BUILD
Annual Report
2012 -2013
2
BUILD
Songay Damowin
The House of Courage
Annual Report
2012 - 2013
In November 2012 BUILD held a naming ceremony
for our new home at the Social Enterprise Centre.
The purpose was to honour the spirit of the people
who come to BUILD as trainees and employees.
Songay Damowin
The House of Courage
3
Message from the Directors
4
The BUILD family of
social enterprises
current and future projects
5
Overview of BUILD programs
and training outcomes
6
Retrofit outcomes
9
Activities
11
BUILD to Beyond:
Sharing the success stories
14
Work ethic workshops
16
Funders and
supporting partners
The ceremony took place in what was BUILD’s
workshop with trainees and staff filling the large
room. All of the windows were covered to block
out light. Elder Jules Lavallee requested that
people who represent the four directions of the
medicine wheel sit in a circle in the middle of the
workshop with him. The lights were turned off and
the room was completely dark. Four songs were
sung and at a point the vision became complete.
The spirit appeared to Jules.
Jules saw seven bears, all of different sizes, enter
the circle. He told them, “I have been given the
responsibility for a name for BUILD” and
communicated what inspired the gathering. The
name of the first spirit bear to appear to Jules was
Manitou Makwa. Manitou Makwa brings the colour
blue and represents courage, bravery, and healing.
Following the vision of the spirit, an Ojibway
phrase came to Jules – Songay Damowin – meaning
“The House of Courage.”
Indeed, BUILD has become Songay Damowin – not
by what it offers to trainees, but by what trainees
bring to BUILD. Many overcome huge hurdles to get
to work every day with the purpose of changing
their lives and the lives of their families. These
hurdles can include a criminal record, addiction,
trauma, lack of education, or no driver’s license,
among others. We recognize that it takes each
trainee great courage to overcome obstacles in
their life.
Courage does not mean taking action with the
absence of fear but taking action in spite of fear.
Our annual report is dedicated to honouring Songay
Damowin.
18
Lawrence Poirier
Chair
Jerry Woods
Vice-chair
3
Message from the
Directors
“A few months back, City of Winnipeg Police
Chief Devon Clunis came to the Social Enterprise
Centre for a tour. We told him that from our view
at Main and Sutherland, there is no crime problem
in the inner city. Nor do we see a poverty
problem. There is however an employment
problem. As we look at the stacks of resumes
that we can’t get to, we feel certain that the
longest waiting lists in Manitoba are indeed
Aboriginal and new Canadians looking for work.
The good news is that there is lots of work
to do. Social enterprises only do a small
percentage of Manitoba Housing’s work. While
the percentage is growing, there remains
great opportunity. We also see other leading
edge organizations beginning to engage social
enterprises including Manitoba Hydro and the
Canadian Mental Health Commission.
This year our team of directors saw a change of
personnel. We wished Helen Davidson well after
doing BUILD’s financials since our inception in
2006 and we welcomed Kyle Gilbert to take over
the role of Chief Financial Officer. Tyler Pearce
also completed her time at BUILD after taking us
through 3 years of incredible growth. We are very
thankful to Helen and Tyler for their contributions.
2013 - 2014 will usher in a new era for BUILD as
we wind up our three-year agreement with the
Federal Government’s Skills Partnership Fund. We
have been thankful for this support and only wish
that it could continue to support the needs in our
community. Due to the reduction in our Federal
training dollars, we will rebalance towards more
of an employment focus and less training. We
are venturing for the first time away from doing
strictly retrofits to other types of work including
apartment turnovers and installing cabinets.
We are thankful to Manitoba Housing, Manitoba
Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade, and to
the Skills Partnership Fund for being our most
important partners. A special thanks goes to our
co-workers for continuing to inspire us on a daily
basis. We would also like to thank our Board for
their continued leadership and guidance. We are
so very lucky to work with you.
