Northern Lights College will receive a $150,000 grant to support workers affected by the suspension of Tumbler Ridge regional coal mines.

The funding - which is provided in alignment with B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint — is designed to support communities and retrain employees affected by industry slowdowns and closures. A Community Transition Team is working with NLC to help identify the types of training that will best support future job prospects for Tumbler Ridge workers. Training will complement the skills and experience the workers already have, along with helping them develop new skills.

“Government is helping people obtain skills for jobs when they need it most,” said MLA for Peace River South Mike Bernier on behalf of Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson. “Northern Lights College provides valuable training for people in the community, which will help open doors to new career opportunities in Tumbler Ridge.”

Northern Lights College offers a variety of developmental, continuing education, trades and technologies, career and vocational and academic programs leading to certificates, diplomas and associate degrees.

“Training skilled workers for in-demand jobs will help build a strong economic future for the community and British Columbia as a whole,” said Northern Lights college president Dr. Bryn Kulmatycki. “NLC is proud to work with the Ministry of Advanced Education and our local community partners to provide training opportunities for workers affected by the mine suspensions in the Tumbler Ridge area.”

Government introduced B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint in April 2014. It aligns funding and programs with in-demand occupations. More than one million job openings are expected in B.C. by 2022; an estimated 78% of those jobs will require post-secondary education and 44% are projected to be skilled trades and technical careers.

Media Contacts:

Stacey McGaghey Jones
Ministry of Advanced Education
Government Communications and Public Engagement
250 952-6400