CN

 – CN joined our Indigenous HR Strategy in July 2022 –

They are a Signature Investor with Tokata HR Solutions.  We are proud to work with CN to help build their Indigenous workforce!

CN Company Overview:

CN is a world-class transportation leader and trade enabler. Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year.

CN’s network connects Canada’s Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. South through an 18,600-mile rail network, CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship.

CN’s Headquarters are located in Montreal, Quebec at 935 de La Gauchetière Street West.

How CN supports the Indigenous community:

CN’s Indigenous Relations team is key to supporting Indigenous communities. CN operates within or adjacent to nearly 230 reserve lands of more than 120 First Nations and Métis territories in eight provinces in Canada and seven reserve lands in the United States. Working alongside Indigenous communities across the CN network, they make it a priority to strengthen their ties, cultivate and develop mutually beneficial relationships and create economic opportunities to work toward reconciliation.

CN’s Indigenous vision is to:

• Develop respectful and mutually beneficial relationships with all Indigenous peoples, while ensuring service to their customers.
• Be recognized by key stakeholders, including customers and governments, as having a sound approach to engaging with Indigenous communities and having a respectful and sustainable relationship with Indigenous peoples across the CN network.

CN’s strategic pillars to strengthen their ties include:

• Engaging smartly and respectfully with Indigenous communities
• Promoting employment opportunities
• Increasing employee engagement
• Identifying and fostering business opportunities

CN’s Indigenous Relations managers are located across Canada to build relationships within their regional communities in a positive, respectful, and proactive manner. This can include engagement, consultation, regular touchpoints, emergency response, community rail safety programming and other events such as celebrations and ceremonies.

The team also attends gatherings, conferences, and other events to promote CN, the Indigenous Relations Team, and opportunities that exist for them to work together collaboratively.

Current and past Indigenous initiatives and events CN participates in:

CN’s Indigenous Employee Resource Group

Active since 2020, this is a safe space for Indigenous and non-Indigenous employees to share, learn and grow together around the unique recognitions, relationships, and histories that Indigenous Peoples hold.  The vision is to provide an inclusive and accessible workplace by bringing together employees who are passionate about Indigenous Peoples within both CN and the communities they serve. The grassroots, employee-driven ERG mission is to:

1. Create a community: A safe and interactive space to discuss Indigenous topics and share experiences with our employees.
2. Build connections with CN employees, supporters, representatives, and stakeholders.
3. Establish and maintain a mutually respectful relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
4. Promote and provide opportunities for acts of reconciliation.
5. Embrace Indigenous culture and continuous learning.​

The Indigenous ERG promotes and provides opportunities for reconciliation, engaging in dialogue across the Company. This approach supports the revitalization of relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples building vibrant, resilient, and sustainable communities. The Indigenous ERG acknowledges the diverse histories of the Indigenous peoples of Canada and the United States as well as their present-day realities. The ERG supports continuous learning and participation in ReconciliACTION as a way of life!

The most recent activity that the Indigenous ERG coordinated was the 2023 National Indigenous People’s Day celebration held in Montreal with a live-streamed event across the network for all to see. With a focus on local First Nations and Inuit culture, special guests included:

• Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) Elder to bless our event
• Mi’kmaw dancer and singer
• Inuit throat singers and hand drummers
• Poem “An Enormous Cost” by Terry Ladue, current CN employee in Engineering.
• Catering by Miqmak Catering Indigenous Kitchen

Other ERG events and celebrations that took place since the inception of the group include:

• Indigenous mural at the Winnipeg CN Campus created by a local Indigenous artist Annie Beach.
• Indigenous Book Club events which include author-led discussions, watch parties and book reviews
• Orange t-shirt sales, and donations made to Indigenous non-profit organizations
• Indigenous Day, Reconciliation Day, MMIGW, Métis and other acknowledged days with an opportunity to learn, participate and show up at events both in person and online.

CN’s Indigenous Advisory Council

To further strengthen CN’s relations with Indigenous communities, they created a CN Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC), a new independent body comprised of 12 accomplished, respected, and inspirational leaders of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities across Canada. The IAC’s counsel to CN’s Board of Directors and President and Chief Executive Officer help CN deepen its relationship with Canada’s Indigenous Peoples.

