BC Aboriginal Skills Fund Invests $2.1 Million in Northern Trades Training

February 10, 2017

Up to 205 First Nations people in BC communities stretching from Prince George to Fort Nelson will benefit from new skills-training opportunities designed to spark careers in trades and technical jobs such as electrical, carpentry, piping, welding, carpentry, and machining.

Funding of more than $2.1 million is being provided for five projects through B.C.’s Aboriginal Skills Training Development Fund. Two of these projects, located in Fort St. John, include electrical training.

A new project designed to help participants with job readiness and education upgrades is benefitting up to 50 people from the Halfway River, Fort Nelson and Prophet River First Nations. The project will run for about 42 weeks, and is being delivered by the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology at Pink Mountain and the Halfway River Ranch Learning Centre. The province is providing $350,000 in funding support over two years for the project.

Also in Fort St. John, members of the Blueberry River First Nations will receive $248,000 for a new program to be delivered by the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology. This 25-week training project is providing up to 24 community members with the opportunity to upgrade their literacy and numeracy skills, receive personal growth training and be introduced to four trades: electrical, welding, carpentry, and machining. In October 2015, the institute celebrated the official opening of a new trades training facility (shown in photo).

The Aboriginal Skills Training and Development Fund is investing up to $30 million over three years for new skills-training projects and partnerships to support First Nations communities. Funded programs are designed with direction from First Nations communities and with collaboration from industry, as well as provincial government and federal government partners.

Photo source: Nicola Valley Institute of Technology.