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Funding for wildfire and integrated natural resources work
As many as 120 eligible people will receive training to prepare them for employment in wildfire and integrated natural resources fields in five regions around the province.
This new provincial Community and Employer Partnerships project focuses on training for youth, youth at risk, immigrants, Indigenous people, and people who face barriers to employment.
The province is providing more than $4 million to Stillwater Consulting Ltd. to deliver two intakes of its Wildfire and Integrated Natural Resources program in Cranbrook, Nanaimo, Langley, Kamloops and Prince George.
Participants will receive 17 weeks of employability and occupational skills training, three weeks of on-the-job experience with local employers, and four weeks of follow-up support to help their job search.
“We’re investing in natural-resource-sector training programs to help people access rewarding employment opportunities that can lead them toward a bright future,” said Nicholas Simons, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. “Participants who complete this training program will be able to build long-term careers from wildland firefighting to environmental monitoring.”
“We’re committed to a strong, sustainable forestry sector that provides good, family-supporting jobs for now and generations to come,” said Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests. “Investing in these programs is building inclusive employment opportunities in the natural-resource sector. This will provide the necessary skills and training for jobs to strengthen our forests, protect communities and increase climate preparedness.”
The first intake of full-time, group-based classroom learning started on Oct. 24, for Cranbrook, Nanaimo and Prince George, and starts Monday, Nov. 7 for Kamloops and Langley.
Second intakes start in March 2023 for Cranbrook, Nanaimo, Prince George, Kamloops and Langley. Anyone interested in finding out more about this or other CEP projects should contact their local WorkBC centre.
“I got the job! All I can say is thank you for teaching me everything I needed to know to get this job, and that it was a fantastic experience being a part of (this) class,” said Cullan, a graduate of Stillwater Consulting’s Wildland Firefighting and Silviculture Training program in 2021.
Funding for this project is provided through the Project-Based Labour Market Training stream of WorkBC’s Community and Employer Partnerships (CEP).
CEP investments are targeted at projects that support an inclusive economic recovery.
CEP projects support B.C. job seekers’ training and work experience and help businesses and communities address labour-market challenges.
Through CEP, the province invests $15 million annually in communities throughout B.C.
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