Sault Ste Marie, ON — OCTOBER 10, 2023 – PLATO today announces that, with support from Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), it has launched its software tester training program in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. As Canada’s first majority Indigenous-owned software testing and technology services company, PLATO is breakingdown barriers of entry for Indigenous people to work in the technology sector. Through its sponsorship agreement with OLG, PLATO will train, and ultimately provide employment to 15 Indigenous students.
Since 2015, PLATO has delivered its train-and-employ model in communities across Canada, including in Sault Ste. Marie, Ottawa and Toronto, among others. The 2023 cohort marks the fourth class delivered in Sault Ste. Marie since the company opened its delivery centre there in 2019. PLATO is fifty-one per cent Indigenous owned, with one third of its workforce from First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities across Canada.
“Our partnership with OLG and their sponsorship of our Sault Ste. Marie class demonstrates OLG’s belief in our train-and-employ model,” said Keith McIntosh, PLATO’s CEO. “OLG is an example of how corporate Canada can meaningfully contribute to economic reconciliation. They are helping remove barriers to Indigenous student participation in our training program and providing us with software testing work that gives our graduates real-world, hands-on experience.”
The financial sponsorship contribution from OLG offsets PLATO’s cost to deliver their 20-week training program and support students throughout the training. Upon successful completion of the training program, graduates are offered full-time, permanent employment with PLATO, where they will start their technology careers as part of a team that delivers software testing services to clients across Canada and around the world.
“OLG is proud to sponsor this new class of PLATO trainees as they take their first step towards an exciting and rewarding career in the IT sector,” said Duncan Hannay, OLG’s President and CEO. “We are building on the strong partnership we have with PLATO, as they continue to make a significant difference by training and employing Indigenous people across Canada, including here in Sault Ste. Marie. OLG has deep roots in the Soo and our collaboration with PLATO is an important part of our contributions to the community as we continue to advance Truth and Reconciliation.”
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
Mirachimi, NB
Halifax, NS