Our History
Our History
Northern Community Development Services Corporation (NCDS) has been committed to employment innovation, training, and regional development since its founding in 1975. Here’s a snapshot of our key milestones:
1975
Northern Community Development Services Corporation (NCDS) was incorporated in 1975 as a private charity. Among its successes are the long-running Rainy River District COPE Program (1977 – 1997), Youth Employment Services (Ministry of Education and Training, 1985 – 1997), and the 1982 launch of the Rainy River Business Development Corporation, now the Rainy River Future Development Corporation, which is still active in the economic development of the Rainy River District.
As part of the Community-Based Training sector, NCDS has also designed, developed and provided numerous short-term skill development projects, including Native Homemakers’ Training, Office Administration Skills, Pre-Apprentice Electrical Training, and various computer courses.
NCDS completed 13 years of successful delivery of the Job Connect Program, a youth employment program delivered on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. The NCDS Job Connect Program was the recipient of the MTCU Minister’s Award in Service Innovation in 2006 and the MTCU Minister’s Award for Excellence in Service Quality in 2007.
In September of 1997, NCDS was contracted to deliver Case Management services focused around HRSDC’s Skills Development Program and provide Resource Centre staff to assist individuals with their job search. In April 2003 NCDS once again expanded its services to establish Skills & Employment Source, a program funded by HRSDC to provide the community with a Public Access Resource Centre, to assist the public at large with their employment search. Skills & Employment Source also provided job seekers and employers assistance with applications for Wage Subsidy Programs and Skills Development; both programs enabled unemployed/underemployed individuals to obtain the skills necessary for full-time employment.
NCDS has received funding to provide and facilitate Skills Link Programs in 2002, 2006, 2009 and 2011/12 programs targeted towards barriered youth from the Rainy River District.
With the advent of the LMDA in January 2007 Northern Community Development Services became a co-located agency providing Job Connect, Summer Job Service and Employment Assistance Services funded by Employment Ontario.
2007
In 2007 NCDS initiated, planned, sought funding and hosted a very successful traditional gathering of local 10 First Nations, Métis Federation, stakeholders and government agencies totaling 106 attendees to identify barriers to employment of young aboriginals for which Agency received a letter of congratulations from Mr. Ken Boshcoff, MP.
2010
In 2010, NCDS once again went through further changes when selected by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to provide the new Employment Ontario slate of programs. This signaled the wind down of the Job Connect Program and the Skills and Employment Source that were replaced by Employment Ontario’s new enhanced services.
2013
2014
In 2014 the Canada Ontario Job Grant was introduced to assist employers with short term training cost for new and existing employees.
The YEF program wrapped up in 2015 with the introduction of Youth Job Connect. The YJC program serves youth aged 15-29 who experienced multiple and/or complex barriers to employment.
In 2019, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) announced a transformation and integration of Employment Ontario programming aimed at improving client outcomes. This initiative involved integrating Employment Ontario with Ontario Works Employment Assistance and Ontario Disability Support Program Employment Supports. The integration seeks to streamline services, providing a more comprehensive support system for clients across Ontario. NCDS continues to be a vital part of this evolving landscape, adapting its services to meet the needs of individuals in the Rainy River District while supporting the broader goals of employment service transformation across the province.
NCDS maintains memberships in the following professional organizations: First Work formerly OAYEC, and NTAB (Northwest Training and Adjustment Board).
A volunteer Board of Directors from throughout the Rainy River District governs NCDS.