Mobile Trades Training Unit Kicks Off Its Northern Tour

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
2007ECD0010-000271
March 16, 2007

Ministry of Economic Development

RICHMOND – Trade Routes, the Industry Training Authority’s new mobile training facility, was unveiled today before departing for two years of trades awareness and training programs in northern B.C.

The unit was purchased with $1.5 million provided last year by the Ministry of Economic Development, enabling the ITA to expand access to hands-on training in a variety of trades in northern rural and Aboriginal communities. Enbridge Gateway Pipelines Inc. has signed on as the project’s first corporate sponsor.

“B.C.’s economic boom presents great opportunities for business growth, yet many northern communities don’t have the means to develop the skilled workforce employers need,” said Economic Development Minister Colin Hansen. “Government is pleased to support rural businesses and communities with innovative solutions such as Trade Routes to help them hire and train local people to meet their demand for skilled workers.”ITA CEO Brian Clewes added, “Trade Routes will help us meet two important goals: expanding access to, and flexibility of training through innovation, and increasing Aboriginal participation in the trades.”

Trade Routes is a state-of-the art mobile training facility. The self-contained, 53-foot travelling classroom accommodates classes of 12 students per session and features welding equipment, drill presses and a host of other equipment and tools to provide hands-on training for welders, electricians, plumbers, pipe fitters/steamfitters and millwrights. The unit is also equipped with a satellite system enabling remote instruction.

The unit will first embark on a tour to deliver a trades awareness program to as many as 20 communities in the northern region over the next two months. This educational phase will be followed by 18 months of training sessions, selected by the project steering committee set up to ensure Trade Routes was developed in keeping with community, industry and learner interests.

“To Enbridge, being a socially responsible company means contributing to programs that deliver lasting benefits to the individuals and communities involved,” said Art Meyer, president of Enbridge Gateway Pipelines Inc. “Trade Routes is an innovative and creative way to bring skilled trades training to people in northern and Aboriginal communities.”

In 2004, the provincial government established the ITA with the goal of increasing participation in industry training in B.C. Budget 2007 increases the ITA funding by $33 million over the next three years. This is in addition to the $13 million per year increase in 2006, bringing the ITA’s 2007/08 total annual budget to $96.9 million. With 31,881 apprentices/trainees as of Feb. 28, 2007, the ITA is well on its way to exceeding this year’s goal of 33,000 registered apprentices/trainees.

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1 Backgrounder attached.

Media contact:

Joanne Whittier
Communications Manager
Ministry of Economic Development
250 356-9428

Lisa Dooling
Director, Communications and Marketing
Industry Training Authority
604 671-8710
ldooling@itabc.ca