North Okanagan Friendship Centre
Vernon
Contact Employment Training Coordinator Urban Employment
Note: The First Nations Employment Centre (FNES) is now the North Okanagan Friendship Centre (NOFC)
FNES is the place to start building your future. We envision our First Nations Clients to be empowered through culture, wellness, achievement, and self–sufficiency. FNES offers customized employment and training services designed specifically to provide First Nations people with the education and skills they require to compete equally and effectively in today’s job market.
Gathering our Voices Youth Conference in Kelowna March 2017.
Our Mission is to increase the employability and employment rate of First Nations people of the North Okanagan Region. By providing employment counselling and job referrals, the First Nations Employment Services assists clients in preparation for the labour market. Referrals to educational programs provide clients with the opportunity to develop new skills or change their career path. We as Employment Counsellors have developed effective methods for improving job readiness and job prospects for unemployed adults and youth.
Changes: This has been very busy year of change and continues improvement for FNES. We started the year by moving office location which provides a unique lay out that allows for sounder monitoring and easier assistance for clients when using the computer workroom. Also, the FNFC and FNES enhanced the safety for staff by replacing the receptionist desk with a new secure and space friendly duel working area desk.
Drop-In Clients: From April 1st, 2016 to March 31st 2017 we served 1346 drop in clients. Our mandate is to serve the Urban Aboriginal population which includes Status, Non-status, Metis, Inuit and person’s self-identifying as Aboriginal. Computer assistance is available for our clients as well as the use of a fax machine, phone for work related long distance and local calls, and photocopy services all at no charge to the client.
Case Managed Clients: In 2016/2017 FNES managed 166 case files. Clients that are case managed have at least three interventions. All case managed clients are assessed by the case manager and services are determined from that assessment.
What a tremendous year with all our clients! First Nations Employment Services would like to thank the Okanagan Training and Development Council, for making the year such a success for our clients in Vernon and the surrounding area...
Read our entire annual report in the: 
OTDC Annual Report 2016/17
Past Reports
OTDC & FNES Testimonials
Thank you for all your support and efforts. I wouldn't have been able to have found F/T employment without you. The teamwork your staff puts forth is excellent. The only reason I accessed other Employment Services is because your technology did not equal theirs. Thanks for being available and flexible. I wouldn't have been this successful in Vernon w/o you. Emma Louie
When I moved to Vernon I had no contacts. I put my name to volunteer at the with FNES. Here I learned about community resources, met new people, updated my first aid and found employment. Volunteering builds self-esteem, adds to your resume, and may lead to a paying position. Linda Lee
The personnel at FNES are caring, great listeners, and a great source of resources. With their expertise, I was able to harness my skills and experiences and attain a position with the First Nations Friendship Centre. Lana Louis
Thanks to the FNES staff for help and support in obtaining employment that I am enjoying. They are also helping me look at my goal of starting my own business. (We are very pleased that the manager of London Drugs, Paul Matheson, has contacted us as a follow up to the December OTDC meeting.) Cathleen Broman & Paul Matheson
I wish to convey my most sincere thanks to FNES for all the hard work in capturing my job. I am so happy working where I am working as a First Cook, earning a very good salary for the first time in my life. I am respected and have recognition for my skills and capabilities. I look forward to working with them towards getting my apprenticeship. Russell Davis
A Big Thank You to the women at the FNES for all the encouragement, the support, resume writing, cover letters, the practice interviews and challenging employers who owed me wages and vacation pay. With their help, I secured a position with Interior Health. I thank you for all the help. Yvonne Lebedoff