A $5-million provincial investment by the B.C. government is aimed at improving skilled trades access.
“This funding is about making sure that B.C. is training and supporting the next generation of apprentices and journey people,” said Andrew Mercier, minister of state for workforce development. “By investing in apprenticeships today, our government is taking action to ensure a strong workforce is trained and ready to build the homes and infrastructure that British Columbians depend on.”
This investment supports six B.C. organizations specializing in attracting people into the skilled trades and supporting them during their pre-apprentice training and apprenticeships:
- Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services Society ($1 million): The society will expand and enhance supporting resources for pre-apprentice and apprenticeship training, including their Elder Support Program.
- BC Centre for Women in the Trades ($1 million): The organization will expand and enhance its inclusivity-based workplace training, such as anti-racism and anti-bullying, plus contribute to its bursary program for equity serving groups.
- Canadian Home Builders Association of BC ($1 million): This funding will enable CHBA BC to create and execute a range of programs and initiatives with the aim of providing supportive training and highlighting and advancing well-paid opportunities in the trades.
- Construction Foundation of BC ($500,000): CFBC will host summer camps for at-risk youth to expose them to opportunities in construction.
- SkillPlan ($1 million): The funds will be used to expand and enhance supporting resources for pre-apprentice and apprenticeship training, with a focus on increasing opportunities for under-represented groups.
- Skills Canada BC ($500,000). SCBC will use the funds to expand skills competitions and programs.
The provincial investment will also help remove barriers to enter the trades or complete apprenticeships for women, Indigenous Peoples and other under-represented groups, with new and enhanced programming and resources for equity-serving groups, anti-racism and other inclusivity-based workplace training programs and student bursaries.
