The Province announced today that it has invested, through the Industry Training Authority (ITA), $36,000 in the Burnaby School District for skills training seats in the district’s Community and Continuing Education program.

The investment will fund 32 Landscape Horticulturist seats in School District 41 through to March 31, 2017.

The funding is part of the ITA’s allocation to B.C. post-secondary institutions and training providers to run various training programs throughout the province.

This investment is in addition to two recent funding announcements for Burnaby: $18 million to fund 6,769 skills training seats at the B.C. Institute of Technology; and $323,000 to fund 160 seats at the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 115.

In response to the objectives outlined in B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint and the McDonald Report, the B.C. government has worked in partnership with the ITA to begin building a demand-driven trades training system with funding aligned to specific in-demand trades.

The provincial government invests more than $94 million annually in industry training through the ITA. The ITA leads and co-ordinates British Columbia’s skilled trades system by working with employers, employees, industry, labour, training providers and government to issue credentials, manage apprenticeships, set program standards and increase opportunities in the trades.

Quotes:

Richard T. Lee, MLA for Burnaby North—

“Apprentices and their educators are an invaluable part of our province’s economy. They help fill our labour market demands and keep our economy diverse and strong. I am happy to see that School District 41 has been recognized as a part of this winning solution for B.C.’s economy.”

Gary Herman, CEO, Industry Training Authority—

“B.C.’s economy is growing and is forecasted to be one of Canada’s strongest in the coming years. With more skilled tradespeople retiring from the workforce than entering it, investments like these will help equip British Columbians with the right skills to respond effectively to the upcoming job opportunities in the province.”

Karen Flynn, supervising programmer, School District 41—

“Most of the students entering our Landscape Horticulturist Apprenticeship program are either just starting out in the workforce or have been working at minimum-wage jobs. The funding provided by the ITA offers a singular opportunity for these students, who otherwise could not access a trades program to attain a higher level of employment.”

Quick Facts:

• ITA provides more than 100 apprenticeship training programs in B.C., including almost 50 Red Seal trades.
• There are currently more than 39,000 registered apprentices in the industry training system (including youth) – more than double the 14,676 apprentices registered when ITA was created in 2004.
• B.C. is expecting up to one million job openings by 2025 due to retirements and economic growth.
• Eight of every 10 of these job openings will require post-secondary education or trades training.

Learn More:

Industry Training Authority: http://www.itabc.ca/

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

B.C. Labour Market Outlook: www.workbc.ca/Labour-Market-Information/B-C-s-Economy/Reports.aspx