A $270,000 project in Tumbler Ridge is providing work experience and creating better recreation sites for residents and tourists.

Through a British Columbia government-funded Job Creation Partnership, 16 people have gained work experience by building a Recreation Sites and Trails BC-approved shelter at Moose Lake and a new 15-kilometre trail into Quality Lake. The trail will be accessible for hikers, snowmobiles and ATVs.

Other components of the project include trail clearing and sign installation at Hermann Mountain and Five Cabin Creek trails, as well as promotion of the project at Grizfest and the Emperor’s Challenge community events.

(flickr.com)

The Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation is providing $193,500 for the project. Other funding, in cash and in-kind, is coming from the District of Tumbler Ridge, Pattern Energy, the Tumbler Ridge Chamber of Commerce, the Grizzly Valley ATV club and Community Forests. The Ministry of Forest, Lands and Natural Resource Operations is contributing $10,000 in in-kind services.

Once the 19-week project is complete in October, the participants will have gained skills in carpentry, maintenance and trail building that they can use in their search for full-time employment, while the Tumbler Ridge area will have new and improved recreation amenities. The project started with 12 participants, seven of whom have secured full-time employment as a result of their work experience. Four new participants have been brought in to help finish the job.

Funding for the project is provided through the Job Creation Partnership stream of the Community and Employer Partnerships program.

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

(flickr.com)

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 1,200 job seekers benefited from work experience and more than 240 projects have been funded throughout the province.

Quotes:

Michelle Stilwell, Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation –

“This is a great project for us to get behind as it gives people valuable work experience in carpentry and construction, while also helping improve recreation sites in the Tumbler Ridge area. It is an example of the positive benefits Job Creation Partnerships can bring to both job-seekers and communities.”

Mike Bernier, MLA for Peace River South and Minister of Education –

“I’m excited for this project to be completed because both Moose Lake and Quality Lake are great places for families to visit in both the summer and the winter and with new amenities in place, more tourists are going to want to stay and play in our area.”

Jerrilyn Schembri, manager, Tumbler Ridge Chamber of Commerce –

“Although this project has taken time to pull together and manage, the outcomes are worth every minute. To see the satisfaction on the faces of the participants after a day at work and to hear them talk about what they accomplished makes it so worthwhile. In the end, Tumbler Ridge will be left with several amazing multi-use trails and a gorgeous picnic shelter at Moose Lake. I personally think the Quality Lake Trail, which we developed and built, will become one of the premier trails in Tumbler Ridge.”

Fraser Traverse, project participant –

“The project has been great for me. The training and the work experience has been amazing. It gives me more skills so that, in the future, I will have more to offer an employer. There are no words to describe how much this has meant to me. I have had to live off of nothing for the last year and now I have money coming in to live on. I am supporting my son, too, so this has meant the world to me. The experience of getting out and meeting and working with different people and seeing the amazing scenery we have in this area has been beyond imagination. I've never seen these parts of Tumbler Ridge and the trails are going to be a huge benefit to the town.”

Quick Facts:

• In 2014, the area around Tumbler Ridge was designated by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as North America's second Global Geopark.
• Local WorkBC Employment Services Centres play a lead role in connecting eligible job seekers to Job Creation Partnership and Project-Based Labour Market Training opportunities in their communities. Once the right match of client to project has been found, the effort of the WorkBC centre continues by providing financial supports and services to ensure success.
• 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.
• Funding supports 84 WorkBC 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

Who is eligible for Community and Employer Partnerships funding?

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

Learn More:

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

For more information on B.C.'s Skills for Jobs Blueprint: www.workbc.ca/skills

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