Roy C.

Thirty-year-old Roy is a member of Fort McMurray 468 First Nation.

He participated in the Upskilling Program through Athabasca Tribal Council (ATC) after hearing about it through ATC and his band FM468FN.

According to Roy, the support, guidance and encouragement he received from the program coordinators was very helpful.

“I am extremely pleased that they were so understanding,” he said. “The coordinators have such huge hearts.”

On a typical day, Roy explained he packed a good lunch and had a nutritious breakfast to help him learn during the day and to make the work easier. He participated in class and listened to the teacher. Showing respect towards the students and the instructor was part of his daily routine. “Most importantly, I learned!” Said Roy. “The most surprising thing that I have learned is that I couldn’t believe that I could do this, and now here I am!”

The highlight of the program for Roy was fixing his life and getting it back on track. “I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me,” he said.

Attending this program has led him to successfully having the tools to secure a good high-paying job.

When asked what he would tell someone who is thinking about taking the Upskilling Program or a similar program, Roy said: “You are already halfway there! You got this, nothing can stop you once you put your mind to it!”

The Urban Indigenous Employment Preparation Project (UIEPP) is a partnership between Service Canada, Government of Alberta – Alberta Labour, Keyano College and Athabasca Tribal Council.