The Province, in partnership with the Government of Canada, is providing more than $6 million for 15 labour market training projects in British Columbia.

New projects:

Multi-industry trades exploration and employment program - Victoria and Esquimalt

With more than $371,000, Camosun College is delivering a 16-week trades exploration program for youth, Indigenous participants and people facing multiple barriers to employment. Two cohorts of 10 to 17 participants will complete 11 weeks of essential employability and occupational skills training, four weeks of on-the-job experience and one week of followup support. Participants explore careers in trades such as carpentry, automotive, electrical, pipe trades and sheet metal fabrication, earning certifications including occupational first aid, workplace hazardous materials information system, fall protection, confined space entry and other workplace-individualized certificate training, such as forklift, fire watch or flagging/traffic control.

For more information, visit: https://camosun.ca/

Plumbing level 1 - Squamish to Abbotsford

Supported with more than $359,000, the 20-week plumbing level 1 program delivered by Squamish Nation for Indigenous participants prioritizes people receiving income assistance. Sixteen participants receive five weeks of employability skills training, 11 weeks of occupational skills training and two weeks of on-the-job experience with local employers, along with followup support. The program provides culturally supportive, wraparound training to help participants enter the plumbing trade and address the growing demand for skilled tradespeople in the region.

For more information, visit: https://www.squamishnationttc.ca/

Education assistant program – Terrace Area

The 48-week program delivered by the Indigenous Community for Leadership and Development and supported with more than $518,000 is preparing eight to 12 participants receiving income assistance for careers as education assistants in the Terrace and Nisga’a region. Participants complete employability, essential skills and occupational training, followed by six weeks of work experience with local employers and two weeks of followup and job-search support. The program helps address shortages of education assistants while supporting Indigenous job seekers to access stable employment.

For more information, visit: https://icldgroup.com/

Medical administrative assistant training for immigrants – Vancouver

With more than $200,000, the program in Vancouver by Latincouver Cultural and Business Society prepares 15 to 18 immigrant participants receiving income assistance for work as medical administrative assistants. Participants receive five weeks of essential and employability skills training and 12 weeks of occupational training, three weeks of on-the-job experience with local employers and followup job-search support. The program helps participants gain practical skills, connect with employment opportunities and move toward financial independence.

For more information, visit: https://www.latincouver.ca/medical-admin-assistant-program/

Together We Build – First Nations in northwestern B.C., Terrace

Two cohorts of eight to 10 Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants in northern B.C. receive trades-related training and work experience through Kulspai Learning Village Society. Supported with more than $472,000, the program includes occupational training, individualized work placements and followup support. In more than 12 weeks, participants gain exposure to construction and community-based trades, such as carpentry, electrical, plumbing, landscaping, drywall installation, heavy-equipment operation and professional cook training.

For more information, visit: https://opening-doors.k5t.ca/

Job creation partnership – Vancouver

With more than $72,000, Vancouver-based Pride in Art Society job creation partnership provides three participants with as many as 35 weeks of hands-on experience in arts administration. Participants build transferable skills in event planning, community outreach, volunteer co-ordination and financial administration, while supporting programming at SUM Gallery and the 2026 Queer Arts Festival, helping strengthen employability in the arts and non-profit sectors.

For more information, visit: https://queerartsfestival.com/who-we-are/

YMCA BC trade works - Kamloops, Clearwater

YMCA Kamloops and Clearwater are supporting four cohorts of 10 to 14 Indigenous, immigrant and youth participants with more than $955,000. Each cohort receives 13 weeks of essential employability and occupational skills training, followed by two weeks of work experience with local employers and one week of job-search support. Participants gain practical skills to pursue entry-level construction roles, such as construction labourer or construction craft worker.

For more information, visit: https://www.kamloopsy.org/

Facility maintenance – Dawson Creek

With more than $464,000, Northern Lights College program is preparing 10 to 12 participants receiving income assistance for careers in facility maintenance. Participants complete three weeks of essential and employability skills training, four weeks of safety, equipment operator and HAZMAT training, and 16 weeks of facility maintenance training and work experience with local employers. Followup support helps participants transition into employment, maintaining commercial and institutional facilities.

For more information, visit: https://nlcbc.prevueaps.ca/jobs/30188.html

Skilling up, building up - Vancouver

Eastside Movement for Business and Economic Renewal Society is training three cohorts of 12 to 15 youth and immigrant participants facing multiple barriers to be ready for construction jobs. With more than $292,000, the program participants complete 11 weeks of group-based full-time essential skills training, occupational and employability skills training, on-the-job experience with local employers and followup support. Graduates are prepared for entry-level roles, such as carpenter helper, traffic-control person and other construction occupations.

For more information, visit: https://www.emberscanada.org/embers-training

Communities in transition – Fort St. James and Vanderhoof

With more than $42,000, the Progressive Employment Services Limited labour market partnership project supports communities affected by forestry mill closures in Fort St. James and Vanderhoof. The project is delivering employer-engagement activities and career fairs to connect displaced forestry workers with training providers, employers and employment supports, improving access to labour market information and opportunities for sustainable employment.

For more information, visit: https://www.workbccentre-vanderhoof.ca/

DRIVE programs – Quesnel, Vanderhoof

The College of New Caledonia’s two training programs prepare community members affected by tariffs for employment as transport truck drivers, bus drivers and transit operators. Two group-based full-time cohorts with eight participants each complete one-week of essential and employability skills training, and 16 weeks of occupational skills training, short-term certifications and ICBC testing. With funding of more than $341,000 for Quesnel and Vanderhoof, the program helps participants transition into transportation careers.

For more information, visit: https://cnc.bc.ca/campuses/quesnel

Electrify your future – Burnaby and surrounding areas

With more than $354,000, the Self Rise Training Society program prepares participants receiving income assistance for entry-level electrical and construction careers. One intake of 12 to 15 participants is completing three weeks of essential and employability skills training, 25 weeks of occupational electrical training and two weeks of lab-based work experience, followed by one week of job-search support. Graduates are prepared for roles such as electrical helper, apprentice, wiring assistant and construction labourer.

For more information, visit: https://selfrise.ca/blog/

Social and community service worker – New Westminster, Surrey and Burnaby

AWARE Society is training two cohorts of eight to 15 participants facing multiple barriers, including Indigenous participants, immigrants, youth and survivors of violence to become social and community service workers. Supported with funding of more than $523,000, the program delivers 24 weeks of group-based full-time occupational training, essential and employability skills training, four weeks of work experience with local employers and two weeks of followup support. Graduates are prepared for roles as community support workers in the social services sector.

For more information, visit: https://www.awaresociety.bc.ca/employment-services/current-programs/

Existing project:

The Purpose Project – Abbotsford

Additional funding of more than $1.4 million supports an expanded intake of the Kinghaven Peardonville House Society program serving survivors of violence and abuse. Forty to 60 participants will gain the skills and support needed to start careers in B.C.’s in-demand construction sector. The program includes 12 weeks of occupational and employability skills training, as many as 10 weeks of trauma-informed counselling, four weeks of work experience with local employers and a week of followup support. The program prepares participants for construction labourer roles while helping them move toward stable employment and independence.

For more information, visit: https://kinghaven.ca/