Invitation to Participate: CCEDNet has begun and is currently engaged in the recruitment of workers for this project who are unemployed, under-employed, facing barriers to employment or looking to gain new skills. You have demonstrated interest in participating in this project; it would be an honour to support you in your career. This form seeks your informed consent. Choosing whether or not to participate is entirely your choice. If you decide not to participate, there will be no negative impacts on you. The information provided in this form tells you about what is involved in the project, what you will be asked to do, the kind of information that you will be asked to share, and any potential risks or benefits. Please read this form carefully, take all the time you need, and ask any questions you may have.

Consent is an ongoing process that continues for as long as you participate in the project. If something changes during the course of the project or there is any new information that could affect your willingness to continue to participate, you are free to withdraw your consent at any time for any reason, even if nothing in the project has changed. CCEDNet hopes that your participation in this project will not only empower you but also contribute significantly to the development of your community.

Who can take part: To take part in this project, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be 18 years of age or older;
• Be physically based in (or willing to relocate to) one of the aforementioned catchment areas;
• Be legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial and federal legislation and regulations; and
• Be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or persons to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

 

Participation Expectations: If you decide to participate in this project, the following will be expected of you:

• The Worker agrees to participate in a training program designed and paid for by CCEDNet that will allow them to gain additional skills and tools in supporting a clean economy transition and improved job prospects in the future.
• The Worker agrees to be trained by the Employer to gain the skills they need to do the job that they have been assigned. During the training period, CCEDNet agrees to cover either the employment costs (salary, government deductions, benefits), the training costs or a combination for up to a total of 5500 CAD.
• The Worker agrees to develop, at the beginning of the placement, in collaboration with the Employer, a training plan to be achieved during the placement.
• The Worker agrees to become familiar with the work of the Employer, including its structure, personnel, work safety policies and strategic plan.
• With support from the Employer, CCEDNet, and other external supports, the Worker agrees to develop a plan for transitioning into employment, self-employment or advanced education beyond the term of the placement.

 

Data Expectations: CCEDNet will be collecting the following data about all participants in this project:

• Name of community
• Forward sortation area (first 3 characters of postal code)
• Province or territory
• Age range
• Gender identity
• Employment status prior to participation in the project
• Job status prior to participation in the project
• Highest education level completed
• Member of the following marginalised group(s):
  • Person with disability
  • First Nations, Inuit, Metis, Urban and Unaffiliated
  • Newcomer (less than 5 years in Canada)
  • Member of an official language minority community (English or French)
  • Black Canadian or other racialised individual
  • 2SLGBTQIA+
• Participation in work placement
  • Sector of work placement
  • Completion of work placement
  • Retention following completion of work placement
• Use of wrap-around supports
• Employment status following participation in the project
• Job status post-project following participation in the project
• Improvement of work-related skills following participation in the project (employer and participant assessments)

 

Possible risks: In participating in this project, CCEDNet recognises the following risks are possible:

Safety Hazards: Depending on the type of work involved, it is possible that the participant will be exposed to physical risks and safety hazards. CCEDNet will be requiring that the host organisation provides proper safety training and equipment to mitigate these risks.

Workplace Conflicts: Participants may encounter conflicts with coworkers, supervisors, or other team members. CCEDNet will be providing training, both for the Employer and the Worker in an effort to mitigate this risk or allow for the necessary skills to defuse and resolve the conflict.

Limited Career Advancement: Some placements may not provide clear pathways for career advancement within the organisation. Participants may find it challenging to transition into a full-time position or advance in their careers after completing the placement. There is unfortunately no guarantee of ongoing employment with the host organisation or a similar role elsewhere.

Skills Mismatch: The skills acquired during the placement may not align with your long-term career goals or expectations. This can lead to frustration and the need for additional training or education. CCEDNet and community partners will do their best to match Workers and Employers predicated on mutual needs and wants, but this is restricted based on available work placements.

Lack of Mentorship and Supervision: In some cases, participants may not receive adequate mentorship or supervision, which can hinder their learning and professional development. CCEDNet will be requiring Employers to provide adequate mentorship and training. Please report back to CCEDNet if this is the case.

