Given its unique ownership structure, it's perhaps no surprise that Thunder Bay-based Wasaya Airways LP places a strong emphasis on personal development, particularly among First Nations staff.
After all, the core beliefs and guiding principles of the company stem largely from the 10 First Nations communities that own the company, says Erin Anderson, human resources coordinator with Wasaya Airways.
These include the Bearskin, Kasabonika, Keewaywin, Kingfisher Lake, Muskrat Dam, Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, Nibinamik, Pikangikum, Wapekeka, and Wunnumin Lake First Nations.
"A lot of it is about respect, partnership and trust," says Anderson about Wasaya, which celebrated its 20-year anniversary this year.
"It's about working together to make sure we're profitable, but still make sure we're still benefiting all our First Nation people."
Keeping a close eye on staff development is a continued challenge for a company growing as quickly as Wasaya Airways, which has bases in Pickle Lake, Red Lake, Sioux Lookout, Timmins and Thunder Bay.
With more than 360 staff, Wasaya 's two largest employee groups are the company's 80 pilots and 65 maintenance workers.
These two groups are the target of a pair of development opportunities, including a maintenance trainee program that has been in place for the last five years.
Members of the ownership communities who choose to attend the aircraft maintenance program at Thunder Bay's Confederation College will be paid full-time wages throughout their studies, and must work one nine-hour shift per week.
Once having graduated from the program, the individual can then do their apprenticeship at any station where Wasaya operates, eventually working towards a job with the company.
The program has been so successful that a similar one is currently in the works in order to bring on more First Nations pilots.
To eventually provide jobs for qualified people emerging from these programs and other educational institutions, a preferential First Nations hiring policy has been put into place. It is in effect for any position across the company, and all job openings and recruitment offers are posted in the member communities' band offices.
Currently, First Nations make up 27 per cent of the staff.
"We are trying to get some more initiatives up and going, especially to get members of our ownership communities trained and in the workforce and to help them out as much as we can."
A company-wide strategic planning session in the fall of 2008 produced a variety of other ideas to provide additional assistance to employees, including the development of a new mentoring program. Once the program is put into place, all new staff will be set up with a mentor to help them make the transition into the workplace.
Recognizing that personal interaction is as important to ongoing happiness as professional development, Wasaya has also instituted social committees across its various stations.
This has resulted in countless events such as summer barbecues, pancake breakfasts, softball teams and bocci ball tournaments to departments that might not otherwise deal with one another on a day-to-day basis.
These events are also held with the community in mind. Annual golf tournaments raise funds for the Red Lake Emergency Shelter as well as bursaries for First Nations students at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.
Quality time with family is also encouraged, and to that end, Wasaya offers discounted flights for staff, their spouses and their children. For no more than $25, employees can travel anywhere Wasaya flies, with similarly discounted rates available through an interline agreement with Bearskin Airlines.
Other perks include health benefits, where premiums are fully paid for by the company, as well as a pension plan in which the company matches three per cent of employee contributions.
www.wasaya.com
