Indigenous Peoples Archives - SRDC

Understanding the Experiences of Equity-Deserving Students and Prospective Students who Face Barriers Accessing Student Financial Assistance

Wallaa Daramlly — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:53:19 +0000

This project examines the experiences of equity-deserving individuals who face barriers to accessing student financial assistance (SFA) in Canada. Despite the availability of federal and provincial supports, some current and prospective postsecondary students do not apply for or receive financial aid, even when they may be eligible. This study seeks to understand why.

Using a mixed-methods research design, the project gathers evidence from two groups: current postsecondary students who are not using student financial assistance and youth aged 18 to 30 who are not currently enrolled in postsecondary education. Surveys provide national-level insight into awareness, perceptions, and barriers, while in-depth interviews explore how financial, administrative, informational, and personal factors shape decision-making.

By centring the lived experiences of equity-deserving populations, the project aims to generate actionable evidence to inform policy improvements to make SFA more accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of diverse learners across Canada.

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Scaling & Replicator Strategic Evaluation and Learning Support for FSC

Wallaa Daramlly — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 15:12:24 +0000

SRDC is undertaking several evaluations within new categories of Future Skills Centre (FSC) projects. The SCALE initiative invited existing FSC partners whose projects were ready for the next scale-up phase to apply for additional funding to advance their projects along a clearly defined scaling pathway. The projects were selected to answer pressing strategic questions that represent gaps in knowledge and/or practice – and around which FSC investment strategies are oriented. The projects embrace ongoing testing of program feasibility and effectiveness derived from specified scaling objectives. The REPLICATE initiative funds FSC partners whose projects present the best evidence of effectiveness and impact to conduct replication projects with up to two or three different partners working in different geographical locations. The projects test the feasibility of replication as further proof of the effectiveness of the program and help to further build up a cohort of partnerships ready to move towards full scaling and sustainability, as well as test replication as a strategy for project sustainability.

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National Training System to Ensure Low-Carbon Building Performance to Reduce Energy Consumption

Wallaa Daramlly — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 18:09:01 +0000

SkillPlan, in partnership with the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers and Local Unions (IAHFIAW), Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU), Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC), Climate and Industry Research Team (CIRT), and Building Efficiency Resources (BER), is supporting Canada’s climate and low-carbon economy goals by developing, implementing, and evaluating a national energy assessment training program for the Insulator Heat and Frost Red Seal trade. The project will train both unionized and non-unionized journeypersons and apprentices in the Insulator Heat and Frost Red Seal trade with technical, operational, and communication tools to upgrade their knowledge and skills, and develop their leadership capacity.

SRDC is leading a comprehensive needs analysis to support the design of the program training. SRDC will also support this project through developing a comprehensive evaluation framework and protocols, conducting fieldwork, data quality control, analysis, and knowledge dissemination.

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Newcomers with Remote Information and Career Help in British Columbia and Yukon (ENRICH BCY)

Wallaa Daramlly — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 19:26:14 +0000

Led by Douglas College and in partnership with the Yukon Literacy Coalition, this project’s overarching goals are to enhance newcomer settlement and integration in rural and remote regions of British Columbia and the Yukon (BCY). Our approach emphasizes community engagement and local partnerships to co-design online tools and resources that complement rather than duplicate existing in-person services. Specific areas of focus include developing pre-arrival information to enhance migration pathways; facilitating social and economic integration to promote newcomer retention and address local skill and labour needs; supporting truth and reconciliation through the integration of First Nations history, culture, and governance into settlement services; and addressing gaps in existing community and settlement services to improve newcomers’ access to supports. Consultations (in person and remote) with newcomers, employers, First Nations representatives, community leaders, and service providers are used to i) collect information on local contexts, strengths, services, and needs, and ii) co-design and develop ideas for service enhancements to pilot with local communities. Our evaluation focuses on tracking outcomes, identifying areas for improvement, and capturing lessons learned for further enhancement related to program design and delivery.

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Basic Income Feasibility Study

Wallaa Daramlly — Fri, 09 May 2025 18:13:49 +0000

SRDC is working with Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada to explore the feasibility of basic income in Inuit Nunangat and its potential impacts on Inuit women and gender diverse Inuit. A key aspect of this project is to better understand how “success” of any future basic income policy should be defined. SRDC is conducting a targeted document and literature review and key informant interviews. SRDC will produce a final report that emphasizes actionable recommendations for the future, and supports the development of a plan of action/next steps toward a comprehensive feasibility study.

