Software testing firm looking for Indigenous workers

NEWS RELEASE
PLATO TESTING
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Recruitment efforts are underway for the third Indigenous Software Tester Training course being delivered by PLATO Testing. The train-and-employ model offered by PLATO provides First Nations, Metis, and Inuit people the opportunity to build a career in the growing IT sector, while providing corporate Canada partners a meaningful path toward economic reconciliation.

Following the successful delivery of last year’s hybrid PLATO training course that was offered in-person to students in Sault Ste. Marie and virtually to those in Regina, a similar approach will be taken to this year’s course.

While provincial restrictions related to COVID-19 meant a pandemic-related pivot, it demonstrated the viability of offering the PLATO training course both in-person and virtually, and will continue to be considered during program delivery in the future.

“I was incredibly pleased with the students we recruited for our 2020 class, and am looking forward to meeting all those who will join our PLATO family this year,” said VP, Lottery and Gaming Jennifer Rushton, who represents both PLATO and sister company PQA Testing in the Sault. “We are really starting to expand our network in the region and are seeing an increase in both residents and companies who want to join our mission to create a network of Indigenous IT professionals.”

The PLATO train-and-employ model provides five months of in-class training on the fundamentals of software testing, followed by a three-month internship with hands-on training in projects through one of the company’s internship partners.

The PLATO team in Sault Ste. Marie currently consists of 11 full-time software testers working with clients across the country and around the world, from Vancouver, BC to London, UK, as well as those right here at home like Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG).

Recognized by the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, PLATO Testing is demonstrating the effectiveness of person-to-person reconciliation. Its mission to grow Indigenous participation in the technology sector has a profound impact on the people, families, and communities in and around the Sault Ste. Marie region.

“OLG has been a strong supporter of PLATO since they launched in Sault Ste. Marie back in 2018,” says OLG Chief Technology Officer Brian Gill. “We were lucky to have three PLATO interns on our lottery terminal project in 2019, where they were embedded with OLG’s Sault Ste. Marie QA team at Foster Drive. Partnering with PLATO gives OLG the opportunity to be a part of something bigger, reconciliation. We are proud to be a part of this effort by providing hands-on project experience for the students as we continue to work with PLATO.”

Interested members of First Nations, M tis, and Inuit communities in Sault Ste. Marie and surrounding areas can visit the PLATO Testing website for more information about the training and to apply: platotesting.com/train.

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