Beginning tomorrow, the Province will host a series of seven interactive community seminars to help educate people about LNG and the career options and business opportunities available to British Columbians.

At each event, participants will have an opportunity to discover some of the basic science and facts about natural gas development. Seminars will feature presentations by Science World British Columbia about the fundamentals of energy science. Alongside these demonstrations, young people will be able to talk with government and industry representatives and take part in Find Your Fit, an interactive event where grades 6-to-10 students get hands on experience with the skills needed for in demand jobs throughout the province.

Seminar attendees will also be able to find out how they can connect with the business opportunities of the industry through the LNG-Buy BC project.

Seminars locations and dates are:

• Prince George, Civic Centre: Oct. 28-29
• Fort St. John, North Peace Cultural Centre: Nov. 4-5
• Terrace, Best Western Terrace Inn: Nov. 9-10
• Prince Rupert, North Coast Convention Centre: Nov. 18-19
• Squamish, CN Roundhouse and Conference Centre: Dec. 16-17
• Nanaimo, Vancouver Island Conference Centre: Jan. 13-14
• Kamloops, Coast Kamloops Hotel & Conference Centre: Feb. 3-4 

Quotes:

Rich Coleman, Deputy Premier and Minister of Natural Gas Development ─

“These seminars will connect people with the science and resources they need to understand our province’s future in natural gas development and export. I encourage people to attend these sessions and find out about the opportunities that exist with our natural gas industry.” 

Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour ─

“Through B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint we committed to preparing the skilled workforce that our growing economy needs. The Find Your Fit tour will ensure our youth have the tools and resources necessary to consider the full range of in-demand occupations available to them.”

Bryan Tisdall, president & CEO, Science World British Columbia ─

“Science World is thrilled to be participating in the government’s energy seminars. Science World is all about engaging British Columbians in science and technology that matters in their lives, in a fun, interactive manner. Energy knowledge is vitally important to informed decision-making supporting the future health and prosperity of our province, and we are looking forward to presenting the basic science of energy to families and students across British Columbia.”

Quick Facts:

• Natural gas is a by-product of decaying plant and animal matter left deep underground millions of years ago.
• Natural gas turns into a liquid when chilled to -160° Celsius.
• In liquid form, natural gas compresses, taking up 1/600th less space.
• Once compressed, LNG can be securely stored on a ship and safety transported overseas to markets.
• B.C. has an enormous supply of natural gas - an estimated 2,933 trillion cubic feet. This is enough natural gas to support energy needs in Canada and around the world for more than 150 years.
• The LNG industry is a new and unique opportunity to grow the economy and create jobs in the province. British Columbia is poised to have Canada’s first-ever LNG export operation.
• By 2022, B.C. is expecting one million job openings in B.C created by retirements and our growing economy.
• More than 78% of jobs will require some form of post-secondary education, and 43% will needs skilled trades and technical workers.
• In total, the LNG industry could create 100,000 jobs for British Columbians.

Learn More at:

Register and learn more about LNG at: www.LNGinBC.ca

Follow @BCJobsPlan (twitter.com) and #BCLNG101 for updates and more details.

For more information about Science World British Columbia: www.scienceworld.ca 

For more information about WorkBC, please visit: http://www.workbc.ca/

For more information about Find Your Fit, visit: www.findyourfittour.ca

For more information on B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint, visit: www.workbc.ca/skills

For more information on the LNG-Buy BC program, visit: www.LNGBuyBC.ca

A backgrounder follows. 

Media Contacts:

Sandra Steilo
Media Relations
Ministry of Natural Gas Development
250 952-0617

Media Relations
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour
250 387-2799

BACKGROUNDER

Overview of liquefied natural gas (LNG) seminars

The Ministry of Natural Gas Development has invited Science World British Columbia to make a presentation at each energy seminar. These shows will provide local communities with an introduction to the fundamentals of energy science and to the methods of harnessing and transporting different energy sources.

Thanks to WorkBC’s Find Your Fit, young people will be able to explore activity stations where they can try their hand at welding, carpentry and accounting, as well as other skills required within the industry. Parents, teachers and career counsellors will also have the chance to discover alternate ways to educate and support youth in their career exploration.

Find Your Fit is part of B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint commitment to re-engineer education and deliver the skilled workforce B.C.’s growing economy needs. The program had its public debut at the International “LNG in BC Conference” in Vancouver in May where hundreds of students from throughout the province participated in career exploration. The provincewide tour of Find Your Fit is beginning as a key component of the energy seminar, and dates and locations of the rest of the tour will be announced later this year.

LNG-Buy BC will be also be profiled at the event and demonstrations will be available for everyone interested. All you need to do is attend the seminar and connect with staff at the LNG-Buy BC booth.

Attendance at the seminars is free and participants are encouraged to register early. Anyone who is interested in attending can register at: www.LNGinBC.ca

Information kits can be found in advance by visiting: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/lnginbc/information-kits/

(flickr.com)

Media Contacts:

Sandra Steilo
Media Relations
Ministry of Natural Gas Development
250 952-0617

Media Relations
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour
250 387-2799