For more information, please review the following:

• Indigenous Advisory Council Webpage: https://www.cn.ca/en/delivering-responsibly/community/indigenous-advisory-council/
• Indigenous Advisory Press Release: https://www.cn.ca/en/news/2021/11/cns-new-indigenous-advisory-council-holds-inaugural-meeting-and/

Partnerships, Events and Initiatives

• In 2023, CN attended the Assembly of First Nation Annual General Assembly in Halifax and participated in the Vendor Exhibition.  They shared with visitors the Indigenous Relations Team’s objectives and the opportunities available to communities and community leaders.
• CN had the opportunity to host a number of Chiefs and First Nation Representatives at their table for the cultural event which hosted a beautiful and traditional lobster dinner for the gala.
• Attendance at the Treaty 1 to 11 Gathering in Winnipeg Manitoba where CN had a booth, volunteered, supported the firekeepers and set up and served lunch to all the attendees.
• Two-day Miinosewin conference in Winnipeg hosted by AMIKand Workplace Strategies for Mental Health to create an action plan for Indigenous retention.
• Outreach with Indspire bursary recipients to share details about CN’s early career programs.
• Promoting Employment Opportunities by working with various Indigenous communities and institutions helps promote CN as an employer of choice.
• Established solid partnerships with Indigenous communities and associations to inform them of possible career opportunities and to fill positions within CN with qualified candidates.
• CN sponsored and attended the Indspire Awards (May 12) and Indspire’s National Gathering (November 23-25), supporting Indigenous education.
• CN secured an advertorial in 2022 and 2023 in the National Post promoting Indigenous hiring and recruitment and featuring Indigenous employees.
• CN runs radio ads on Indigenous-owned radio networks across BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba specifically encouraging Indigenous people to apply for available jobs.
• Queen’s University Networking Event for Indigenous Students and Alumni
• Two Inclusivity Indigenous Virtual Job Fairs
• Manitoba First Nations Virtual Career Fair
• University of Alberta – First Peoples’ House: Lunch & Learn with CN
• McGill Pow Wow

Indigenous Youth

CN continues to support the development and access to jobs for Indigenous youth across their network. In 2022, CN continued its outreach and support of its key partners:

• AMIK, an organization that offers professional Indigenous engagement services, supports recruitment activities and interview preparation and helps CN lay the foundation for long-term success for the candidates they hire. CN focused on conductor recruitment, an in-demand job at CN.
• Held a one-day conference in partnership with the Cowessess First Nation and AMIK. This was the beginning of a relationship we are continuing in 2023 to recruit Indigenous talent in Southeastern Saskatchewan.
• Ran five national campaigns with Indigenous Link, an Indigenous-owned and led sourcing firm, in addition to having all their jobs appear on their job board.
• CN sponsors and works with Indspire, a national Indigenous charity that invests in the education of Indigenous youth, to recruit Indigenous youth.

Internship Program

CN continues to offer best-in-class students the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge through hands-on experience in CN’s Internship Program.

Frequent positions that CN recruits for:

TRANSPORTATION

CN frequently hires conductors* across Canada, including in the following provinces:

• Saskatchewan: Melville, Humboldt, Saskatoon and North Battleford SK
• Alberta: Grand Prairie, Jasper, Edson, Edmonton, High Level, Grande Cache, McLennan, Roma Junction
• British-Columbia: Chetwynd, Fort St John, Prince George, Smithers, Vancouver, Kamloops
• Ontario: Fort Frances, Sarnia, Toronto, Hornepayne
• Manitoba: Winnipeg
• Quebec/Maritimes: Senneterre, Montreal, Halifax, Moncton

The only requirements to apply for this job are a high school diploma or GED.

*Conductors work as members of two- or three-person train crews and perform duties associated with the movement of trains, rail cars, and locomotives in rail yards and on the road.  They coordinate the assembly of trains and execute any groundwork outside the locomotive cab while in the yard or en-route (ex: operating track switches, picking up rail cars, making emergency repairs, etc.).

ENGINEERING, MECHANICAL and INTERMODAL

These areas often have a number of jobs in a variety of locations across Canada. This may include track maintenance positions in Engineering and mechanics, electricians, equipment operators, labourers in Mechanical and Intermodal operators.

OTHER

In addition, CN recruits on an as needed basis for positions in:

• Accounting and Finance
• Human Resources and Labour Relations
• Sales and Marketing
• IT
• Procurement and Supply Management
• Public and Government Affairs
• Law and Security
• Environment and Sustainability
• Indigenous Relations.

We encourage you to learn more about CN teams here:

Indigenous Relations team: www.cn.ca/indigenous-relations

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: https://www.cn.ca/careers/diversity-equity-inclusion/

How can you get involved with CN?

 – You can get involved with CN careers by working with the team at Tokata HR Solutions –

As we partner with CN, we are looking for great talent like YOU to recruit, train and coach for careers at CN.

To be eligible for opportunities with CN:

• Create a candidate profile with Tokata HR Solutions by visiting www.tokata.ca
• Visit our website for career opportunities with CN and other partner organizations we work with.
• Attend our career events to enhance your resume, interview, networking and leadership skills!
• Contact our team at info@fhqdev.com if you would like to book a FREE meet and greet session with one of our HR Consultants to help career plan for your future!

Make sure to join our Facebook and LinkedIn social media pages so you are the FIRST to know about upcoming events!