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VANDERHOOF, B.C. – Through the Community Workforce Response Grant and Community and Employer Partnerships, the Province of B.C., with funding from the federal government, is investing more than $1 million for training projects in Fort Fraser, Fort St. James, Fraser Lake and Vanderhoof in the Nechako region.

The training programs respond to ongoing labour shortages identified by local employers, especially for major projects, explains a release.

Employment supports include:

• helping workers stay connected to jobs, access skills training and receive transition support;
• strengthening regional economies by investing in workforce stability, skills development and community-led projects that generate employment in affected regions;
• leveraging community transition tables in forestry communities to identify and act on the immediate needs for workers and communities;
• ramping up staffing to offer more direct services to affected workers, while rolling out new responsive programming quickly; and
• co-ordinating with WorkBC centres to reach workers early and connect them to available supports.

  One such example includes:

• The College of New Caledonia’s DRIVE Program is an 18-week, fully funded Class 2 and Class 3 driver-training program that includes occupational skills training, industry certifications and job-search support.
• Participants can earn certifications such as air brakes, first aid, Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), transportation and dangerous goods handling and defensive-driver training.
• Equipment operators are employed in construction, infrastructure, mining, forestry, transportation and resource industries throughout British Columbia.
• WorkBC services include career planning and transition support, job-search assistance, access to skills training, wage subsidies and other financial supports.