Advisory Program is to support the development of a highly skilled and employable workforce in the province by helping employers, workers, communities and industry sectors adapt to and manage labour market change.
The CAP was released May 4th, 2004
Download entire document
The Action Centre
The completion of the CAP lead to funding for implementation of the CAP and thus the Action centre, item #2 of the CAP recommendations. The Action Centre will be used as the hub from which the other objectives of the CAP will be addressed.The Action Centre officially opened its doors on Sept 27th, 2004.