The B.C. government is providing more funding to help people gain work experience while contributing to an important community project.

The Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation is contributing nearly $164,000 to the Aspiral Youth Partners Association in Salmon Arm for a project that gives at least six people work experience in wood-working and restoration as they restore six original Taiwanese camphor wood dragon boats.

Under the guidance of a supervisor, participants will restore the dragon boats through various wood-working techniques (including work with power tools), painting and varnishing while also receiving additional work experience in personal management, teamwork and event-planning. Once complete, participants will have work experience they can add to their resumes and be better suited to find meaningful, full-time jobs in construction and restoration.

Once restored, the dragon boats will be on display at the Canada 150 Original Wooden Dragon Boat Festival from July 14 to 16, 2017, on Shuswap Lake at Canoe Beach, where there will be opportunities for multicultural participation and celebration of dragon boating with First Nations and Chinese dragon boats also on display. The event also features ethnic foods, cultural entertainment and children’s programming to go along with wooden dragon boat races.

Kal Tire is also contributing $14,310 for transporting the dragon boats, while Westcor Media is providing $11,000 in-kind for video footage of participants to be compiled throughout the project.

The Province and Aspiral Youth Partners recently completed a similar partnership that gave seven people work experience restoring nine teakwood Chinese dragon boats, which were once paddled up False Creek during Expo 86 in Vancouver.

Those freshly-restored dragon boats have been on display at various community events – eight will be made available to use in communities, festivals and events throughout the province and the ninth will be returned to the Chinese Cultural Centre Dragon Boat Association in Vancouver to remain on display. The ministry provided about $202,000 for that project giving seven people the chance to take part and continue on their paths to employment.

Funding for the project is provided through the Job Creation Partnerships 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.

Community and Employer Partnerships are 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 1,400 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 –

“I am thrilled to continue our partnership with the Aspiral Youth Partners Association and provide opportunities to British Columbians to enhance their skills and become better suited to gain full-time work in our diverse and growing economy. And to do this while restoring some must-see dragon boats is providing a great benefit to the Shuswap community. I’m confident this partnership will keep delivering encouraging results.”

Greg Kyllo, MLA for Shuswap –

“I am pleased to see another important work experience project in our community that provides more people with the experience needed to enter the job market and participate in B.C.'s strong, growing and diversified economy. I have no doubt this project will be as successful as the last.”

Kim Sinclair, executive director, Aspiral Youth Partners Association –

“I am excited to begin this new project in partnership with the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation. The opportunity for the participants in this project to develop and enhance their work skills through these amazing boats will have a lasting impact on their lives. The experience also offers them an opportunity to share their work with the community providing them with networking relationships with business and community members as they move forward. We now have an opportunity to build on the community excitement ignited in our previous project.”

Quick Facts:

• 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 Employment Services 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:

Learn more about the Canada 150 Original Wooden Dragon Boat Festival: http://ow.ly/HqQt308hB8a

Find out more about the Aspiral Youth Partners Association: http://youthpartners.ca/

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

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