The Government of British Columbia has proclaimed November as Apprenticeship Recognition Month. This is the first Apprenticeship Recognition Month in B.C. It was previously celebrated as Apprenticeship Week.
Industry Training Authority (ITA) will be highlighting the many roles that apprentices play in supporting a strong, innovative economy and building the best B.C. throughout November.
“The skills, dedication and heart of B.C.’s nearly 39,000 apprentices are critically important to keeping our communities vibrant, and economic engines running,” said Melanie Mark, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. “In the next decade, we expect about 71,000 job openings in the trades. These careers are good-paying and long-lasting family supporting jobs. We are focused on opening doors for apprentices while breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for women, Indigenous people, and other underrepresented groups to join our thriving economy.”
In November, ITA’s first Director of Women in Trades will be supporting the increase of women in under-represented trades.
More people are entering into skilled trades apprenticeships, and with that, the numbers of Certificates of Qualification are also increasing in B.C., reflecting the rising number of opportunities and a growing understanding of the value of trades careers. An apprenticeship in a skilled trade is an important entry point to a long-lasting career path with a range of rewarding opportunities.
“Becoming a registered apprentice means starting a journey of excellence and exploration and can create credibility and experience that will offer opportunities that many people might not have even considered at the start of the skilled trades careers,” said Shelley Gray, CEO of ITA. “And those who complete an apprenticeship and achieve certification or their Red Seal have unlimited career potential. The future really is theirs.”
Apprenticeship Recognition Month is a great opportunity to bring attention to the status and value of the skilled trades, and ITA is running a month-long online contest to encourage a province-wide conversation about rewarding trades careers. More information and rules are available on the ITA website.
