Gary McDermott, director of Aboriginal initiatives at ITA speaks to the graduates. (Image courtesy ITA)
The Industry Training Authority (ITA) delivered a first-of-its kind pilot program to train Aboriginal people in Prince Rupert — with a little help from NVIT.
Over the course of 10 weeks, NVIT brought people and tools to the Gitxaala Nation, near Prince Rupert for the first five weeks of skills training. Following that, the students were brought to Prince Rupert for technical training in a classroom setting.
“The whole idea is to take the training to the community rather than having the students go through the challenge of going to a larger urban centre to get their training,” said Gary McDermott, ITA’s director of Aboriginal initiatives. “NVIT does a fairly good job of taking the training to First Nations people. That was the idea behind this program — we wanted to make the training flexible and accessible.”
Coast Industrial Construction (CIC), which has a contract with LNG Canada to do some site work in Kitimat for an LNG project, announced that it has hired all of the graduates.
The 14 students graduated from the training course on Feb. 15 with Enhanced Construction Craft Worker (E-CCW) certificates.
Coast Industrial Construction (CIC), which has a contract with LNG Canada to do some site work in Kitimat for an LNG project, announced that it has hired all of the graduates.
“All 14 students from the E-CCW pilot program will be hired on to work on the LNG Canada project in Kitimat,” said Finn Conradsen, general manager of CIC. “This is a huge boost for CIC and a great conclusion to all of the planning and hard work that went into this program.”
NVIT was the successful bidder among about a dozen applicants for the training contract.
This was one of two pilot programs, the other one currently taking place in Fort St. James. Once that one is complete, the two programs will be evaluated to see how additional training can be delivered.
NVIT was the successful bidder among about a dozen applicants for the training contract.
“B.C. is projected to be one of the economic leaders in the country in the next two years and First Nations are an important part of keeping our province diverse, strong and growing,” said Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Trouism and Skills Training, and Minister Responsible for Labour, in a press release.
“Congratulations to the 14 graduates of the Enhanced Construction Craft Worker pilot program who will now have the skills training and work experience necessary to be employed in the upcoming LNG sector as well as in numerous other careers in B.C.’s construction sector.”
