Anishinabek Employment and Training Services (AETS)

What Anishinabek Employment and Training Services (AETS) does

Anishinabek Employment & Training Services (AETS) is a not-for-profit organization incorporated and operating in Ontario, Canada, delivering culturally grounded employment and training services to on- and off-reserve members of nine Anishinaabek First Nations communities in the North Superior Treaty Region of Northwestern Ontario. Its service portfolio includes one-on-one employment counselling, job development, resume and interview preparation, sector-specific Career Pathways training (Personal Support Worker, Food Service Worker, Construction Craft Worker), the Justice Bundle Program for clients navigating the justice system, the Reaching Home Initiative for homelessness prevention, the Wellness Opportunities Initiative for persons with disabilities, and the MINO BIMAADIZIWIN digital-inclusion bundle (laptop loans, internet connectivity, cell-phone-to-employment via tbaytel/Touch Unwired). The organization is one of 22 Indigenous Skills Employment and Training Agreement (ISETA) Program Agreement Holders in Ontario (and one of 110 in Canada) and operates within the Integrated Employment Service Delivery (IESD) Model administered by Serco Canada Inc. via the EmployNext platform.

AETS is funded primarily through government program agreements — federal ISETA, provincial Employment Ontario (via the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development), Employment and Social Development Canada's Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities, and Reaching Home (homelessness). Services are delivered at no cost to eligible individuals. Distribution is through three Thunder Bay offices (Algoma Street headquarters, Park Avenue within the former Eaton's Building, and Red River Road), in-community visits to the nine First Nations, an online self-service client portal (superior.aets.org/Client), and an employer/job-seeker portal at aets.org. The go-to-market motion is community-led, anchored by partnerships with First Nations band offices, Elder programs, school boards (Lakehead Public Schools, Superior-Greenstone District School Board), Indigenous-serving organizations (Dilico Anishinabek Family Care, Beendigen, KKETS, Metis Nation of Ontario, Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres, SLAAMB, Shooniyaa Wa-Biitong, Tungasuvvingat Inuit, Indigenous Works), and a co-chair role on the Aboriginal Apprenticeship Board of Ontario (AABO) North West Link Committee.

The organization is governed by a Board of Directors representing the nine member First Nations, has no parent company, no subsidiaries, no disclosed funding rounds, and no private equity or venture capital involvement. Technology footprint is administrative — a website, client-intake portal, and externally operated EmployNext platform — with no proprietary AI/ML, patents, or technology product.

Name

Anishinabek Employment and Training Services (AETS)

Legal name

Anishinabek Employment & Training Services

Website

https://aets.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AETS is a Thunder Bay-based not-for-profit that delivers culturally grounded employment, training, and wraparound services to nine Anishinaabek First Nations communities in Northwestern Ontario, funded primarily through ISETA and Employment Ontario.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indigenous Employment Services

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workforce & Job-Seeker Services (Community-Based) (EDAAAFAM), Integrated Education & Training (IET) / Contextualized ABE (Workforce-Linked) (EDAAAAAK)

Keywords

• Indigenous employment services
• First Nations training programs
• Employment Ontario services
• Cultural workforce development
• Apprenticeship skilled trades

Headquarters

HQ city

Thunder Bay, Ontario

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government-Funded Employment Services: AETS operates as a not-for-profit organization funded primarily through the Indigenous Skills Employment and Training Agreement (ISETA) and Employment Ontario programs administered by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (OMLITSD). Revenue supports employment counselling, training programs, wage subsidies, and wraparound supports for job seekers and employers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AETS provides culturally grounded employment and training services to Indigenous members of nine Anishinabek First Nations communities in Northwestern Ontario, including one-on-one career counselling, resume development, job matching, sector-specific training (PSW, Construction Craft Worker), employer recruitment services, wage subsidies, and wraparound supports such as the Justice Bundle Program, Reaching Home housing initiative, and Wellness Opportunities Initiative. Services are delivered at no cost to eligible individuals and funded through the Indigenous Skills Employment and Training Agreement (ISETA), Employment Ontario, and Employment and Social Development Canada.

