Ten mature workers in Williams Lake are receiving the training they need to re-enter the workforce, thanks to more than $86,000 from the provincial and federal governments to Horton Ventures Inc. 

The additional funding announced by the governments today allows Horton Ventures Inc. to extend their Value in Experienced Older Worker training to June 30, 2017. The program is designed for older workers ages 55 to 64, and provides various employment support and activities to help participants pursue new jobs in their community.

Today, MLA for Cariboo-Chilcotin Donna Barnett, on behalf of the Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour Shirley Bond, visited students and instructors in the class, and heard about the skills that participants will gain through the program. 

Last year, the governments provided $4.1 million to the successful Targeted Initiatives for Older Workers (TIOW) program in various B.C. communities and this program has been extended into 2017 with approximately $2 million in funding. The contract extensions will enable 12 service providers to continue to deliver skills training programs for older workers, from January to the end of June 2017. 

The Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada launched TIOW 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, so they can pursue longer-term jobs, further education or career training. TIOW not only benefits program participants, but also helps local employers and their regions as they gain the skilled workers they need to transform their economy.

TIOW is one of the key ways the B.C. government is taking action to strengthen and grow rural communities. To further support the needs of rural communities and grow local economies, the Province will be releasing a Rural Economic Development Strategy in the near future.

Quotes:

Donna Barnett, MLA for Cariboo-Chilcotin –

“It was a great opportunity to meet the participants and instructors in Horton Ventures’ Value in Experienced Older Workers project. The provincial and federal governments’ extension of the Targeted Initiatives for Older Workers program means more mature workers in our community will be able to re-enter our workforce, which is good news for our residents, their families, as well as employers.”

Anny Horton, CEO, Horton Ventures Inc. –

“Horton Ventures Inc. is pleased to offer the TIOW program again to Williams Lake mature job seekers. HVI works to provide employment programs needed by our communities and TIOW helps older workers build better job search skills, re-enter the workforce, and assists them in gaining skills needed to stay in the workplace for longer.”

Quick Facts:

• Each Targeted Initiative for Older Worker (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, B.C. and federal government have invested $37 million in TIOW to train more than 4,300 participants in B.C.
• In 2015-16, 421 unemployed mature workers received TIOW support and skills training in 16 B.C. communities. In 2016-17, TIOW will help over 430 mature workers in B.C.
• The B.C. Labour Market Outlook indicates that, by 2025, 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:

B.C. Jobs Plan: https://bcjobsplan.gov.bc.ca/

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 2025: https://www.workbc.ca/labour-market-information/b-c-s-economy/reports.aspx