North Island College says they have secured over $800,000 in funding from the federal government to support short-term training programs.
The funding provided by the government through the Canada-British Columbia Workforce Development Agreement is aimed to help communities’ labour market needs.
NIC says they have worked with First Nations and community partners to provide courses that help people get needed skills for work around the North Island region.
Program industries include meat processing, construction, and heavy equipment operation offered in Port Alberni, industrial sewing in Campbell River, and food and regenerative farming in partnership with LUSH Valley Food Action Society in the Comox Valley.
The programs are short-term and geared to help industries in need of workers and are offered at no cost to students.
“By allowing community partners to provide learning opportunities to people who may not have the financial ability to attend a post-secondary education facility, it opens the doors to those working lesser-paying jobs with limited growth potential,” said community business operator Rob MacNeill.
“Good workers who may not be able to afford a trade skill or who thought the trade in question was not for them, until they were exposed to it, can now flourish under this type of program.”
NIC director of Continuing Education and Contract Training Bob Haugen adds the projects are the result of many partnerships in different communities.