Shaun Loney
Executive Director
Annetta Armstrong
Director Training and Human Resources
4
The BUILD Family of
Social Enterprises
Current and Future
Projects
“Poverty should be thought of as
the absence of prosperity”
BUILD was incorporated in 2006 and reached a
high of 125 employees and $5 million in revenues
this past year. BUILD currently implements
primarily energy and water retrofits however we
are now adding three new divisions: apartment
turnovers, patching and painting, and cabinet
installations. For more info see buildinc.ca
MGR was incorporated in 2009 and reached a high
of 30 employees and $1 million in revenues this
past year. MGR currently focuses on apartment
turnovers, bed bug remediation, and furnace
installations. They plan to add a permanent
insulation division this year and expect to see
growth in their current activities as well. For more
info see mgrinc.ca
The Social Enterprise Centre (765 Main Inc)
was incorporated in 2011 by BUILD, MGR and
Pollock’s Hardware Co-op. It is a 30,000 square foot
“social enterprise park” at the corner of Winnipeg’s
Main and Sutherland. It has annual revenues of
$180,000 and has one employee. The SEC hopes to
add more buildings in the years to come to house
our growing social enterprise community. For more
info see socialenterprisecentrewpg.org
Aki Energy (Aki meaning “Earth” in Ojibway)
is our newest Social Enterprise (incorporated in
2013). In its first year, Aki enabled 120 geothermal
installations ($1.8 million dollars) on two First
Nations (Fisher River Cree Nation and Peguis First
Nation). This work is paid for entirely out of the
$150,000 per year in electric bill reductions. Aki
trained 28 community members, 22 of whom were
employed this year by band-owned construction
companies. Next year, Aki intends to add three
additional First Nations working on geothermal
energy in their housing stock and in the private
sector, bringing the total to 5. For more
information see akienergy.com
BUILD Prosperity: Energizing Manitoba’s
Local Economy is Shaun Loney’s book on BUILD
and the local economy in Manitoba. Now available
free of charge on BUILD’s website. See buildinc.ca
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Overview of BUILD
and Programs
BUILD is a social enterprise and training program
that hires Aboriginal, newcomer and inner-city
residents – all people who can face significant
and multiple barriers to the labour market.
Employees in our program work with us for six
months, learning basic trades skills, construction
site protocols and safety, while upgrading math
and language skills, and engaging in life-skills
programming.
Our Apprenticeship program is geared towards
Aboriginal Level 1 Carpenters, who work under
our Journeymen for 1,800 hours to learn the skills
needed to successfully complete their technical
training.
Training
Outcomes
Skill building
Participants learn basic
carpentry, plumbing, and/
or painting and drywall
techniques, tool use and
safety procedures.
Trades-based
career building
Upwards of 70% of people
entering our Training
program successfully
complete their 910 hours
of on-the-job work
experience.
Mentorship
Peer-to-peer support
and one-on-one training
creates a supportive
on-the-job learning
environment.
Life building
Advocacy is provided to address barriers to safe
or adequate housing, childcare or other home
life issues that can challenge work-readiness.
Workshops and classes build life skills.
The greater part of our work is geared toward
completing energy- and water-retrofits in homes
where lower-income people reside. Our contracts
are largely with Manitoba Housing, meaning that
bill reductions stemming from our retrofits save
both residents and government money. Our new
apartment turnover division prepares Manitoba
Housing units for new tenants and benefits
the community by increasing opportunities for
employment.
Over the course of 2012 - 2013, over 140 people
worked in or are continuing in our training and
apprenticeship programs. We completed energy
retrofits in 525 dwellings, completed nearly 3000
water retrofits, and completed multiple apartment
turnovers.
7
8
Essential skills and
training-for-employment
Class or workshop
Number of times
offered
English as an Additional Language
First Aid Certification
Math and numeracy
WHMIS
77
8
133
11
UAS Work Ethic Workshops
Money Management Training
(including Saving Circle)
Apprenticeship Program
Number
Completed Level 1 hours
Continuing in program
5
7
Note: Above results are based on the contract date of the funder, SPF
(April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012)
48
Number of times
offered
Identification collection
Parenting
Sweats
BUILD-a-Bike workshop
Literacy class
Cooking class
Floor hockey
Program Outcomes
6
Life skills programs
and workshops
Class, workshop
or support
Level 1 Apprenticeship
Retrofit
Outcomes
72
15
6
10
10
4
18
Utility bill reductions
Our retrofit work benefits the community by
lowering utility bills. Our work in Manitoba Housing
units nets an estimated $2.5 million in utility bill
reductions per year.
Trainee Program
Outcomes
Trainee program Number
Exit to Apprenticeship
Exit to employment
Exit to education
Did not complete
Continuing in program
Note: Above results follow the contract dates of funders – ETT (May 30,
2012 to June 1, 2013) and SPF (April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013)
12
40
20
60
65
Anti-poverty strategy
Our social enterprise employs people from our
neighbourhood and our work benefits the community.
9
Energy retrofits
2012 to 2013
Energy retrofits
by job type
Total annual
utility bill reductions
Number of
units
Attics
Basements
Total number of units by address
202
323
525
Net Present Value
Number
of units
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
1,200
891
526
338
Total Water Retrofits
2,955
Apartment turnovers
2012 to 2013
Apartment turnover
by provider
$34.3 million (1)
(1) Calculated based on averages provided by Manitoba Hydro,
Manitoba Housing. Assuming a 30 year lifespan of retrofits at
a 3% discount rate.