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Expanding Apprenticeship Success Through Improved and Enhanced System of Technology (EAST Project)

Wallaa Daramlly — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 20:11:39 +0000

SkillPlan, BC Construction Industry Skills Improvement Council, in partnership with Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU), Provincial Building Trades Councils (PBTC), U7 SOLUTIONS, British Columbia Colleges (BCC), and the Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC), are providing online educational tools, resources, and materials to support apprentices progressing in and obtaining certification in an apprenticeship in the Red Seal trades. This project will be delivered across Canada. More specifically the project seeks to firstly improve the quality of training in the skilled trades by utilizing a structured, integrated, and accessible online training system and secondly to support Red Seal trades partners to create safe and inclusive workplaces of equity-deserving groups, including women, youth, newcomers, Indigenous and racialized persons, persons with disabilities, as well as low-skilled individuals by expanding training platform and developing new courses. SRDC is helping to test and measure the results of this project through a mixed-methods approach which will include administrative data from online platforms, surveys, and interviews.

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Learning Outside Together: Phase Two of the Early Childhood Educator Outdoor Learning Program

Wallaa Daramlly — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 18:56:36 +0000

Building on the learnings from the previous three years, the second phase of the Learning Outside Together: “Incorporating traditional wisdom and promising practices to futureproof child care programs” (LOT) initiative is funded by the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care. LOT is designed to increase confidence, knowledge, and skills needed to deliver land-based learning opportunities. This online professional development program focuses on supporting educators to create meaningful outdoor experiences with and for children, increase the length of time spent with children outdoors, and learn about Indigenous teachings, protocols and practices related to the land. This three-year project is a continuation of the joint partnership between the Early Childhood Educators of BC (ECEBC), the BC Aboriginal Child Care Society (BCACCS), and SRDC.

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SEED Program

Wallaa Daramlly — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 18:32:46 +0000

This research aims to build on a previous project with SRDC aimed at understanding how the Karma Project, a work-integrated social enterprise, supports the long-term employment and well-being of at-risk youth in North Simcoe County through its Social Enterprise Education (SEED) program. Specifically, this research seeks to further understand the youths’ training and employment journeys, their circumstances before and during their participation in SEED, and the role of SEED in shaping their future employment. Further, this research centres on youth engagement through a community-based, participatory approach that focuses on collaboration and mutual learning.

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Diversifying the Talent Pipelines for In-Demand Red Seal Trades

Wallaa Daramlly — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 16:46:44 +0000

This project focuses on supporting apprentices from equity-deserving groups, including women, gender-diverse individuals, youth, Indigenous people, and racialized individuals in Ontario, Alberta, and Nova Scotia. Build a Dream delivers learning programs aligned with the unique needs of these apprentice groups to improve their overall skills and Red Seal trades competencies. Build a Dream also brings unions and employers together to facilitate more inclusive work placement opportunities.

The project comprises an Apprenticeship Incubator program, which aims to improve the quality of training in the skilled trades by upgrading the social-emotional skills of apprentices. Another programming component, #PowerUP Skills, upgrades apprentices’ technical competencies by providing more hands-on experience in a safe learning environment. Finally, Build a Dream organizes and delivers You’re Hired Road Shows across the country to facilitate the connections between apprentices from equity-deserving groups to employers and unions, improving their access to work placement and employment opportunities. SRDC is the research and evaluation partner of the project, collecting data to conduct implementation research and evaluate the outcomes of all programming components.

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Estimating the Economic Benefit of the Early Years

Wallaa Daramlly — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 11:29:16 +0000

The Martin Family Initiative (MFI) Early Years began in Maskwacis, Alberta, in 2018 with the aim of co-developing and implementing Indigenous-led, community-based, and relationship-driven early childhood services supporting children. The Early Years bridges community expertise and leadership across the health, education, and social services domains to support Indigenous women, children, and families. With support provided to families prenatally through to preschool stages, the program recognizes that strong Indigenous families and communities are integral to fostering healthy child and brain development. The Martin Family Initiative has engaged SRDC to conduct an economic evaluation of the Early Years to gain insight into both the inherent and economic costs and benefits associated with co-developing and implementing a culturally-grounded, holistic, and Indigenous-centred early childhood intervention model. The economic evaluation will comprise the benefits and costs of the Early Years for individuals and families, community, and governments. This project involves collaboration with members of the community, Maskwacis Health services, and the Martin Family Initiative.

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