Twenty-one members of Gingolx Village’s population will gain work experience and help support new tourism industry opportunities by way of improved campsites, trails, marine development, community beautification and a new performance stage.

A small village of approximately 341 people, Gingolx sits in the Nisga’a Village of B.C.’s northern coast. The work experience project is a Job Creation Partnership with the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation and the Gingolx Village Government with $7,370.92 of funding coming from the ministry’s Community and Employer Partnership Fund. The Gingolx Village Government is providing $42,969. Since a recent highway extension made access to Gingolx more convenient, the village’s tourism industry has begun to expand, which this project will assist in.

The 21 participants in the job creation partnership program, each of whom are members of the community, range in age from their mid-20s to their 60s.

Throughout the 25-week six-stage program, the participants will gain skills in research, planning, construction and project management. A project supervisor and a participant supervisor have been employed to administer the program and provide leadership.

It will begin with the development of an action plan and construction of eco-friendly campsites by the participants, who will also research other nearby sites and develop a regular maintenance plan that the Gingolx Village Government will implement.

The second and third parts of the program will see participants construct four separate local trails from as little as 7.5 metres (25 feet) to as long as three kilometres and also install signage. They will then develop an outdoor performance stage, from the planning process through its construction.

In the final stages of the program, participants will develop a breakwater and moorage for vessels, assess and prioritize community beautification projects, make repairs to at least three community buildings and build and install public benches and picnic tables throughout the community. Participants will then gain knowledge in sawmill operations where they will develop a list of materials needed for all of their projects and prepare that lumber.

The program will be completed by Oct. 7, 2016, when the campground will be operational, all projects completed, and the Gingolx Village will have several improved amenities and tourist attractions to draw people to the province’s northern coast.

Job Creation Partnerships are part of the Employment Program of BC’s Community and Employer Partnerships, which fund projects that increase employability and share labour market information.

The Community and Employer Partnerships program is featured in B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint and provides more support to people who are struggling to gain a foothold in the job market. It helps build stronger partnerships with industry and labour to connect British Columbians with classroom and on-the-job training, while making it easier for employers to hire the skilled workers they need – when and where they need them.

To date, more than 1,000 job seekers benefited from work experience and more than 200 projects have been funded throughout the province.

The Blueprint was launched two years ago to help British Columbians get the skills they need to be first in line for the almost one million job openings that are projected by 2024 and to re-engineer B.C.’s education programs toward a data-driven system focusing investments toward training for in-demand jobs.

Quotes:

Michelle Stilwell, Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation –

“Increasing employment opportunities for Aboriginal people is a key focus of our investment in employment and labour market programs for B.C. This particular program will provide employment opportunities and support economic development in the region as the Gingolx Village upgrade their facilities to attract more tourism in the area.”

John Rustad, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation –

“This program will provide participants with community-based work experience leading to jobs in the tourism sector and benefit Gingolx Village for many years to come.”

Valerie Doolan, economic development officer, Gingolx Village –

“This program is providing a much needed opportunity for the community members based both on tourism and in gaining skills for the labour market. The spin-offs from this project are going to impact not only the community but the tourist population.”

Elizabeth Stevens, project participant –

“This program is teaching me how to plan, work together with others, and to set a goal to have a permanent job in place once this program is done.”

Quick Facts:

• Gingolx is a Nisga'a Village in the Nass River valley. The village population is approximately 341 people.
• Gingolx is one of four Nisga'a villages that make up the Nisga'a Nation. The community is made up of four clans – Killer Whale, Eagle, Raven and Wolf.
• Gingolx's government consists of one chief and 5 other council members.
• In 2016-17, 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.
• There are four funding streams under Community and Employer Partnerships:
  • Job Creation Partnerships
  • Labour Market Partnerships
  • Project-Based Labour Market Training
  • Research and Innovation

Who is eligible for Community Employment Partnership Funding?

• Businesses
• Non-profit organizations
• Crown corporations
• Municipalities, agencies or territorial governments
• Bands/tribal councils
• Public health and educational institutions

Learn More:

Gingolx Village Government: http://gingolx.ca/

For more information on Community and Employer Partnerships: www.workbc.ca/CEP

Find a local WorkBC Employment Services Centre: www.workbccentres.ca

Learn more about the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation: www.gov.bc.ca/sdsi

To find out more about the BC Jobs Plan: www.engage.gov.bc.ca/bcjobsplan/