Activities
zxcri
hgfdt
swrtu
Active transportation
Number
of units
Manitoba Housing Authority
11
Total Apartment Turnovers
11
Utility bill reductions
2012 to 2013
Annual Utility Bill Reductions
June 1, 2012 - May 31, 2013 MHA Insulation
MHA Water Retrofits
$39,375
$827,400
Total Annual Savings $866,775
10
$34,210
$402,300
$440,510
$471,759
$338,368
$866,775
Total Accumulated Annual Savings
$2.5 million
Water retrofits
2012 to 2013
Water retrofit
by quarter
2006-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
In partnership with The WRENCH and with funding
from Neighbourhoods Alive!, an after-work bike
building and repair workshop was offered to
trainees. The project included funds to design
and build a small in-house bicycle tool cupboard.
The tool cupboard is open weekly for trainees
to repair their bikes and mentor others on active
transportation, bike repair and safety.
Supporting
social enterprise
All toilets removed by
BUILD are recycled by
SSCOPE (Self-Starting
Creative Opportunities
of People in
Employment), a nonprofit organization
that employs people
who are consumers
of mental health
services.
11
International World Water Day
With nearly 7,000 low-flush toilets installed since
2006, BUILD reduced water consumption equivalent
to the volume of West Hawk Lake. On March 22,
2013, BUILD was recognized for this environmental
work by the Government of Manitoba. Minister
of Conservation Gord Mackintosh, and Minister of
Housing and Community Development Kerri IrvinRoss joined us at Pollock’s Hardware Co-op to
celebrate our accomplishment.
World Water Day
2013
Water Retrofit Savings
BUILD
Retrofits
annually
warm up winnipeg
100
2006 - 2008
1500
2009 - 2010
2010 - 2011
1600
2011 - 2012
1100
2012 - 2013
2500
Total
6800
Accumulated
dollars
Accumulated
litres
$20,000
8 million
$360,000
128 million
$810,000
256 million
$1,110,000
344 million
$1,710,000
544 million
$4,010,000
1.2 billion
“Lower Utilities, Stronger Communities”
Extracurricular activities
BUILD sponsored a floor hockey team for trainees
and apprentices with the Winnipeg Alternative
Hockey Association. Our team won top spot in
their division. Way to go, Team BUILD!
12
Community involvement
BUILD supports and celebrates employees
getting involved in their community as engaged
citizens, and as a members of a vibrant
Aboriginal community. This year, BUILD employees
participated in a Habitat for Humanity build,
attended the annual Keeping the Fires Burning
fundraising gala in support of Ka Ni Kanichihk and
the Butterfly Gala in support of the North Point
Douglas Women’s Centre.
Level 1 Carpentry at Red River College
As a pilot project, Apprenticeship Manitoba and
Red River College offered a special class of
technical training in Level 1 Carpentry for BUILD’s
Apprentices. The pilot project included extending
the length of technical training from 8 weeks
to 12, and allowed BUILD’s Apprentices to go to
college with built-in peer-support. Along with the
standard subject areas, Apprentices were offered
a class on indigenous involvement in the trades
(before and after colonization), and took enhanced
math classes, covering topics normally taken up in
second level.
Prior to starting their technical training, the
apprentices upgraded their skills with help from
BUILD trainers and Workplace Education Manitoba
(WEM) tutors. The apprentices participated in a
weekly 3.5 hour Apprentice workshop designed to
build their math and academic literacy skills, and 6
hours per week of math tutoring by WEM. 9 of 12
Apprentices successfully completed their level.
13
BUILD
to
Beyond
Sharing the success
stories
BUILD helped me realize my
potential by building my skills
and talents, which provided
me confidence to learn new
skills. BUILD also provided
a safe work environment –
no one has to worry about
harassment on the job site.
Kalifan Gatete
MGR – Bug and
Scrub Team
Eve Paprocki
MGR – Gas Fitter
Apprentice
It takes courage for individuals
when you come from another
country and start a new life.
People are scared. Working
at BUILD gave me courage to
learn new skills and go ahead
to discover new opportunities.
Yesterday I was a BUILD
trainee; today I am a Bug and
Scrub Technician. To be able
to help people is amazing.
I hated to leave BUILD and
the transition was difficult.
But without BUILD I wouldn’t
have gotten the opportunity
to work in a supervisor
position at MGR. In the future
I see myself supervising
bigger crews and eventually
getting my Red Seal.
Reg LaPorte
MGR – Supervisor
Without BUILD, I would
never have known
about opportunities for
apprenticeship at R.B.
Russell. I learned how to be
punctual and get along with
others while working.
John Cochrane Sundial Building Performance – Insulator
BUILD taught me to have
patience. It is tough work at
first but if you listen and pay
attention you will learn a lot.
Courage is being able to
wake up every day and go
to work and get done what
has to be done.
