To help mature workers in Fraser Lake get the training and support they need for local jobs, the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia will provide nearly $160,000 to the College of New Caledonia (CNC) Vanderhoof campus to deliver the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers (TIOW) program.                                     

A total of 12 workers from Fraser Lake will benefit from the training, which will start in September and will be complete by early December this year.

The TIOW training in Fraser Lake supports B.C.’s Community Transition Services efforts and is a direct response to the job losses that occurred due to major industry changes in this area. The residents were significantly impacted by the curtailment of one of the village’s primary employers, the Endako molybdenum mine in 2015. B.C.’s Community Transition Services team has been working closely with community leaders and service providers, including the College of New Caledonia, to provide training opportunities, as well as support to impacted workers.

In April 2016, the governments extended the TIOW program with 14 service providers to deliver additional training in 16 communities to the end of this year.

The Province of British Columbia has extended the Targeted Initiative for Older Worker (TIOW) programs in B.C. to Dec. 31, 2016. The federal and provincial governments are providing an additional $4.1 million to 14 service providers delivering the TIOW program in 16 communities throughout B.C.

TIOW is a successful cost-shared initiative between the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia. The provincial and federal governments launched the TIOW program in 2007 to assist vulnerable communities that are facing labour-force adjustments due to changes in the local economy. The program provides skills training and employment support to unemployed older workers, ages 55 to 64, so they can pursue longer-term jobs, further education or career training. This program not only benefits program participants, but will help local employers and their region as well, as they gain the skilled workers they need to transform their economy.

Each TIOW program is based on the unique demographics and economic outlook of the region. Because of this tailored approach to content and delivery, this program has been well received by both participants and employers. Since 2007, the TIOW has helped more than 4,300 participants, the majority of whom found employment or pursued further education after the program.

Quotes:

John Rustad, MLA for Nechako Lakes –

“The Endako mine layoffs in 2014 and 2015 were sad days in our community. It was our largest employer and it has been a challenging period for the 400 employees and their families who were affected by this. The Community Transition Team has been very helpful in supporting us through this difficult period as we look for ways to transform our economy here in the future.”

Henry Reiser, president, College of New Caledonia –

“We are very pleased to see this envelope of funding coming to Fraser Lake. We had great success offering this training in Fort St. James earlier this year, and we are happy to be able to share this key training opportunity with another one of our campuses. We would like to see our older workers there continue to play a significant role in the growth of the community.”

Quick Facts:

• B.C.'s Community Transition Team provides support for resource-based communities experiencing significant job loss impacts, such as a result of the closure or downsizing of the community's primary employer or industry.
• Canada and British Columbia have committed approximately $10.4 million to deliver the TIOW program from 2014 to 2017. The TIOW program is for participants in small communities of 250,000 or less that are experiencing high unemployment, significant downsizing/closures, unfulfilled employer demand, and/or skills mismatches.
• Since TIOW’s launch in 2007, provinces and territories have targeted more than 35,500 unemployed older workers in small communities across the country for participation. In B.C., more than 4,300 individuals have been assisted to date.
• The B.C. Labour Market Outlook indicates that, by 2024, there will be nearly one million job openings in B.C. due to the growing economy and anticipated retirements. Eight out of 10 of these openings will require post-secondary education or trades training.

Learn More:

Targeted Initiative for Older Workers (TIOW): https://www.workbc.ca/Employment-Services/BC-Labour-Market-Programs-(JTST)/TIOW.aspx

Community Transition Services: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/economic-development/developing-your-community/services/community-transition-services

OECD international Local Economic and Employment Development (LEED) study —The Canadian Targeted Initiative for Older Workers in Fort St. James, British Columbia: http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/industry-and-services/local-economic-strategies-for-ageing-labour-markets_5jrnwqk5d4f7-en

British Columbia’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint: https://www.workbc.ca/Training-Education/B-C-s-Skills-for-Jobs-Blueprint.aspx

B.C. Labour Market Outlook 2024: https://www.workbc.ca/labour-market-information/b-c-s-economy/reports.aspx