Product overview

Anishinabek Employment and Training Services (AETS) is a not-for-profit organization providing project-based and workplace-based training to support the education-to-training and employment needs of on- and off-reserve members of nine Anishinabek communities in Northwestern Ontario. The organization operates as a service delivery organization rather than a technology product company. Its core offerings include Employment Ontario services for job seekers and employers, sector-specific training programs (Health, Construction), and specialized initiatives such as the Justice Bundle Program, Reaching Home Initiative for housing support, Wellness Opportunities Initiative for persons with disabilities, and MINO BIMAADIZIWIN (encompassing Continuing Education, Laptop Loan Program, Internet Connectivity, and Cell Phone Path to Employment). AETS also operates the Systems Innovation Project—a multi-year initiative addressing Indigenous youth education-to-employment barriers—and manages the AABO North West Link Committee for skilled trades apprenticeship. The organization serves nine First Nations and partners with Employment Ontario, EmployNext/Serco Canada, and various Indigenous Skills Employment and Training Agreement (ISETA) holders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Employment Ontario Services Culturally grounded employment and training supports delivered across Northwestern Ontario for individuals at all career stages, including job seekers and employers, coordinated through Serco Canada Inc. via the EmployNext platform under the Integrated Employment Service Delivery (IESD) Model.
• Job Seeker Services One-on-one employment support including career exploration, resume development, job search strategies, interview preparation, skills training, job placements, and referrals to education and community services for Indigenous job seekers from the nine member First Nations.
• Employer Services Recruitment, job matching, wage subsidies, training supports, guidance on culturally respectful hiring practices, and ongoing employer-employee support for employers seeking Indigenous talent in Northwestern Ontario.
• Justice Bundle Program Community-focused initiative supporting Indigenous clients navigating the justice system with practical guidance, culturally grounded support, referrals, and learning opportunities for reintegration into employment and community life.
• Reaching Home Initiative Housing support program applying a Housing First approach to prevent and reduce homelessness among AETS First Nations citizens, providing culturally appropriate, client-centered housing assistance.
• Wellness Opportunities Initiative Program supporting persons with disabilities to prepare for, find, and maintain employment or become self-employed, funded by Employment and Social Development Canada through the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities.
• MINO BIMAADIZIWIN Multi-component program including Continuing Education, Laptop Loan Program, Internet Connectivity Program, and Cell Phone Path to Employment supporting Indigenous workforce development and addressing digital access barriers.
• Cell Phone Path to Employment Provides cell phones with 500 free daytime minutes to approved job seekers through partnership with tbaytel and Touch Unwired, with weekly follow-up and tracking requirements.
• Career Pathways Programs Sector-specific training programs including Health Sector (Personal Support Worker, Food Service Worker) and Construction Sector (Construction Craft Worker) with employer partnerships and defined graduate outcomes.
• Entrepreneurship Pathways Support for Indigenous entrepreneurs through connections to funders (including PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise and Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund), business development resources, and success stories showcasing Indigenous-owned businesses.
• Continuing Education Education programming including Grade 11 Interdisciplinary Studies and land-based learning initiatives supporting Indigenous youth education-to-employment pathways.
• AABO North West Link Committee Committee enhancing relationships between AETS and Northwestern Ontario industry organizations to increase Indigenous recruitment, training, employment, and apprenticeship in skilled trades.

