New funding and collaboration will bring information technology training to even more Indigenous communities across Canada
OTTAWA-GATINEAU, ON / September 25, 2023 / PLATO, Canada’s largest Indigenous-owned software testing and technology services company, is proud to announce the successful recruitment for their latest Ottawa-Gatineau-based training program, and new strategic relationships with DIGITAL, Canada’s Global Innovation Cluster for digital technologies, and Deloitte Canada.
Funding from DIGITAL is provided in part by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program and will help PLATO scale its post-secondary accredited foundational software tester training course to over 75 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis trainees across Canada. Throughout the course, many prominent Canadian corporations, including Deloitte, through a three-year strategic commitment, will provide experiential learning opportunities and hands-on project experience to the trainees. Upon completion of the course, each student will be offered fulltime employment with PLATO. PLATO’s project with DIGITAL, Advancing Growth in Canada’s Indigenous Digital Workforce, will help deliver the program closer to Indigenous communities to break down some of the geographic barriers for entry into the field and promote diversity and inclusion in technology. Funding will also support the development and implementation of an Accelerated software tester training program for Indigenous post-secondary graduates and Indigenous professionals who are currently employed and motivated to pursue careers in information technology.
Through a three-year strategic relationship with PLATO, Deloitte will provide experiential learning opportunities and hands-on project experience for Indigenous peoples who are interested in a career in technology. This relationship with PLATO aligns with Deloitte’s desire to inspire change through relationships with Indigenous-owned business, creating Indigenous employment opportunities and enabling Indigenous economic empowerment.
“The future for our new Ottawa-Gatineau trainees starts today, as does an exciting chapter for PLATO,” said Keith McIntosh, Founder and CEO of PLATO. “Successful graduates from our program will start their technology careers with PLATO, bridging the gap for Indigenous communities while additional funding will pave the way to create even more opportunities for Indigenous peoples within information technology.”
“Supporting equity and diversity within Canada’s technology sector is crucial to our country’s continued growth and prosperity,” said Sydney Goodfellow, Director of DIGITAL’s talent-focused program, the Digital Learning Lab. “We’re proud to support organizations like PLATO in breaking down systemic barriers for Indigenous communities to enter and succeed in these industries.”
“We are thrilled to be investing in PLATO, an Indigenous-owned business, as it seeks to offer Indigenous peoples an opportunity to build a career in the tech sector,” said Roland Labuhn, Partner at Deloitte Canada. “At Deloitte, we are driven by the desire to help Indigenous communities thrive by expanding their access to knowledge and ensuring they have equitable access to jobs, training, and education opportunities. It isn’t just about supporting the success of one business but looking to the future of many.”
For more information on PLATO’s services, careers, and software testing training program, including new training opportunities, please visit our website: www.platotech.com.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Jennifer Rushton
PLATO
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
E: jennifer.rushton@platotech.com
T: 705-828-4282
Sydney Redpath
DIGITAL
Director, Communications
E: media@digitalsupercluster.ca
T: 250-617-4954
Marilyne Plouffe
Deloitte Canada
Manager, Public Relations
E: mplouffe@deloitte.ca
T: 514-393-5471
About PLATO
PLATO is Canada’s only Indigenous software testing and technology services company. PLATO’s full suite of software testing services include test automation, functional testing, performance testing, test advisory, ERP testing, accessibility testing, content migration, and content quality assurance. In addition to providing clients the highest quality software testing services, PLATO is creating careers in technology for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people from coast to coast through its innovative train-and-employ model. PLATO has offices surrounding Indigenous communities across Canada, with delivery centres located in the following cities:
Vancouver, B.C.
Victoria, B.C.
Kamloops, B.C.
Calgary, AB
Regina, SK
Prince Albert, SK
Sault Ste.Marie, ON
Toronto, ON
Ottawa-Gatineau, ON
Fredericton, NB
Miramichi, NB
Halifax, NS
About DIGITAL
DIGITAL grows Canadian businesses through the development, adoption and deployment of Canadian-made technologies and by working with industry to develop a digitally skilled workforce to positively impact lives across our country. We bring together businesses, academia, community and government agencies to solve some of industry and society’s biggest challenges – better and faster than any single organization can do on its own. Through a powerful model that combines cross-sector collaboration, Canadian IP creation and results-based co-investment, we unlock the potential of Canadian industry to lead and succeed in the digital world.
Ahead of the curve starts here. For more information, visit: https://www.digitalsupercluster.ca/