Ethical Concerns: The host organisation's values or practices may not align with your own ethics and principles, leading to moral dilemmas. CCEDNet will be providing training, both for the Employer and the Worker in an effort to mitigate this risk.

Data Leaks: Given that this project takes place in rural catchment areas, there is the possibility that some of the data collected through this project may be leaked to Employers or community members. CCEDNet will be taking measures to encrypt any data collected and keep it secure. In addition, CCEDNet will be providing training to community partners that are involved in data collection to minimise the potential of a data leak.

Possible benefits: Participating in this project can offer numerous benefits including: 

Hands-on Experience: Participants will gain practical, real-world training and experience to support them in building a sustainable career path.

Skill Development: Participants will be provided with an opportunity to develop and enhance essential skills relevant to the industry, such as communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and technical skills.

Networking: Participants have the chance to build professional networks, establish relationships with businesses in their area, and potentially secure future employment opportunities.

Resume Enhancement: Completing this project will add valuable experience to the participant’s résumé, making participants more attractive to potential Employers and increasing their employability.

Exploration of Career Paths: Given the design of this project, participants will be able to explore a different career path, which may help with making informed decisions about future careers.

Confidence Building: Successfully completing a placement program can boost confidence and self-esteem, knowing that one can thrive in a new work environment.

Financial Benefits and Workaround Supports: This project offers compensation, helping participants offset living expenses. CCEDNet is also willing to pay for any wraparound supports that the participant needs in order to break any barriers to going to work. Wraparound supports include, but are not exclusive to:

• Childcare
• Transportation to and from work
• Access to high-speed internet if needed for work
• An interpreter and/or a translator
• English and/or French classes
• Access to therapy

 

Community Benefits: This project centres communities and is designed with the objective of building economic and social resilience in rural communities to mitigate the impacts of climate change whilst acknowledging and addressing marginalisation and barriers to employment. Through participating in this project, Workers directly impact the well-being of their community and its future.

Privacy protections and confidentiality: CCEDNet understands that participants entrust us with sensitive information, and we are committed to safeguarding their privacy. All personal and confidential data, including contact information, identities, and health-related information, will be treated with the utmost care and only accessed by authorised personnel at CCEDNet and the assigned community partner for program-related purposes. The program funder, the Government of Canada, will receive an aggregated form of the data (the data will not be linked to any individual). Employers will not receive any of the data collected with the exception of name, contact information and status in Canada. We strictly adhere to all relevant privacy laws and regulations, ensuring that participants' information is not disclosed without their explicit consent. Additionally, participants can rest assured that discussions, evaluations, and any concerns raised during the program will remain confidential to maintain a respectful and supportive environment.

Reporting: As part of the funding received, aggregated data will be compiled into a formal report detailing the project’s successes and opportunities that will be sent to the Government of Canada. Only group results will be shared, therefore individual participants will not be identified in this report. Other potential reporting includes a report for the municipalities of Arnprior (Ontario), Slave Lake (Alberta) and Golden (British Columbia). Only aggregated data and group results will be used, therefore, you will not be identified in any way in the reports. Any quotes will be anonymised and will not be attributed to a specific individual. If you wish to have access to these reports, please reach out to any of the project contacts or the community partner.

Withdrawing from the project: Participants may withdraw from the project at any time without any negative consequences to their relationship with CCEDNet or the local community partner. Any wraparound supports that have been paid for will remain paid for, no reimbursement will be expected. Any payment that has already been given to the participant for work done will remain with the participant, no reimbursement will be expected. Data collected will remain with CCEDNet, and aggregated data with the Government of Canada. After data is collected, it will not be possible to delete it.

 

Questions: If you have any questions about the data collected or how it will be used, please contact any of the persons listed under “Project Contacts”

 

 

Statement of consent: By signing this form, I agree that:

• The project has been explained to me
• All my questions have been answered
• Possible risks and benefits of this study have been explained to me
• I have been told that my personal information will be protected

 

In addition, I understand that:

• I have the right not to participate and the right to stop at any time
• I may refuse to participate without consequence
• I have a choice of not answering specific questions
• I am free now, and in the future, to ask any questions about the study
• No information that would directly identify me will be released or printed without my consent
• I will receive a signed copy of this consent form