As many as 12 eligible British Columbians will get skills training and work experience to prepare them for jobs as general construction workers and labourers.

This is a new Community and Employer Partnerships (CEP) project from the Government of British Columbia and is intended for male survivors of violence and/or abuse.

“The overall outlook for jobs in construction labour is projected to grow faster than all other occupations in B.C.,” said Nicholas Simons, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. “That’s good news for graduates of this unique project. Participants will receive personal support, as well as the skills training they need to help find and keep well-paying jobs.”

The Province is providing almost $170,000 to Kinghaven Peardonville House Society in Abbotsford to deliver skills and certification courses in its general construction program, The Purpose Project.

Project participants will receive nine weeks of occupational and employability skills training, four weeks of on-the-job work experience and one week of followup support to assist in their job search.

Participants will also receive certification courses in Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS 2015-GHS) and WHMIS GHS Implementation, fall protection, skid steer and telehandler operation, counterbalance forklift safety, Occupational First Aid Level 1 and introduction to construction warehousing.

In addition, each participant will receive up to 10 weekly sessions of one-on-one trauma counselling support.

“The project will be working with male survivors of violence, a largely underserved demographic,” said Keith St. Jean, employment co-ordinator, Kinghaven Peardonville House Society. “We are excited about seeing these men gain the skills and confidence they need to succeed and look forward to supporting our clients in multiple areas – an approach we believe will lead to greater success.”

Funding for this project is provided through the Project Based Labour Market Training stream of WorkBC’s CEP. CEP’s investments are targeted toward projects that support an inclusive economic recovery. CEP supports B.C. job seekers’ training and work experience, leading to employment in available jobs, and aids businesses and communities to address labour market challenges. CEP invests $15 million annually in communities throughout B.C.

“Through this program, people will get the skills training and support they need to prepare them for well-paying, rewarding jobs,” said Pam Alexis, MLA for Abbotsford-Mission. “It’s exciting to see this unique CEP project coming to Abbotsford.”

Full-time, group-based classroom learning for this project starts on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021. Project activities run through to Jan. 21, 2022. Anyone interested in finding out more about this or other CEP projects can contact their local WorkBC centre.

Learn More:

Learn how CEPs are helping local communities: www.workbc.ca/Employment-Services/Community-and-Employer-Partnerships.aspx

Learn about how WorkBC can help find British Columbians jobs that are right for them: www.workbc.ca/rightforyou

Find your local WorkBC centre: https://www.workbc.ca/Employment-Services/WorkBC-Centres/WorkBC-Centres-Listing.aspx

Kingshaven Peardonville House Society: https://kinghaven.ca/