Patal has been a registered private vocational school since 1986 when it was started with youth Federal Funding. Patal is a small school that can deliver diploma programs to its students in a caring, supportive, culturally appropriate environment that large institutions cannot. Patal has successfully trained many students that had been recently released from prison or were living in a half-way house. These students were successful because of the caring by the well-trained staff that was able to provide support, skills training and transition into places of employment. Patal offers the necessary support and caring that it takes to promote healthy lifestyles free from addictions to become productive, healthy citizens that are self-supporting. Patal builds capacity within the training programs and with their staff for the long term. Patal has been graduating students with diplomas for 22 years.
Patal has a well developed network of employers who consistently hire the graduates. Employers that have recently hired Patal's graduates: Radisson, MTS, MPI, NRG Research, Manitoba Hydro, University of Winnipeg Cafeteria. In today's job market a diplomas is important so that employers know that standards have been met.
The Chocolate Shop is a regularly functioning restaurant, but provides the training ground for the Hospitality program and Level One Cooking. The Chocolate shop promotes Aboriginal Culture to the general public and focuses on building capacity for the Aboriginal staff and students. The Chocolate Shop caters to many organizations and events which showcases beautiful meals professionally prepared by Aboriginal students and staff.build capacity within the Aboriginal community as 80% of the staff are Aboriginal, including key positions in the organizations- Technology instructor, Chef, employment coordinator. Both organizations hire their own students- Administrative Assistant, Instructors, Sous Chef, Cook, Employment Coordinator, Waiter/Host. Patal's statistics are impressive- consistent 90% retention rate; 85% success rate for employment placement and/or return to training or school.
Patal has worked with many First Nations Communities as well as successfully delivering Aboriginal programs in Winnipeg, some
examples are listed below:
- Sandy Bay- 12 students in PC Service Technician (9 graduated and all are employed).
- Sandy Bay- 12 students in Cooking (all graduated and all are employed).
- Tataskeweyak- 15 Cooking students (14 graduated and all are employed). One graduate that has been working at the Keeyask Dam is ready for Level Two Technical and will be eligible to challenge the Red Seal exam this year.
- War Lake- 8 Cooking students (all graduated and 6 are employed).
- Center for Aboriginal Human Resource Cook Level One program- 12 students (9 graduated and all are working).
- Service Canada/MB 4 Youth- Aboriginal Youth at risk program for the last 4 years- 90% retention rate and 85% success rate.
Patal has partnered with IBM in the past to deliver literacy through their literacy software packages to First Nations communities. Patal's recent awards are: "Champion for Aboriginal Employment" from IANE; Mayor's Award for Outstanding Contribution to Downtown Winnipeg; Achievement Award for Best Long Term Entrepreneurial Commitment to Downtown from Downtown Winnipeg Biz; an award of recognition from juvenile Diabetes Association.
