Nominator Comments:
East Preston Empowerment Academy (EPEA) empowers and equips African Nova Scotian community members with the necessary skills, tools, and confidence to enhance their capabilities and competencies to become productive and employable.
The guidance that is provided by the dedicated staff members of EPEA, help participants through the process of registration and preparation for Red Seal Certification examination.
Any person interested in the trades are exposed to opportunities of employment and the skills necessary to work in various trades, especially in areas where shortages of skilled trade-people exist in Canada. The certification is inter-provincial which allows participants work anywhere in Canada. Each person interested in the trades are exposed to opportunities of employment and the skills necessary to work in various trades, especially in areas where shortages of skilled trade-people exist in Canada. The certification is inter-provincial which allows participants work anywhere in Canada.
EPEA has several pathways projects that aim to directly address the problem of underemployment and under-waged labour in the Province. This enables community members to receive full-time working hours and equitable pay for the skilled work they have been doing for several years, despite their lack of formal training that comes from a college education or apprenticeship training. By becoming Red Seal certified, participants will not only be able to financially support their families, but they will also be able to train younger community members as apprentices, have more employability, grow a business, and allow for succession planning thereby in turn, give back to their community. Collaborating with existing stakeholders’ organizations has been central to the work of the EPEA to date
