The province of British Columbia will fund $3.3 million towards training and work experience in the forestry sector.
Stillwater Consulting will deliver the training on the government’s behalf in Cranbrook, Kamloops and Nanaimo, B.C. with students able to earn 11 different certifications including basic chainsaw operator, silviculture surveyor certification and occupational first aid – level 3. The program also includes a three-week job placement with local forestry employers.
“Our program gives participants knowledge, skills and certifications in different areas of forestry in just 19 weeks. Our graduates become environmental technicians, recreational trail builders, silviculture surveyors and wildland firefighters. For someone looking for opportunities after a mill closure, the program provides a great way to expand on what they know and turn that into a new career,” Stillwater Consulting project manager Aaron Byng-Hall said.
The B.C. ministry of social development and poverty reduction is providing the $3.3 million in funding through the Project Based Labour Market Training stream of the Community and Employer Partnerships (CEP) program.
“One key way to reduce poverty is to open doors for people to new jobs and careers. This program, through training and work experience, will prepare people for a wide variety of forestry jobs, putting them on the path to better opportunities,” B.C. minister of social development and poverty reduction Shane Simpson said.
Overall 36 students per city can participate for a total of 108 students in all three cities. Students are eligible for the program if they meet employment insurance eligibility requirements and live in the three cities or their surrounding areas. Those interested in applying can contact the WorkBC offices in the Cranbrook, Nanaimo and Kamloops.
“Stillwater Consulting’s Advanced Forestry Skills Training Program is completely unique in B.C.’s forest industry. It’s practical, it’s hands on and most importantly, it sets graduates up with the skills they need for immediate success once they join the working world. When our new employees come to us with these skills already, it saves us a lot of training time on our end,” Nupqu Development Corporation senior project manager Tim LaRade said.
The Advanced Forestry Skills Training Program is recruiting students for a July 22, 2019 start date in Kamloops and an Aug. 12, 2019 start date in Cranbrook and Nanaimo.
What a waste of money since there are so many people recently unemployed in the forest sector as a result of mill closures. The forest sector supplies the mills and have been shut down as a result. There are 1,000s of unemployed people with these skills and experience. Retraining for those people would be far more intelligent.