About CSETS

Our Mission

Coast Salish Employment & Training Society is a funding, training delivery and coordination agency. We support aboriginal individuals and communities by facilitating relationships that lead to opportunities to meet employment needs, thereby advancing self reliance.

Our Mandate

Our mandate is to develop programs and supports to meet training and employment needs. We are to be a representative, accountable and responsible to all Indigenous peoples on South Vancouver Island, with the objective of being recognized as a major contributor to the current and future labor force.

We do this by identifying and entering into diverse partnerships and funding arrangements for the management and delivery of programs to all members of the Coast Salish Employment & Training Society communities.

Our Guiding Principles

  • BALANCE
    Walking in two worlds.

  • COMMITMENT
    To self, family and community.

  • CULTURE
    Maintain traditional values.

  • INCLUSIVENESS
    One house. One heart. One mind.

  • ACCESSIBILITY
    Access and acceptance to all our programs.

  • RESPECT
    Treat others as you would like to be treated.

  • COMMUNICATION
    Two way oral tradition.

  • CHANGE
    Continuous lifelong learning, teachings and self discipline.

Board Members & Staff

Dan Thomas
Employment Assistance Services Officer

“Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good.”

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Sandra Sprinkling
Finance & HR Manager, Treasurer

“It is about the people and how we can help our people achieve their goals”

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Denise Chewka

Beecher Bay FN
Designate

“I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of all the past, present and future Leadership.”

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Debbie Williams
Executive Director

“Building a sense of unity in our workplace”

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Reg Gladstone
Trades Officer

“Think big, there is a big world waiting for you.”

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Sara Berg
Childcare Officer

“Feels proudest when she sees others experience personal success and growth”

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full staff list
full board members list

Service Areas

CSETS services are delegated into three zones or regions within southern Vancouver Island.

  • KO’P THUT
  • HET
  • WILNEW

Please click the image to learn more about which communities and Friendship centres are in each zone.

Detailed Map
service-zones5- KO'P THUT COMMUNITIES HET COMMUNITIES WILNEW COMMUNITIES
service-zones5- KO'P THUT COMMUNITIES HET COMMUNITIES WILNEW COMMUNITIES

Our Logo

What was the Inspiration for the Design?

“I chose a canoe design because our Coast Salish communities area all connected by water and the seas were our highways that connected us together. The warrior denotes courage and vision in achieving our goals and he is holding his paddle up in victory. The wolf on the canoe denotes loyalty, dedication and family connection – we often have blood relationships in many Coast Salish communities and this ensured our responsibility to one another’s wellbeing. The circle represents unity and connectedness of Coast Salish Nations to work together for the betterment of our communities and families.”

-Artist Sabrina Williams

ABOUT THE ARTIST