Shane loves to work steady and learn new things.

That’s why a Job Creation Partnership that he worked on with the Lake Babine Nation was a perfect fit for the 37-year-old Band member.

Shane worked for nearly a year on a government-funded project that provided wood storage facilities to the Lake Babine Nation, while providing work experience for seven local First Nations people. They signed onto the project by going through their local WorkBC Employment Services Centre.

Shane and six other participants, working under their supervisor, West, built 67 firewood storage sheds for the Lake Babine Nation in Tachet and Fort Babine, as well as two timber bridges. The project is part of the Band’s overall plan for a biomass plant that will burn wood chips to heat homes.

“We learned quite a bit. I had a few little skills but this project sure helped out,” Shane said. “We learned to use the new wood chopper, which really helps. It saves you from backaches. In two weeks we did five truckloads on that.”

The work experience on the 47-week project that wrapped up in late June led directly to Shane’s current job. He worked with West on a crew that built a big storage shed that will store wood for the Tachet community for the winter. “And we have to fill that with firewood,” Shane said.

They’re also cutting timber so they can build bridges to help move timber out of the woods to the Band’s sawmill.

West was proud of his crew that worked on the jobs partnership. It’s been good for him too.

“I’m pretty sure it will last another five or 10 years,” West said of the overall prospect of building the biomass plant.

The Community and Employer Partnerships program is featured as a component of the B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint. The Blueprint 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.

Quick Facts:

• In 2015-16, 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 84 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

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

To see a photo of Shane at work click here: https://flic.kr/p/yMXMBF