14
David Crassweller
BUILD prepared me in
terms of work habit, how
to use the tools, and the
class and courses were
helpful. The apprenticeship
workshop helped me a lot
for school because when
it came to math, it was a
Ervin Ironstand
lot of review for what
Pagnotta Industries Inc.
Level 2 Apprentice
we went through with
Peter (Employment and
Apprenticeship Coordinator) – There were a
lot of important things that he taught us that
we needed to know for school. There was a
foundation built at BUILD.
You build courage to come to work on the
first day and every day after. You build
friendships. You build skills and responsibility
and when you are finished at BUILD you will
carry on to build your life. That’s what the
House of Courage represents to me.
While being at BUILD, I
learned to ask for help
and that was really tough.
I was in and out of jail
throughout my first level.
I had to call Peter from
the Remand Centre to tell
him that I couldn’t come
to work, twice. I got fired
Trevor Lambert
twice. I had to come and
Manshield
be really honest and tell
Construction
Level 2 Apprentice
Peter and Terry (BUILD
coordinator) what was going on with me. I had
to come up with a plan. I had to go out and get
help with my addiction, my homelessness, my
relationships, my family, everything. So, BUILD
was a big part of that and showed me that it was
OK to ask for help. I was 35 and I always thought
that I could do it on my own. It was getting too
crazy and I wasn’t getting anywhere. I was totally
confident that if I was honest with myself and
with people at BUILD that they would work with
me. And now it’s good. I’ve been sober for 10
months, completely out of trouble, on my Second
Level and things are just going really good.
One piece of advice I would offer to new
trainees is be honest about what’s keeping you
back. You know? Take a really good look at the
things that are keeping you from succeeding and
be honest about them.
Bockstael
Construction
Level 2 Apprentice
15
Work Ethic
Workshops
BUILDing the Bridge:
Closing the Training Gap was a project funded
by The Urban Aboriginal Strategy for curriculum
development and delivery of six work-ethic
workshops and trades-based workshops for all
BUILD Trainees. Workshops focused on aspects
of work-and-training related issues that urban
Aboriginal people entering the trades face. Funding
16
also provided for the development of a selfdirected / volunteer delivered math curriculum as
well as Trainer staff development.
Partners included: the Manitoba Construction
Sector Council (MCSC); the Aboriginal Education
and ACCESS Program, School of Indigenous
Education at Red River College; Manitoba Hydro;
the Province of Manitoba, MB4Youth/Aboriginal
Initiatives; Millennium Stimulation Services Ltd;
Moskal Electric; Kingdom Home Inspections;
community elders and youth workers.
17
Funders and
Supporting
Partners
BUILD’s training program is supported by:
Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade, Government
of Manitoba
Skills Partnership Fund, Government of Canada
BUILD’s Apprenticeship program is supported by:
Skills Partnership Fund, Government of Canada
Additional skills, social and cultural support
provided by:
Citizens’ Bridge
Eagle Urban Transition Centre
Enterprising Non-Profits, Canadian CED Network
Government of Manitoba, Neighbourhoods Alive!
Government of Manitoba, The Manitoba Immigrant
Integration Program
Manitoba Construction Sector Council
North End Community Renewal Corporation
United Way of Winnipeg
Urban Aboriginal Strategy, Government of Canada
Workplace Education Manitoba
Winnipeg Repair Education and Repair Hub
(W.R.E.N.C.H.)
Board
members
Lawrence Poirier, Chair
Jerry Woods, Vice-Chair
Charlene Desjarlais, Secretary-Treasurer
Don Miedema
Maxine Angoo
Nina Larson
Robert Neufeld
George Ryle
Mike Wolchock
Special thanks to photographer Maria Cristina
Laureano
for the portraits series of past
BUILD Trainees and Apprentices. Maria contributed
additional photos, seen on pages 7, 9, 13, 19.
Thank you and best wishes to John Cochrane,
David Crassweller, Kalifan Gatete, Ervin Ironstand,
Trevor Lambert, Reg LaPorte, Eve Paprocki for
sharing their post-BUILD journey.
Supportive partners:
BUILD’s work would not be possible without the
support of the following organizations:
Aboriginal Education and ACCESS Program, School
of Indigenous Education at Red River College
Apprenticeship Manitoba
Inner City Renovations
Kinew Housing
Manitoba Green Retrofit
Manitoba Housing
Native Women’s Transition Centre
North End Community Renewal Corporation (NECRC)
Pollock’s Hardware Cooperative
Social Enterprise Centre
West Central Women’s Resource Centre
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19
BUILD
BUILD Inc.
200 - 765 Main Street
Winnipeg, MB
R2W 3N5
p: 204 943 5981 f: 204 943 6003
buildinc.ca