A Message from CAF's Co-Chair

Tell a friend about the 2008 Conference

Dear Colleagues,

The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum – Forum canadien sur l’apprentissage (CAF-FCA) cordially invites you to its 2008 Conference “Apprenticeship – Our Competitive Advantage”. You won’t want to miss this exciting opportunity to share leading-edge information and to network with other apprenticeship stakeholders.

The CAF-FCA is a not-for-profit, multi-partite organization, bringing together key constituents within the apprenticeship community. CAF-FCA is a unique partnership of representatives from labour, business, the Interprovincial Alliance of Apprenticeship Board Chairs (IPA), educators, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, Aboriginal persons, women, the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA), and Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC).

The 2008 conference will focus on building the business case for apprenticeship by featuring sessions on employer engagement; solving skills shortages; developing winning HR strategies; industry trends, such as sustainability and new technology; and challenges and opportunities from a policy perspective. The program will be highly interactive in nature; supporting and encouraging shared perspectives from presenters and delegates alike.

We are pleased to announce two special guests for 2008. Author, explorer and television host Bruce Kirkby will deliver the keynote address on June 8; and Harry Cook, former Chief of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, will join us as our closing guest speaker on June 10. Mr. Kirkby will share many unique experiences and insights with us, while Mr. Cook’s presentation will pave the way for the National Aboriginal Trades Symposium that follows the 2008 Apprenticeship Conference on June 10 and 11.

The balance of the two-and-a-half day program will offer informative and exciting presentations by renowned Canadian business and labour leaders; showcases and demonstrations; breakout sessions focusing on the latest developments in key areas; opportunities to reach decision-makers in the Canadian apprenticeship community; and a host of networking activities with approximately 450 delegates from across the country.

On behalf of the CAF-FCA Conference Committee and the CAF-FCA Board of Directors, we encourage you to register early for Apprenticeship – Our Competitive Advantage. Please take the opportunity to participate in this important conference and support our Canadian apprenticeship systems.

Sincerely,

Cindy Oliver Conference Co-Chair Labour Representative

Mary Lawson Conference Co-Chair Business Representative