Up to 48 Lower Mainland residents are receiving the training they need for jobs in their communities, thanks to the federal/provincial partnership under the Canada-B.C. Job Fund Agreement.

Approximately $355,000 has been allocated to the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of British Columbia (ASTTBC)  to deliver the Fire Protection Technician program.

Participants will be trained for jobs in the fire protection industry. It includes five weeks of classroom training, safety training and endorsements in four key areas of fire protection, followed by two weeks of job shadowing.

This training project is part of an investment of more than $12 million for 49 training projects benefiting about 2,000 British Columbians throughout the province, thanks to funding provided through the Canada-B.C. Job Fund Agreement under the Employer-Sponsored Training stream.

The skills training projects support B.C.’s regional labour-market demands and provide opportunities to youth, women, Aboriginal people, immigrants and other eligible participants to receive training, as well as industry-recognized certificates or credentials.

Through the Canada Job Fund, the Government of Canada provides $500 million annually to the provinces and territories for investments in skills training. Under the Canada-British Columbia Job Fund Agreement, the province receives a total of $65 million per year — its per-capita share of the available funding.

The Canada-B.C. Job Fund helps ensure training programs give individuals the skills to enter and succeed in the job market. The Employer-Sponsored Training stream provides funding for project-based, time-limited, employer-driven training that leads to a job at the end of training. This includes targeted projects delivered by Aboriginal service providers, post-secondary institutions, industry associations, community groups, and private trainers that meet regional labour market needs. Employers also provide either financial or in-kind contributions to support the training.

Quotes:

Stephanie Cadieux, MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale –

“This funding to provide training for careers as fire protection technicians enables women and men from diverse backgrounds to participate in B.C.’s growing economy. These investments in skills training are worth every penny and we thank our partners for helping to make them possible.”

John Leech, CEO, Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of B.C. –

“ASTTBC and the B.C. government are partnering to provide skills in a field facing a shortage of qualified technical workers. British Columbians are being put to work in well-paying and rewarding careers and this helps families and the B.C. economy at the same time. Technology careers are growing at 3.5 per cent a year, double the average of all occupations in Canada, according to the Conference Board of Canada. Initiatives like this fit perfectly with the B.C. Jobs Plan and B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint, and benefit businesses and workers.” 

Benedicto Mon, student, Fire Protection Technician program –

“As an internationally trained engineer and a fairly new Canadian, it is not often easy to find your way back to your old industry, let alone be certified and registered for a designation. The Fire Protection Technician Project-Based Training program is truly a much-appreciated break for me. The program is a very compact albeit very much loaded with the essential tools one would need to work toward their certification as a registered fire protection technician.”

Alex Lau, student, Fire Protection Technician program –

“The classes are full of technical theories and knowledge, which is good to us for our future job search in the technical field, not just in the fire protection industry, but in other related businesses as well.”

Bill Dalton, student, Fire Protection Technician program –

“I consider myself very lucky to be given this opportunity to experience practical study in such a purpose-driven industry. The theory and practice is facilitated by industry experts, where their passion and integrity is certainly obvious. Offering a professional certificate in high demand: priceless!”

Quick Facts:

• B.C. is expecting almost one million job openings by 2025.
• Up to 596,400 job openings are expected in the Lower Mainland/Southwest region by 2025.
• Two-thirds of B.C.’s job openings will be from retirements and one-third from economic growth.
• Almost 80% of job openings in B.C. will require post-secondary education.
• The B.C. government invests more than $7.8 billion each year in education and training.
• Through B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint, $3 billion in training investments will be redirected to in-demand jobs over the next 10 years.

Learn More:

Canada Job Fund: http://www.esdc.gc.ca/eng/jobs/training_agreements/cjf/index.shtml   

British Columbia’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint:  https://www.workbc.ca/skills 

B.C. Labour Market Outlook 2025: https://www.workbc.ca/Labour-Market-Information/B-C-s-Economy/Reports.aspx