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Serco Canada Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSerco Canada Inc. is the Service System Manager (SSM) administering employment services in Northwestern Ontario through EmployNext. AETS has an agreement with Serco as an ISETA Holder to incorporate Indigenous perspectives across the provincial network to support the Integrated Employment Service Delivery (IESD) Model.
• Anishinabek Nation (Union of Ontario Indians)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAETS is part of the Anishinabek Nation family and collaborates with the Union of Ontario Indians on labour market development initiatives. Both are ISETA holders in Northwestern Ontario.
• Kiikenomaga Kikenjigewen Employment & Training Services (KKETS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFellow ISETA holder in Northwestern Ontario. AETS co-chairs the North Western Ontario Link Committee with KKETS and other ISETA holders to increase Indigenous recruitment, training, employment and apprenticeship in the skilled trades.
• Metis Nation of OntariominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFellow ISETA holder in Northwestern Ontario, collaborating on Indigenous skills and employment training initiatives.
• Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship CentresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerISETA holder (through Thunder Bay Indian Friendship Centre) collaborating on Indigenous employment and training across Northwestern Ontario.
• Shooniyaa Wa-Biitong (Grand Council Treaty # 3)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFellow ISETA holder in Northwestern Ontario, working collaboratively on Indigenous employment and training initiatives.
• Sioux Lookout Area Aboriginal Management Board (SLAAMB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFellow ISETA holder in Northwestern Ontario, collaborating on Indigenous skills employment and training.
• Tungasuvvingat InuitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFellow ISETA holder in Northwestern Ontario region.
• Aboriginal Apprenticeship Board of Ontario (AABO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAABO enhances relationships between AETS and unionized and non-unionized apprenticeship Northwestern Ontario Industry Organizations and employers. AETS co-chairs the North Western Ontario Link Committee to increase Indigenous recruitment, training, employment and apprenticeship in the skilled trades.
• Maamaawisiiwin Education Research Centre (MERC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMERC brings over 20 years of Indigenous community development, research, and in-service teacher education experience to the Systems Innovation initiative aimed at improving high school graduation and employment outcomes for Anishinaabe youth.
• Lakehead Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLakehead has become a territorial leader in Indigenous education with almost 50% of students self-identifying as Indigenous. Partner in Systems Innovation initiative to improve education-to-employment pathways.
• Superior-Greenstone District School BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides quality education in Northwestern Ontario and holds Education Service Agreements with several area First Nation Communities. Partner in Systems Innovation initiative.
• Outland Youth Employment Program (OYEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFor over 20 years, OYEP has operated a national six-week land-based job training, education and work experience program for Indigenous youth. Co-organizer of summer employment programs (2025, 2026, 2027) for AETS.
• Indigenous WorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization working with companies to strengthen performance in Indigenous employment and workplace inclusion. Provides project-related services to local business and industry partners.
• Dilico Anishinabek Family CareminorOthersIndigenous health and wellness organization providing mental health, addictions, and family care services. Community partner for wellness and support referrals for AETS clients.
• Northern Ontario Education Leaders (NOEL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of leaders of educational organizations in Northwestern Ontario serving as a forum for topics of common concern and project development benefiting students.
• BeendigenminorOthersIndigenous women's crisis organization providing emergency shelter, support programs, and counselling services incorporating the Seven Grandfather Teachings. Community partner for wellness referrals.
• North Superior Workforce Planning Board (NSWPB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Employment Planning Council providing labour market information, apprenticeship hub services, and resources for employers and Indigenous inclusion policy development.
• Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund (NADF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous economic development organization providing financing and business development support for Indigenous entrepreneurs in Northwestern Ontario.
• PARO Centre for Women's EnterpriseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting women's enterprise development. Potential entrepreneurship funder referenced on AETS Entrepreneurship Pathways page.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kiikenomaga Kikenjigewen Employment & Training Services (KKETS): Fellow ISETA holder in Northwestern Ontario that delivers Indigenous employment, training, and apprenticeship services. AETS co-chairs the North Western Ontario Link Committee with KKETS, making it the most directly comparable peer in the same region and mandate.
• Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Education & Training Institute: Indigenous-registered education and training institute in Northern Ontario delivering workforce training, trades programs, and employment-readiness supports. Overlaps directly with AETS's Career Pathways (PSW, Construction Craft Worker) and employment-counselling mandate.
• Seven Generations Education Institute: Indigenous-led education and training organization serving Treaty #3 communities, delivering employment, training, and post-secondary programming. Comparable to AETS in serving on- and off-reserve Indigenous members with culturally grounded workforce development.
• Anishinabek Nation (Union of Ontario Indians): Political representative body for Anishinabek First Nations and a fellow ISETA holder. AETS operates within the Anishinabek Nation family and shares overlapping labour-market development and Indigenous-empowerment mandates.
• Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment & Training: Toronto-based Indigenous employment and training organization funded under the same ISET national agreement. Operates an equivalent employment-services and wraparound-support model for urban Indigenous populations, making it a directly comparable peer in mandate and funding source.

Broad incumbents

• Indigenous Works: National organization supporting Indigenous employment and workplace inclusion with corporate partners. Comparable in mandate around Indigenous-inclusive hiring practices and employer engagement, though operating at a national rather than regional delivery scale.
• Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres: Provincial umbrella for Indigenous Friendship Centres and ISETA holder (via Thunder Bay Indian Friendship Centre). Comparable as a broader Indigenous employment-and-training provider network operating in the same Northwestern Ontario geography.
• Metis Nation of Ontario: Provincial Indigenous governance body and fellow ISETA holder in Northwestern Ontario. Comparable as a broader Indigenous organization delivering employment, training, and economic-development services across Ontario, though with a wider portfolio than AETS.

Others

• Aboriginal Apprenticeship Board of Ontario (AABO): Indigenous apprenticeship coordination body that AETS partners with through the North Western Ontario Link Committee. Included as an ecosystem peer / enabling organization rather than a direct employment-service competitor.
• Serco Canada: Service System Manager administering Employment Ontario's Integrated Employment Service Delivery Model in Northwestern Ontario via EmployNext. Included as a service-system / channel-partner peer rather than a direct service-delivery competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/AETS_Thunderbay
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aetsthunderbay

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Anishinabek Employment and Training Services (AETS)