Youth from British Columbia's northern communities are invited to take part in an interactive career experience at the second annual Liquefied Natural Gas in B.C. Conference in Vancouver this May.

As the LNG sector develops, it will create jobs all over the province, with demand for skilled labour especially strong in the north. Northern school districts, in particular, are encouraged to bring their secondary students to this unique opportunity. The Province will provide up to $400 per student to help offset transportation costs.

The Youth Experience is a half-day program where Grades 10 through 12 students will:

• Learn about liquefied natural gas (LNG) and jobs in this industry;
• Get hands-on experience using heavy equipment and welding simulators;
• Identify career paths that reflect their skills and interests via a WorkBC program;
• Interact with B.C. post-secondary institutions and explore what programs they have to offer related to the LNG industry.

The conference is being held May 21 - 23, 2014, in Vancouver.

Quotes:

Minister of Education Peter Fassbender-

"The future benefits of the LNG industry will impact the entire province and we want to make sure that all Grade 10, 11 and 12 students in B.C. have a chance to experience this exciting event and possibly map out their future careers."

Minister of Natural Gas Development Rich Coleman -

"Developing a new LNG industry will create exciting job prospects in B.C. Our international conference will showcase these opportunities, providing young British Columbians with the insight they need to make informed decisions about their future career prospects."

Minister of Jobs, Tourism, Skills and Training Shirley Bond -

"For northern students, a lot of these LNG jobs will be in their backyards. So we want to make sure we're connecting them with the training opportunities and information they need to be first in line for rewarding careers in their own communities."

Quick Facts:

• Over the next decade there will be more than one million job openings in British Columbia, 43% of which are expected to be trades or technical occupations.
• Based on the development prospects of five LNG facilities in B.C., the industry could add as much as $1 trillion in cumulative gross domestic product benefit over 30 years. That is new money that represents the promise of a lasting legacy that includes tens of thousands of stable jobs for British Columbians.
• B.C.'s first-ever international conference - Fuelling the Future: Global Opportunities for LNG in B.C. - was held Feb. 25 and 26, 2013. First Nations leaders, representatives from 25 B.C. communities, federal and provincial government officials, academics, and 192 companies spanning eight countries participated.
• Assuming five LNG plants and the supporting pipelines are built, more than 39,000 annual jobs will be created over a nine-year construction period and 75,000 jobs once these plants are fully operational.

Learn More:

The conference, Powering a Strong Economy: British Columbia's LNG in the Global Market, will be held at the Vancouver Convention Centre from May 21 - 23, 2014. The event is being hosted by the Ministry of Natural Gas Development, brings together B.C. communities, First Nations, environmental leaders, educators, elected officials and LNG proponents from throughout B.C. and around the world. More than 1,000 industry and business professionals are expected to attend. Find out more at: http://www.LNGinBC.ca

School districts/principals/high school teachers can find registration information at: http://www.lnginbc-register.ca/youth-registration

Media Contact:

Media Relations
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963