Once the North Pacific Cannery 125th Anniversary Conservation project wraps up next September, 16 more people will have gained valuable work experience at the Port Edward historic site, thanks to $194,700 in government Job Creation Partnership funding.

The workers start in January and will get experience in carpentry, and marine and heavy construction while restoring the historic working dock and several buildings on the site. The 42-week conservation project is scheduled to wrap up in September 2015.

The Port Edward North Pacific Cannery National Historical Site, overall, has received more than $290,000 in funding, including an earlier project that received $98,944 and trained 21 other workers. This project finished in May 2014, with 16 of the 21 participants finding employment, and five enrolling in carpentry apprenticeships.

Job Creation Partnerships are part of the Employment Program of BC’s Community and Employer Partnerships, which fund projects that increase employability and share labour market information.

To date, more than 480 job seekers have benefited from work experience and more than 120 projects have been funded throughout the province.

The Community and Employer Partnerships program is featured in B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint that helps align training and education with in-demand jobs and provides more support to people who are struggling to gain a foothold in the job market or who face unique challenges.

Quotes:

Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation Don McRae -

“The North Pacific Cannery project near Prince Rupert is providing local workers with a variety of construction experience and skills that are in growing demand by employers, while the heritage buildings and structures on the site are being stabilized and conserved, preserving the 125-year history for residents and visitors.”

Project manager Steve Milum with 125th Anniversary Conservation Project - 

“I am very excited about the recently announced conservation project being made possible through a Job Creation Partnership with the Province of B.C. that will see North Pacific Cannery’s historic working dock restored and several heritage buildings repaired. The project will see 16 participants build carpentry skills and gain relevant work experience over an eight month period - just in time to help meet demands for the many proposed industrial projects on B.C.’s North Coast.”

North Pacific Cannery Project participant Kelsey Howard -

“I think JCP is one of the best programs out there. I’ve learned a lot from it so far. We are actually being shown the proper way to do things - how to use different tools safely and comfortably. We are learning the old ways of doing things, how to properly restore historic buildings, which is very interesting. Also, everyone works as a team - we share the equality to get a taste of everything and get different experiences, for example I am not just asked to do basic tasks but am encouraged to climb the scaffolding to do work and practice fall arrest techniques.”

North Pacific Cannery Project participant Billy Novak -

“The JCP program is good, I’m learning a lot out here and it is a good learning process. I’m learning skills from working with some good guys who know what they’re doing. Working on historical buildings is interesting and engaging as I get to see how things were done back in the day with basic tools and we are trying to replicate this work as close as possible to preserve the history of the buildings. The skills I’m learning are practical and I can use them in the future.”

Quick Facts:

• In 2014-15, the ministry has committed to investing $331 million in employment and labour market programs under the Employment Program of BC.
• The Employment Program of BC is funded by the Province of British Columbia as well as the Government of Canada through the Labour Market Development Agreement.
• Funding supports 85 WorkBC Employment Services Centres throughout the province and the four components of the Community and Employer Partnerships fund:
  • Job Creation Partnerships
  • Labour Market Partnerships
  • Project-Based Labour Market Training
  • Research and Innovation

Who is eligible?

• Businesses
• Non-profit organizations
• Municipalities, agencies or territorial governments
• Bands/tribal councils
• Public health and educational institutions

Learn More:

For more information on Community and Employer Partnerships: www.workbc.ca/CEP

To find a local WorkBC Employment Services Centre: www.workbccentres.ca

To learn more about the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation: www.gov.bc.ca/sdsi

For a photo of participants in action: https://flic.kr/p/q5KyQg

To learn more about the North Pacific Cannery: http://www.northpacificcannery.ca/

Media contact:

Kristie Kristofferson
Communications
Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation
250 356-1670